2000 Continental Low Compressiom Engine

[Michael]

This is a 32 valve engine and has 110k miles. The compression is as follows:

#1 to #4: 185 psi
#5: 130
#6: 110
#7: 130
#8: 185

Does this sound like a blown gasket ? How can I distinguish it from a valve or ring problem ?

I have always used synthetic oil, and driven moderately, mostly on freeways. How can I avoid this from happening again ?

Thank you.

 

[Redwingvksm]

Have you noticed any coolant loss? Hook up a pressure gague to the coolant and turn it over - does pressure build up pretty fast? That's how you tell if it's a coolant problem. Also oil in the coolant/coolant in the oil is a dead giveaway.

For the valves - hook up a vacuum gague to the intake and see how it jumps. The gague should stay steady around 16-18 (if I rember right) and NOT be jumping around. If it jumps an intake is burned. Normally also when turned over you can listen for a hiss through the throttle body. Burnt exhaust valves would be a noisy exhaust (you'd hear backfireing and such)

I know the 4.6 rings on the 2-Valve engine aren't the best, but I don't know about the 4-valve if it has been changed or not, but even being at 110K miles that shouldn't be that far off. Has the car overheated recently?