Bin the engine?
 

Just got my timing belt kit/water pump changed by a bloke the old man works with (he goes mechanics in his spare time). The saxo I've got is a 1.1 '97 with 130k on the clock. He seemed to think the engine needed binning and a new one slapped in. His reasoning was due to a less than perfect pur on the engine (tappets do need doing to be fair) and slight oil consumption.

So, out came the compression test kit! Here's the results on a warmish engine:

pot 1 - 9.5bar

pot 2 - 8 bar (took 3 strokes) added a teaspoon of oil and with 3 strokes up to 10.5bar

pot 3 - 11 bar

pot 4 - 12 bar


So what to do? Bin the engine? Keep the engine and leave it be? Recon it? Not sure how trustworthy this chap is...and I know you lot are amazing!

Sounds like that guys a bit of an idiot to me. If it runs OK but is burning a little oil then so what? Its not worth the expense of new rings and stem seals on a 1.1 in my view. Better off putting in a reconditioned larger cc unit, just buying a faster model from the jump, or getting a low miler as afterall your gearbox and all the drivetrain components have done 130k as well

thanks for your advice. Was a bit of a shock, thought the car was in good nick and then he goes and rips into it like that, somewhat upsetting! On a side note, the tappets do need adjusting, would that change the compression test figures at all?

If your valves aren't closing the right amount or for the right amount of time then yes it would

i picked up a mint vtr lump with 60k for 40 quid!

tbh with that amount of miles on it, it would have been cheaper and more sensible to replace rather then belt etc

but since youve done it you a aswell run it, little bit of oil usage wont harm you so long as H/G isnt fuckd and you keep it topped up

valve guide seals if its buring oil so long as its all running fine keep it going save money