Turbo II low compression advice

[adam73bgt]

Hi guys, am after some advice and opinions please

Bascially I've had my Turbo Vert for just over 2 years now, and lately its ended up being my daily driver as my actual daily decided to have some engine troubles (1995 BMW 5 series, yeah I know, fancy that having the engine issues out of the two!  )

I like using it daily, its a lovely drive, but I've got other car projects to sort and 20-ish mpg isn't really cutting it for me as a daily. I put it up for sale a couple of months ago and got a compression test done for a potential buyer, the results came back as thus:





Being a bit on the low side, these put off the potential buyer but I've just been using the car. It starts and drives fine and I've been all over the country over the winter recently seeing family and friends without it missing a beat.


Now I'm still fairly resigned to the fact that I'm going to have to sell it and probably take a bit of a hit on the price because of the compression, but a part of me also wants to keep it, which leads to thoughts of engine rebuilds...



So after all that longwinded back story, is there value in going for a pre-emptive rebuild based on the fact that its looking a bit tired, or is it just as well to wait until it actually breaks down, then go for a rebuild?

I'm expecting the cost difference probably won't be much as its the same labour involved, just the potential of more parts to be damaged if I waited until the engine broke down I guess?


Sorry for rambling on a bit there, I hope it illustrates the scenario I find myself in!

Have a couple of pics of the car as it stands as well

[clive]

Hi Adam,

Yes the compression is low but I believe far too much emphasis is placed on compression especially with T11 and FD's as they have much deeper Apex seals, as you say it starts OK all the time and providing it starts once its had a good run and fully hot---------just carry on driving it 

BTW, may help to know that many RX-8 owners would love to be seeing 20mpg as most run around with 18's at best

     

[boosted]

As Clive says...my fd is low comp with numbers worse than yours...starts fantastic hot n cold. Im just gonna keep on tracking it.

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[RE5]

Hi Adam,
I have read back through your posts but can't see if you pre-mix or OMP?   I have always added (on the rotaries that had OMPs) some 2X to my fuel at a ratio of about 300/400 x 1.   There is much debate on all Forums about the subject & which oil I use Stihl Synthetic, having stripped strimmers/chain saws that have been run on it I have never found any build up of residue inside, they make a special oil for the 4 stroke pre-mix engines, it burns clean with no smoke.

[boosted]

If your still considering selling a rotorhead will know comp figures are a bit hit n miss...id be more concerned with the dreaded tin worm.
Premix all the way...im getting a test soon so ill see if mine have got worse as been religously premixing and thrashing on track.

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[Essex2Visuvesi]

If the car is not used regularly it might just want an "Italian Tuneup"

My Old RX8 had low sixes when I bought it, this went up to high 6's when I started premixing and giving it a regular thrashing

[adam73bgt]

Cheers for the replies guys, has put my mind at ease somewhat!

The car was off the road for pretty much all of the first half of last year as I started doing an exhaust change and supporting mods which ended up getting left for quite a while..

But since October or so, its been my daily driver, about 40miles round trip to work everyday so it does get a decent run out

Still running the standard OMP, no premix. Never really thought about putting any premix in, did a bit of reading on oil back when I first got it but saw so much conflicting opinions out there I thought it safest just to stick with the OMP for now!


I've still got a couple little jobs I'd like to sort on it so it won't be sold straight away, sills were cut out and welded before Christmas so thats the worst of the rust sorted at least