Buy This! Not This! - Comparing Two Compression Testers

Автокөліктер мен көлік құралдары

Buy This! Not This! - Comparing Two Compression Testers of a similar cost. This is a review on why NOT to buy the Harbor Freight Pittsburgh Compression Tool and WHAT to buy instead! I needed a compression tester to test compression on my S2000 and decided to head to Harbor Freight because they have lots of tools but quickly found out why I should have looked elsewhere.
What I recommend: INNOVA 3612 - amzn.to/3HOXq91
It has a much design with the Schrader valve at the inlet for the hose where the adapter meets the hose. Much more accurate readings!
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#diy #tools #harborfreight #innova
This video is NOT Sponsored. BrandoMotion is supported by its audience and may receive a commission if you make a purchase from the links provided in this video and/or description.

Пікірлер: 72

  • @Samcrac
    @Samcrac3 жыл бұрын

    Good video. A bad compression tester gauge will give you a heart attack which is even more expensive than a new engine.

  • @glenerickson358

    @glenerickson358

    2 жыл бұрын

    You have enough heart attacks with your salvage exotics

  • @boydanderson4418
    @boydanderson441811 ай бұрын

    Bro... I just used that harbor freight one and my motor was soo low! I built this thing a few months ago and my heart sank! Like what did I do wrong! It's running good too! Was about to tear into the whole motor. Then I thought... harbor freight... maybe not the best. This video confirms it! Thank you man! Ima buy a new, better tester and try again. Hopefully near that 210!

  • @JardineiroRaizes
    @JardineiroRaizes3 жыл бұрын

    That is one clean engine bay!

  • @jakewhite6027
    @jakewhite6027 Жыл бұрын

    Got the harbor freight tester for my N54 and all 6 cylinders rested 130 which I knew was way too low. This video makes me feel much better

  • @adrianealmiranez2174

    @adrianealmiranez2174

    2 ай бұрын

    Did you ever try another compression tester? What did you read if you didd? I did the same today on my N54 and got 135 and had a heart attack.

  • @flierbill
    @flierbill3 жыл бұрын

    Man, I almost torn into my engine, because of that darn harbor freight compression tester. Thanks.

  • @PerrysGaming

    @PerrysGaming

    Жыл бұрын

    LOL

  • @captnjaygreybeard6394
    @captnjaygreybeard63942 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video, I have a tester on order but had mixed reviews. Checking this video convinced me to get a 3612.

  • @mikefisc9989
    @mikefisc99892 жыл бұрын

    This was very helpful and will save me some money. Thank you for the video and review.

  • @reginaldharrison8650
    @reginaldharrison86503 жыл бұрын

    Glad I reviewed this video I just purchased one. I was told if I opened it and there was a problem not to bring it back. Now I can see why thanks for the post.

  • @bushmaster2936

    @bushmaster2936

    3 жыл бұрын

    Who told you not to bring which back where ?

  • @glencaple3888
    @glencaple38882 жыл бұрын

    Thanks dude. Big help!

  • @PreciousBoxer
    @PreciousBoxer3 жыл бұрын

    I have an Innova InnoCompress OHC Plus (EQUUS 3615) and wondered about this product. I'm now more confident this tool, without a blow-mold case, is superior over Harbor Freight inventory. Thank you for your upload.

  • @timklein3962
    @timklein39622 жыл бұрын

    Great review and advice; i bought the Innova tester; works great; thanks for saving me time and money; !!!!

  • @pigseye2
    @pigseye2 Жыл бұрын

    Great review! Thanks!

  • @wcjcnc
    @wcjcnc Жыл бұрын

    No matter what you’re testing. I don’t care if it’s a car or truck engine. A chainsaw, a motorcycle, a lawnmower, WHATEVER. A compression tester absolutely has to have a schrader valve right there in the threads that screw into the spark plug hole. The schrader valve cannot be anywhere else down the line. It has to be right there in the spark plug hole. The length of the hose doesn’t matter. Why they would even produce a tool that’s completely useless makes no sense. Lol

  • @stuartbeasley7879
    @stuartbeasley78793 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the review.

  • @1060bm
    @1060bm3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for making this video.

  • @anthonyhitchings1051
    @anthonyhitchings10512 жыл бұрын

    Thanks, just checked my 3-decade old tester - it has that schrader valve :-)

  • @bucketoftruthify
    @bucketoftruthify2 жыл бұрын

    I'm in the middle of the EXACT same thing. Bought it probably around same time as you, but has been in toolbox unused. Cyl1: 150, cyl2 150, cyl3 130, cyl4 90.....uh oh. Cyl1 again.....30! Now it will ready between 2 and 30...... Good video!

