Hey guys 
 
Just a quick Q. What is the factory compression for each cylinder on a gen3 3sgte? 
 
I spent last night searching through a plethora of pages on google just trying to find the answer however all i came across where people's opinions saying that 160-180psi is fine and within factory specs and others saying 170-200psi 
 
Getting a tad worried as mine is showing 11.3(161) 12(174) 11.5(164) 12(174) especially with cylinder 1. 
Hoping it wont be due to block warpage...last thing i want to do is have to get it machined 
 
Cheers
 
 

I have found this in a repair manual and with these figures sounds as if the compression reading from my engine are well within factory specs and are fine (however this is for a Gen2) not sure if these figures would be different to the Gen3 since the Gen3 had slightly lower comp pistons than the Gen2
 
"NOTICE: This measurement must be done in as short a
time as possible.
Compression pressure:
1,128 kPa (11.5 kg f/cm2. 164 psi) or more
Minimum pressure:
883 kPa (9.0 kgf/cm2, 128 psi)
Difference between each cylinder:
98 kPa (1.0 kg f/cm2, 14 psi) or less"
 

How come you are doing a comp test? Some issue with the car?

No nothing wrong with the car thank goodness. Just bought the gte on the weekend (Cheers to gorilla ind.) as i plan to do a conversion next year once i build it up. The engine had a compression test already done and had the figures above (which i was told were good) and then a mate of mine which has imported numerous honda and toyota engines from japan, said that most imported engines need to be machined due to warpage (as he has had to machine all of his so far). This got me thinking (and a little worried) as i really dont want to have to get mine machined.
 
So basically i just want to work out what the factory compression should be for the cylinders as it might let me know whether or not there is a leakage from either warpage or worn piston rings. Inevitably i guess ill need to work this out by using a straight edge and a feeler gauge (was hoping i could skip doing that by working out through seeing whether it was still within factory spec with compression. 

the best check to do is a leak down test.
 
also, compression tests can vary due to the tester being used (ie:cheap ones) the thing to check for is if there is a large difference between cylinder.
 
if you are building an the engine up then what ever it's compression is currently is of no concern, as the block and cyl faces etc will all be refaced.

Awesome, thanks mate.
 
How much does it typically cost to have the block and cylinders refaced? 

it gets done as part of the rest of the work one would do in an engine rebuild.
 
ie: when you send of your block for cleaning, boring/honing to suit new pistons the deck should get faced as well.
 
same with the head esp if your fitting a metal HG.
 
price is negligible in the whole "engine rebuild" scheme of things.

Cheers for all the information! 
 
Rebuilding and building up a car engine is new challenge to me. Coming from rebuilding MX engines where the bore is nikasil lined and all you have to do is drop in new piston, rings, new gasket and check valve clearances every three months.
 
Reason i was wonder how much is just so i can get an idea of what to expect as im trying to do this all on a Uni wage :P 

prices vary from shop to shop, and also depends one what needs to be done and how far you want to go, best to ask some rebuild places near you for some quotes for std eng block machining and prep work.