legacycentral bbs

I was just wondering what the compression should be on a 91 2.2 liter naturally aspirated. I'm thinking of getting a used engine that tests out at 140 psi in all cylinders for like $350. Its guaranteed for 1 year.
thanks

Welcome

That seems a little low based on the numbers I saw and others have seen for the non-turbo motors

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic. ... ession+psi

I'd suggest searching and see if you find any other people who have posted similar numbers

My '93 EJ22E was in the mid 140's and had 196k on it before I pulled it. Ran like a champ.

yeah the engine i have now has 250K on it and runs great, but has a small headgasket leak. All it really does is overheat every once in a while. So not really cost affective to just do head gaskets on the old engine. I think this used engine is my best bet so far.

You could do the headgaskets yourself for much less than $350, but you'd have to be so inclined. If you did it yourself, you could do it for about $100 or so.

Swapping the motor is easier though.

140 is okay, but yeah, not spectacular.

A properly-running 2.2 should be in the 170-180 range.

DerFahrer wrote:140 is okay, but yeah, not spectacular.

A properly-running 2.2 should be in the 170-180 range.

Keep in mind it depends whose measuring stick that you use. Or rather, an expensive but accurate gauge versus a cheapo model from Pep Boys. The cheap gauges can be off considerably. I'd be more worried about how close each cylinder is to one another, i.e. you test one at 130psi and the other three test 160psi. That would be more alarming.

Let's also not forget the effects of altitude. We don't have a clue where this guy is because he hasn't filled out his profile in it's entirety.

Up here in Colorado we lose something like 12% because we're at 5000ft. If that engine were tested up here I would consider it healthy enough to run.

As sea level, I consider an Ej22e that is at 150 or higher to be healthy enough as long as there isn't greater than a 5% difference from the highest to the lowest cylinder.

Yeah i live at about 2,200 feet in Washington so 140 on all cylinders shouldn't be 2 bad then. I just got the engine in and it runs fine and dandy. However i am having some trouble gettin my exaust manifolds to seal. I used new gaskets and everything but its still not right. I work at the local NAPA and used good gaskets and everthing. I might see if i can get some thinker ones. So just wondering if there are any tricks.
THanks

Are they multilayer steal gaskets?

I just had to remove the exhaust manifold from a WRX because of "good" non oem gaskets

no they weren't. I just ordered the steel ones though. They seem a lot thinker. I don't even know why i tryed those oem ones. They probably would have work fine on new exhaust maifolds, but mine have seen better days.