TheSamba.com :: View topic - !!!HELP!!! 2.1 Gowesty with 0 compression

Sat Mar 22, 2025 12:53 pm

I recently bought an 86 vanagon with a 2300cc 2.1 go westy engine and the original owner had it professionally installed, had everything factory apart of that system replaced. He drove it for about 35,000-40,000 miles and it gradually lost power on a drive and died and wouldn't restart. He had it towed to his house where it sat for ten years. Then I bought it. I have yet to get it running. Also if you have any ideas of what the problem could be that would be great. It has spark and I believe fuel (haven’t check the injectors yet), and it cranks over. I did a compression test and it was 0 on all cylinders. The engine when all the spark plugs are back in feels like it has compression when turning the belts. I even placed my finger over the spark plug hole and it felt strong. It does have a water jacket seal leak but the coolant looks fine and I drained the oil and that also looks totally normal. any ideas?

Sat Mar 22, 2025 1:40 pm

firstly, Welcome to the madness.
if you can feel compression with your finger on the spark plug hole, but your gauge reads zero, l think it might be time for a new gauge.
the odds for zero compression across all 4 cylinders is very low.have you tested for spark, and if the injectors pulse.
if you pull the distributor from the engine, the 13mm nut securing it to the engine block, put a rag in the hole before you do anything else, as you do not want debris going in, or risking the distributor drive jumping.
put a spark plug into one of the leads, and have it grounded.
with the ignition on, and the distributor electrically connected, ie the hall plug, and the cap and wires, if you turn the base of the distributor, you should be able to hear things happening, look at the spark plug, can you see a spark while it's grounded.
also if you have the injectors removed from the intake runners, there's a 10mm bolt holding them in, while you are turning the distributor, you should see the injectors fire.
remember ignition on, you don't need someone to turn the key.
if you see the injectors pulse, but no spark, check your spark plug is grounded.
if still nothing, l'd treat the engine to a birthday, new plugs, leads cap and rotor.
and test again.
once you are up and running again, replace the fuel lines and injector seals, if it still has the plastic intake runners, l would strongly consider upgrading to billet stainless intake runners.
l lost a carat to an engine fire, most likely because of the plastic intake runners.
good luck

Sat Mar 22, 2025 2:05 pm

I believe Mark meant injector manifolds, or fuel rails when he posted plastic intake runners.
The stock fuel rails are plastic.

Sat Mar 22, 2025 2:28 pm

If its been sitting for 10 years, the pintles in the injectors are likely frozen in their bore. Putting the maximum amount of injector cleaner into the fuel tank and then running the pump for 15 minute to circulate the cleaner through the rails may get enough cleaner to the injectors to free them up. If not remove them and soak them in cleaner and then actuate them briefly with 12v to see if they will click. A last thing to try is to use a light hammer and a small nail punch and slightly tap on the tip of the pintle several time.

If the tank had ethanol laced fuel in it when it was parked you may find you need to replace the fuel tank.

FWIW, my 83 1/2 had zero compression when I bought it and after I fixed a few issues ran quite well, it was hard to start when it was below 15°F out though and it used lots of oil, but I ran it for 75K plus miles that way.

Sat Mar 22, 2025 6:09 pm

Zero compression indicates the valves are not closing. This could be caused by build up on the valve stems. The hydraulic lifters could also be holding the valves open.

I would start with doing a valve adjustment, but do not preload the lifters yet. You could actually set the valve clearance at .004” like an old beetle. This will ensure the valves are not being held open by the lifters.

If the valves are hanging open, it’s possible to bend them if they hit the pistons. Personally with zero compression, I’d stop there, remove the rocker shafts and do a cylinder leak down test. This will determine where the leakage is. If the valves bend, the heads at a minimum have to come off.

As you’ve noticed, no compression no start. Goal is to isolate and limit damage. Good luck.

Sat Mar 22, 2025 8:30 pm

You seemed to say you felt compression when turning the engine by the pulleys but got zero when using the starter.
When you were cranking the starter did you observe the pulleys rotating consistently?

When you said you had spark, how exactly did you determine that?

Is this a manual tranny or an automatic?

Mark

Sat Mar 22, 2025 8:33 pm

I bought a boroscope to take a peak inside the cylinders before I start pulling things off. I haven't tried to start it yet due to the old fuel lines spraying fuel all over the place! I should have them all changed out by tomorrow. Im gonna test the injectors tomorrow also. What I still can't figure out is how when I held my finger over the spark plug hole I felt compression and when I manually crank the engine I can feel compression. All the pulleys were working fine. and I tested the spark plugs on by removing them and grounding the cable and had someone turn the ignition. It's an automatic transmission. I also tested the gauge with my air compressor by just blowing air up the hose and it read. But so far I know that the fuel pump, starter, ignition coil, distributor, and spark plugs are all good and working. I'll definitely be looking into the metal fuel rails!

Sat Mar 22, 2025 8:40 pm

Compression testers have a Schrader valve in them to hold the compression reading. Yours may be loose or stuck open resulting in zero displayed compression

Sun Mar 23, 2025 12:45 am

brewvan wrote: I bought a boroscope to take a peak inside the cylinders before I start pulling things off. I haven't tried to start it yet due to the old fuel lines spraying fuel all over the place! I should have them all changed out by tomorrow. Im gonna test the injectors tomorrow also. What I still can't figure out is how when I held my finger over the spark plug hole I felt compression and when I manually crank the engine I can feel compression. All the pulleys were working fine. and I tested the spark plugs on by removing them and grounding the cable and had someone turn the ignition. It's an automatic transmission. I also tested the gauge with my air compressor by just blowing air up the hose and it read. But so far I know that the fuel pump, starter, ignition coil, distributor, and spark plugs are all good and working. I'll definitely be looking into the metal fuel rails!

Make sure you are using hose that carries a 30r9 rating and says "For Fuel Injection". The high pressure (225 psi) variant of the Gates Barricade Hose is fine.

Fri Mar 28, 2025 7:18 pm

Sounds good. That's what im installing. in the process of replacing all of the fuel lines and testing and cleaning my injectors tomorrow. Have any of you pulled the engine and done a rebuild? If so how difficult was it?

Sat Mar 29, 2025 6:17 am

These can be rebuilt, but engine building has for beginners has pitfalls. You can read everything and watch every video, but engine building requires a “feel” you can only gain from experience. I also think when you start shopping parts and machine work, you find out it adds up quick$ The few that have come through the shop, we steer the owners to Go Westy. There is not enough profit to put your neck in the noose for. GW has a warranty that is fair that they will honor through any shop you might need warranty work on. Good luck getting it sorted.

Sat Mar 29, 2025 6:46 am

You might also look for a good used engine. Contact shops that do engine swaps as they sometimes have a decent used engine they pulled to swap in a different one.

Fri May 23, 2025 7:27 pm

Guess I had a faulty gauge. Sorry for the late entry. Engine is running good.

Fri May 23, 2025 9:31 pm

brewvan wrote: Guess I had a faulty gauge. Sorry for the late entry. Engine is running good.