Stratus Sedan V6-2.7L (2001)
Compression Check: Testing and Inspection
The results of a cylinder compression pressure test can be utilized to diagnose several engine malfunctions.
Ensure the battery is completely charged and the engine starter motor is in good operating condition. Otherwise the indicated compression pressures
may not be valid for diagnosis purposes.
1. Check engine oil level and add oil if necessary.
2. Drive the vehicle until engine reaches normal operating temperature. Select a route free from traffic and other forms of congestion, observe all
traffic laws, and accelerate through the gears several times briskly.
3. Disconnect and remove all ignition coils from spark plugs.
4. Remove all spark plugs from engine. As spark plugs are being removed, check electrodes for abnormal firing indicators fouled, hot, oily, etc.
Record cylinder number of spark plug for future reference.
5. Be sure throttle blade is fully open during the compression check.
6. Insert compression gage adaptor Special Tool 8116 or the equivalent, into the #1 spark plug hole in cylinder head. Connect the -500 psi (Blue)
pressure transducer with cable adaptors to the DRBIII.
7. Crank engine until maximum pressure is reached on gage. Record this pressure as #1 cylinder pressure.
8. Repeat the previous step for all remaining cylinders.
9. Compression should not be less than 689 kPa (100 psi) and not vary more than 26 percent from cylinder to cylinder.
10. If one or more cylinders have abnormally low compression pressures, repeat the compression test.
11. If the same cylinder or cylinders repeat an abnormally low reading on the second compression test, it could indicate the existence of a problem in
the cylinder in question. The recommended compression pressures are to be used only as a guide to diagnosing engine problems. An engine should
not be disassembled to determine the cause of low compression unless some malfunction is present.
