# Compression tester suggestions **URL:** \ **Category:** Shift518 Automotive\ **Created:** [August 5, 2013, 8:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529 "2013-08-05T08:51:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JSEnclosures](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/jsenclosures/32/6678_2.png) [@JSEnclosures](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/JSEnclosures)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 8:51am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/1 "2013-08-05T08:51:26Z")
Anyone got a suggestion for a compression tester under say 50 bucks? I would like to add one to my tool chest. I’ve been borrowing my buddies when needed in the past. thanks in advance ---
**Author:** ![PJB](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/pjb/32/6389_2.png) [@PJB](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/PJB)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 11:21am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/2 "2013-08-05T11:21:49Z")
[http://www.harborfreight.com/compression-test-kit-66216.html](http://www.harborfreight.com/compression-test-kit-66216.html) I had a guy check the compression on my old car with the same one and it worked. ---
**Author:** ![toomanycamaros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@toomanycamaros](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/toomanycamaros)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/3 "2013-08-05T14:45:13Z")
Honestly I wouldn’t trust any compression test set your going to buy at that price. I guess it all really depends on what your doing, but diagnostic equipment like that is a great example of you get what you pay for. ---
**Author:** ![Phate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Phate](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Phate)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/4 "2013-08-05T19:30:58Z")
> [@Who makes a good wireless router?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/who-makes-a-good-wireless-router/53134/17): > > Honestly I wouldn’t trust any compression test set your going to buy at that price. I guess it all really depends on what your doing, but diagnostic equipment like that is a great example of you get what you pay for. Why? Its a pressure gauge, a check valve, and a length of hose with a threaded end to go into the spark plug well. None of those things are especially high tech or complex to manufacture. ---
**Author:** ![toomanycamaros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@toomanycamaros](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/toomanycamaros)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 7:50pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/5 "2013-08-05T19:50:49Z")
> [@WTB: ATT Phone ASAP](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/wtb-att-phone-asap/53240/3): > > Why? Its a pressure gauge, a check valve, and a length of hose with a threaded end to go into the spark plug well. None of those things are especially high tech or complex to manufacture. Well let me put it like this the cheap tire inflators you buy for 20 bucks or so are normally off almost 10% in my experience. Not a big deal on a tire but when your diagnosing something expensive like an engine i would rather spend the money for quality equipment. Either way a leakdown test will tell you a lot more then a compression test ---
**Author:** ![bennyfizzle](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/bennyfizzle/32/6291_2.png) [@bennyfizzle](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/bennyfizzle)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/6 "2013-08-06T04:35:45Z")
Any cheap comp tester is just fine, you’re not looking for a specific number, you’re looking for consistency across the cylinders. Doesn’t matter if its 5%, 10%, 15%, or 60% off. ---
**Author:** ![Yetti\_VR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/yetti_vr/32/6357_2.png) [@Yetti\_VR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Yetti_VR)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2013, 6:59am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/7 "2013-08-06T06:59:17Z")
loved my mac one but cheap one does the same thing ---
**Author:** ![indy440](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5ac83/32.png) [@indy440](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/indy440)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/8 "2013-08-07T05:24:39Z")
> [@What to do? Make STI fast and have slow DD or buy cheap fast car and keep STI as DD?](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/what-to-do-make-sti-fast-and-have-slow-dd-or-buy-cheap-fast-car-and-keep-sti-as-dd/53217/70): > > Any cheap comp tester is just fine, you’re not looking for a specific number, you’re looking for consistency across the cylinders. Doesn’t matter if its 5%, 10%, 15%, or 60% off. exactly… although 60% might be a little excessive. haha ---
**Author:** ![vcforlife15](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e480ec/32.png) [@vcforlife15](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/vcforlife15)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:35pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/9 "2013-08-08T14:35:27Z")
I have the harbor freight one at work. Works great! We sell liquid filled gauges and I have a hanfull of them that were tested by a lab and were pretty much spot on. I used one to compare the reading on the harbor freight gauge. It was very close, Im not afraid to use it. ---
**Author:** ![88slowmarro](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/88slowmarro/32/6339_2.png) [@88slowmarro](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/88slowmarro)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 2:56pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/10 "2013-08-08T14:56:53Z")
I have a semi cheap one and it works just as good as my boss s overpriced snap on ---
**Author:** ![Hang\_Your\_Cross](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hang_your_cross/32/6381_2.png) [@Hang\_Your\_Cross](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Hang_Your_Cross)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/11 "2013-08-08T19:46:43Z")
I got one from advanced auto for like $25. Worked fine I guess. ---
**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\ **Post date:** [August 8, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/12 "2013-08-08T21:44:43Z")
I got one from advanced. Reads low. ---
**Author:** ![Yetti\_VR](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/yetti_vr/32/6357_2.png) [@Yetti\_VR](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Yetti_VR)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:01am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/13 "2013-08-09T06:01:19Z")
No it reads fine your cars just blown up ---
**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 6:32am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/14 "2013-08-09T06:32:44Z")
It was blown up but only two cylinders were affected. :rofl the readings were like 130, 90, 95, 120 has gasket was the problem. Not really a big surprise… My girlfriend ran it out of coolant. ---
**Author:** ![GD3Skier](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gd3skier/32/6400_2.png) [@GD3Skier](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GD3Skier)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/15 "2013-08-09T07:04:51Z")
> [@Olympic Poll\*2012 Hot Olympians\*](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/olympic-poll-2012-hot-olympians/53061/136): > > It was blown up but only two cylinders were affected. :rofl the readings were like 130, 90, 95, 120 has gasket was the problem. Not really a big surprise… My girlfriend ran it out of coolant. You should put a wood block under the gas pedal so it only pushes 1/4 of the way. ---
**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:16am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/16 "2013-08-09T07:16:21Z")
She still would have run it out of coolant lol ---
**Author:** ![GD3Skier](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gd3skier/32/6400_2.png) [@GD3Skier](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GD3Skier)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/17 "2013-08-09T07:26:40Z")
True. But it wouldn’t get the NASCAR style beating. ---
**Author:** ![capitalcrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@capitalcrew](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/capitalcrew)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 7:49am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/18 "2013-08-09T07:49:15Z")
She goes “i thought it’d be okay just to go to colonie and call you when i got there”… Rly? ---
**Author:** ![GD3Skier](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gd3skier/32/6400_2.png) [@GD3Skier](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GD3Skier)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2013, 8:03am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/compression-tester-suggestions/267529/19 "2013-08-09T08:03:24Z")
That’s one thing I love about my girlfriend. She’s a little heavy on the accelerator and brakes but the second she hears any weird noise or her gauges don’t appear normal she looks into it.