Though the combustion engines in the modern day vehicles are built in a much stronger than they used to be, the inner components of it can simply start to wear out. Anyone who has a bit of basic knowledge on how vehicles run will know that the engine in a vehicle can make its horsepower only by compressing the vaporized fuel that is filled inside the combustion chamber. This way the system creates a particular amount of compression measured in pounds per cubic inch to efficiently burn the fuel and in the process the air gets reduced over a certain period of time. in such condition, the engine fails to perform its usual way. So it becomes important to undergo a compression test on the engine compartment as the first step to diagnose the issue and fix it.

But a compression test involves some high precision tools, and hence cannot be done at home as a DIY technique, and needs to be carried out by a professional mechanic only, warns the team of technicians off the Phoenix Mazda dealer.

Defining the Compression Test

A compression test is meant to reveal the exact condition of the engine’s valve-train and the frequency in which the piston keeps ringing. In an engine parts like the intake and exhaust valves, head gaskets, valve seats, and the piston rings tend to wear out that eventually lead to the reduction of the compression rate.

A compression test making use of a compression gauge, is installed in the inner side of the spark plug hole in each of the cylinders that the engine is comprised. As the engine starts cranking out the horsepower, the gauge will start displaying the amount of compression that is being generated inside each of the engine cylinders.

When a Compression Test Becomes Necessary

A compression test is strongly recommended by the auto experts if you experience any or all of the following symptoms with your car:

• Smoke starts blowing out from the exhaust system of your car whenever you try to accelerate or decelerate.
• Your car fails to accelerate like it used to and responds in a sluggish manner.
• There is a feeling of vibration originating from the engine, that can be felt especially when you are driving down a slope.
• Fuel economy starts getting severely affected and gets significantly worse than its normal rating.
• Your engine oil starts getting dried up more often than usual.
• The car engine is getting overheated even after driving only a few kilometers.

A Word of Advice from the Experts

The team of auto experts we consulted at the service center of the Mazda dealership Phoenix suggested that a compression test is the best possible way to determine the condition of the engine. So, if there is any of the above said symptoms showing up in a vehicle, a compression test can prevent the engine from any further internal damage. However, if compression test shows a low amount of compression inside the engine, then it can lead to significant repairs in some cases.