I could do compression tests on my Hondas. I've not spent much time under the hood of those; they just run. I did several compression checks on this engine when it was running before removing it from the car to get a baseline. The instructions said to disconnect the fuse for the fuel pump, attach the gauge in the cylinder spark plug fitting, crank for 6-10 seconds with the throttle fully open, and then record the reading. That is pretty straightforward. I will get an extension for the hose going to the compression gauge to see it easier from within the car. It doesn't have standard fittings.

While anything is possible, it is unlikely I got the intake/exhaust backward. I've spent a bunch of time in Germany, enough to be barely conversational in German, and you also see Ausfart and Einfart at every interchange on the Autobahn. I wouldn't have thought the A stamped on the cam meant it went first, not to mention the ends of the cams facing front are different on the intake and exhaust sides--I didn't think you could mess them up. When I pull the head off, I'll double-check this. I know I originally put my mains caps on backwards before catching that...

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Donald Foss
2003 E53 3.0i, 5L40e (for now)
- self-rebuilt engine, valves, SL oil pump
- ported heads, both sides
- N55 intake manifold, 70 lb injectors
- GTX 2860R-clone 60mm top-mounted turbo
- progressive slip diff
- under chassis cats
- extra sensors wired to Arduino
- 15" touch screen dash-mounted