Head replacement? help!

[Coyote121403]

Over the past year my 97 Neon has lost alot of power so I gave it a compression test the other day and this is what it looked like.

The avg. PSI on this car is 220 to 270 and the minimum is 100, this is what I got

cylinder 1 2 3 4
PSI 90 110 90 120

The wet test was fine which leads me to believe the rings are ok. My question is if I just replace the head do you guys think it would somewhat fix my problem? I can't afford a full rebuild right now and I can do the head replacement myself for $350. But I don't want to waste the time or money if it wont work. I know its not fast to begin with but I need it to get me through the summer.

[servion]

What results did the wet test yeild?

The only true way to figure it out will be to do a leakdown test.

[Coyote121403]

What results did the wet test yeild?

The only true way to figure it out will be to do a leakdown test.

I don't know the exact results of the wet test when I went in I told them I thought it might be the rings but after they told me the results and said the wet test was fine so it wasn't the rings but I need a new engine I was kinda pissed so I left. I really hate not having my own tools up here. How much will a leak down cost me around here?

[servion]

I don't know of a place that can do it in parker, but you can get a leakdown tester from summitracing for $65 if you have an air compressor.

[HONDA GHANDI]

If it was bad before the wet test and then ok after, then the rings are shot. THats the whole point of the wet test. SOunds like they were pulling your leg on that though.

[Coyote121403]

I don't know of a place that can do it in parker, but you can get a leakdown tester from summitracing for $65 if you have an air compressor.

an air compressor is one thing I do have. But for $65 I would expect not to have to haul a compressor down there. I just need this stupid thing to last until I get my other car built.

[Coyote121403]

an air compressor is one thing I do have. But for $65 I would expect not to have to haul a compressor down there. I just need this stupid thing to last until I get my other car built.

Shit, sorry I misread. If I bought one how do I do the test? never done it before.

[servion]

You basically set the motor at TDC for each cylinder consecutively (in the firing order) and force compressed ait into the cylinders. The leakdown tester will tell you that % of air is leaking out, and you can listen to your motor to see where it's coming from (intake manifold = intakje valves, exhaust pipe = exhaust valves, oil cap = rings, other spark-plug holes or radiator = bad HG)

[rmcdaniels]

The fitting that screws into the spark plug hole on my Summit Racing tester is not very good, I never could get it to stop leaking around the plug hole threads. Luckily the hose from my Craftsman compression tester fit on the Summit guage so I could use it, just had to remove the schrader valve. If I had to do it again I'd buy a different tester, maybe the Total Seal tester off of Jegs:

http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4476&prmenbr=361


Also, to find TDC for each cylinder I use a long bamboo skewer and drop it down into the spark plug hole so it rests on the piston, then I can easily see when the piston tops out. If you do that, just make sure you use something long, because you don't want to be dropping anything in there that you can't pull out.

[Coyote121403]

Cool, thanx guys, I might go pick one up this weekend and check it. I also have my own compression tester in storage somewhere so maybe I will dig it out and try it myself this time. Also this car has an aluminum head so should I test it cold like the compression test?