Two adjacent cylinders low? Bad head gasket.

Lots of oil consumption too, problaby rings or cylinder bores, although a loose valve guide will do exaclty the same thing -- lots of oil going down the hole, and lousy compression because the valves don't seat.

Worth checking, since it's not anywhere near as expensive as an engine rebuild.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!