85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

Doug12992

Cadet
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
19
Hello i just bought a 1985 sea sprite with 140 mercruiser with a cylinder compression of 1-125, 2-125, 3-150, 4-125... motor idles well but are these numbers okay or should i be looking to rebuild the motor in the next couple of years?
 

proshadetree

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
1,887
Re: 85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

I do not understand why one cylinder is high, normally dont do that. I personally would run it until I had a problem.
 

Doug12992

Cadet
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
19
Re: 85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

yeah im just using it to fish so i hope the motor will last a few more years. any clue on why one cylinder is higher?
 

fishrdan

Admiral
Joined
Jan 25, 2008
Messages
6,989
Re: 85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

any clue on why one cylinder is higher?

Cylinder wear, rings, valve problems on the other cylinders???

If it's running good I wouldn't worry about it, seems fairly consistant except for the one high cylinder. My ol' 73 140 had similar compression readings (something like 125, 120, 140, 125) and it ran fine.
 

proshadetree

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2008
Messages
1,887
Re: 85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

It isn't, he has 3 that are low, the 150 is normal.
I was wondering why one stayed high with three low. Most times one goes low valve or ring/piston. Then two low cylinder head or gasket. Three low one higher or normal is just kinda weird.
 

Doug12992

Cadet
Joined
Nov 20, 2010
Messages
19
Re: 85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

if it comes a problem i'll have my dad look at it. he's a GM mechanic and will have more of a clue then me.
 

tschmidty

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 24, 2010
Messages
462
Re: 85' mercruiser 3.0l compression

It could be lots of things causing one to stay high, but definitely nothing to worry about.
 
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