What should be the readings for a good engine of around 200,000 miles. all I have read so far says the lowest figure should be 80% of the highest, but about where should the readings start. thanks for any help.
I think all the cylinders are too low. I checked 5 of them and then ran out of battery (its charging now)....I got 90, 75, 90, 70, and 90 so far....I couldnt find what the figures should be for the 5.0, but I found other vehicles engines calling for 130, 140, 150 and figures like that...I done alot on this car, and would stop if the engine is internally bad and I knew it for sure.
If it is running OK and not blowing smoke, I'd not worry about it too much. I drove an '84 5.0 188k and then traded. The new owner drove it a few more years and gave up when the water pump failed and the bolts wouldn't come off. It used a little more than a quart between oil changes at 188k, too.
PoD
That a high mileage engine has lower compression is no surprise. Wear does that to an engine. I think if you checked the cylinders wet, you'd have higher numbers. Also, so far your numbers don't indicate a single "bad" cylinder, which is good.
Having said that, there's something more at issue here. Any car with 200k+ miles on it is living in essence on borrowed time. Your Crown Vic is a very good car known to get very high mileage. That's to your advantage. However, wear continues every time the crankshaft turns. Oil pressure gets lower. Cooling systems deteriorate in various ways. Plus, your AOD is not known to be the most bulletproof of transmissions, though they will do well if properly driven and maintained. It comes down to this. It sounds like you have a good car right now. What happens 6 months from now is unknown.
It sounds like you have the money to replace this car, from your mention of it. If you like this car, and you know it has been well maintained, why not keep driving it? Take the money you'd spend to buy another car and save it. Some day, you'll need an engine or transmission. When that day comes, you'll have the money to fix the Crown Vic. Even if you don't have the money right now, simply start saving the same amount of money you'd pay in car payment and higher insurance if you bought a new car. In 4-6 months, you'll have enough money to fix anything that could break on your Crown Vic, barring a wreck.
CJB
the car has been out of my hands because of a separation. other family members have been driving it for 4 years without regular maintenance. it was driven until it became undrivable. it has no power...have to floor it up small hills...idle is bad....got codes for egr and map...replaced them from pull- a- part without any difference...removed the cat converters thinking they were plugged...still has no power....that is why I finally bought a compression checker to see if the engine is internally bad before I try other things....all the plugs were black with heavy carbon....could the injectors be plugged? I dont like my code checker because have to count accurately...pretty sure I got 33 and 22 , also got codes that said rich at the 02, now that nothing is behind the 02 (exhaust is gone) it didnt make any difference in the driving...any ideas? I am trying to get a spare car back in this car (income tax refund seized to pay wifes student loan was supposed to be used at auction)
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