*UPDATE*Compression Test...how low is low.....
 

Will I finally did the compression test (normal running temperature and removed the injectors) today and the results are:
Cylinder #1: 400 not bad for a engine with 160,000 and used to use WVO
" #2: 420 even better!
" #3: 320 OK this must be the bad puppy... but wait...
" #4: 380 an improvement but iffy... and last but least
" #5: 160!!! damn it's dead, or nearly... so I retested it three more times with the same reading of 160! I did a valve adjustment about 3,000 miles ago... I added a few drops of Marvel Mystery Oil to #3 and #5 to see if it will help and redo the compression test after the valve adjustment on Friday. I'll keep you posted...

So does anyone have a lower compression number than 160? and if so how long did the car run before dieing all the way?:eek:

Well, I did a week of soaking with the Marvel Mystery Oil on #3 and #5 cylinders and checked the valves (both #3 and #5 exhaust valves were tight) readjusted and redid compression test:
#1 400
#2 420
#3 380
#4 380
#5 340
Still not the best but better! Will be driving it hard over to the coast next week then to Malibu for SoCa for the gtg next Saturday. The car doesn't idel as rough and it has lots more power, I don't have to push down on accelerator as far to get it moving and it takes off fast! I will probably do another soak after getting back from SoCa.

9/30/2009: 0-60 in 13 seconds:) Not a neck breaker, but it moves!:D

You should follow up with a leakdown test, which will tell you where cylinder #5 is losing its compression. Could be the rings, the valves, or the head/gasket/block seal. Might help you make up your mind on what to do about the problem.

Does the car start and run well or poorly, burn or leak oil or coolant, etc?

x2 on the leak down. It won't kill the motor but your performance will be soft and fuel economy will be a little off. It really won't hurt to drive it that way though so you can keep running it while you save your money for a rebuild or a good used motor.

Thanks! I will doing a leak down test this Friday! The car is not losing any coolant and the oil is normal black, but there is a little bit of blue smoke on the 1st start up in the morning which comes and goes? Will update with the results... I'm also going to recheck the valve clearence before doing the test and replace the heat shields before and after the test.

Yeah, I figured it can run a little longer before I can find either a good used engine or someone in Fresno that is trustworthy to rebuild it.:confused:

My '87 300D (W124, OM603) has a similar but lesser problem, #2 cylinder has 300 compression and 20% leakdown past the rings compared to 400 and no leakdown for the other five cylinders. My mechanic theorizes that whatever PO overheated the engine (we know that the head was replaced) probably got it so hot that the #2 piston started to melt, putting aluminum in the ring lands and preventing the rings from sealing completely. The car still runs fine (25 mpg average for 2009 to date) although it does smoke occasionally and uses oil, about a quart in 1000 miles. Unless it suddenly gets much worse, it's not worth fixing so I just drive it. You probably can continue to drive yours while you save up for a replacement or a rebuilt.

Can be just a valve. If the valves are not found to be tight on that low cylinder the compression re test is not required.

You do want to get some pressurized air into that cylinder to see if it is just a valve seating issue.

The Marvel Mystery oil has helped with loosen the gunk in the cylinders!

My 240 was owned by Brian... who trailered it down to the first Austin gettogether...
several people measured the compression and as far as I know the number one cylinder measured zero...
It had some obvious oil leaks...like the copper washer on the drain plug.... I got those fixed... it has gotten 24 mpg all the time I have owned it... runs like a champ. The people who have ridden in it agreed it was a peppy little car...

So did you also do a valve adjustment on the car? If so did that increase your zero compression cylinder? What is the compression now? Interested minds want to know... Glad you got it running well!

They had done valve settings many times trying to figure out what was wrong..
I have not done one because it is getting 24 mpg and I only have about 3000 miles on it since I bought it... It starts right up through the winter and I have so many other things on the farm I have not checked it... however, I want to put new valve stem seals/rotators,springs,adjustment nuts into it... so I may do some of that kind of thing when I get in there....