  • @sempergumby8734
    @sempergumby8734 Жыл бұрын

    My harbor freight guage read 120 on my LQ9 LS. Just about 60 to 70 psi short of specs. Bought the Innova and bam, 190 psi on all cylinder

  • @tonyrowe1455
    @tonyrowe14554 ай бұрын

    Dude! That is a nice lookin engine bay! 👍🏼

  • @ratbrain7743
    @ratbrain77433 жыл бұрын

    Thanx for the review. They just opened a Harbor Freight here. It's booming. How do you really know how accurate a compression tester is if you don't have something to test it with?

  • @bushmaster2936
    @bushmaster29363 жыл бұрын

    @ 5:35 , did you say "granite" ? Nice review. Thank you.

  • @montanakid6134
    @montanakid613410 ай бұрын

    I love listening to um videos.

  • @nonyabiz9487
    @nonyabiz94872 жыл бұрын

    I had the same results very low compression with the Harbor Freight gauge. It was showing 90 psi on a good running engine. Most engines you need to have at least 100 psi to run at all so I knew it was the gauge.

  • @FroztiProductions
    @FroztiProductions2 жыл бұрын

    The adapter on my China junk got stuck on the first cylinder lol it definitely read low so I'll need to get a quality unit.

  • @maxmoughal5183
    @maxmoughal51833 жыл бұрын

    Did you manage to correct the compression on cylinder 1, did it just need valve clearances done?

  • @bribri1657
    @bribri16573 жыл бұрын

    Had the same problem only shows 25psi on GOOD engines. The reason is like you said it reads the air pressure in the HOSE as well which is WRONG

  • @SuperRudy909
    @SuperRudy9092 жыл бұрын

    I agree. My harbor freight compression tester is junk.

  • @EvendimataE
    @EvendimataE Жыл бұрын

    bought an harbor freight tester and i got 90psi on all 4 cyl of my motorcycle that should be 180psi....the problem with this tester is they are charging 20% restocking fee if you are returning it...im guessing there are lots of returns for this tester.....LOL

  • @jacobkachinski6550
    @jacobkachinski65503 жыл бұрын

    I've rented a compression tester from orileys 3 separate times and tested it on 3 motors and it never went over 60psi, im hoping it's just the tester as I just spent $350 on a boat motor only for it to say it has 60psi on both cylinders

  • @kingofkings2934
    @kingofkings2934 Жыл бұрын

    Use the connection and carry case and use the other guage

  • @AutoClay
    @AutoClay3 жыл бұрын

    The carry case is to bring it to the trash can.... I bought one of them too...

  • @randomstuffbylong.5820
    @randomstuffbylong.58203 жыл бұрын

    Harbor Freight one had me sell and outboard for cheaper due to low readings. :-(. I just threw it in trash.

  • @brianmessemer2973
    @brianmessemer2973 Жыл бұрын

    S2000? Looks that way 👍

  • @andrewan8855
    @andrewan88557 ай бұрын

    could u pls do video for how to crank a car with start push button for compression test. I know how to crank with key. but always want to know how to crank with start push button.

  • @larryfine4498

    @larryfine4498

    3 ай бұрын

    One alligator clip of your starter button to battery side of your solenoid, the other alligator clip to the solenoid start wire (this wire lights when key is in start position). That's it for any vehicle. Make sure your key is off when using the remote crank button.

  • @JasonBohl
    @JasonBohl3 жыл бұрын

    JAS EUGENE You completely missed my point and obviously don't know what you are talking about. More volume does not decrease air pressure IF YOU ARE SETTING IT FOR A CERTAIN PSI. You may need to add more air to get to that specific psi, but in the end you're still going to be able to get the same psi with more or less air. It will take more air to reach the same amount of pressure but in the end the pressure will be the same. Like I said earlier and used as an example. Most bicycle tires are rated for 40psi! And most pickups also are aired up to 40psi. According to your theory then if you were to take a tire pressure gauge and use it on a bicycle and it read 40 psi then because of the tire size you are basically saying that a truck tire wouldn't read 40psi because of size even if it was in fact aired up to 40 psi. However, we all know this to be incorrect. You can use a tire gauge for all sorts of moving vehicle with tires and they will all read 40 psi if they were all aired up to that exact pressure. Tire size will not matter. Yes one may hold more air then the one next to it but it they were aired up to 40 then they will all read 40. You dont need a different type of gauge for every type of tire. So once again having extra volume (air) inside of a compression tester doesn't matter. It's still whatever psi you pumped through the gauge and the psi is all that matters. Yes psi stands for pounds per square inch. but it's not referring to pounds as in volume pounds. its talking about pressure basically per square inch. Simply mathematics as you say would tell you this but apparently you don't understand what the hell you're talking about.

  • @avisliberis
    @avisliberis3 жыл бұрын

    Any advice on how to pick and AC gauge tool?

  • @ferndog1461

    @ferndog1461

    3 жыл бұрын

    Pittsburgh AC gauge valves for R134a have been reported as good. After 2-3 years, it needs a rebuilt kit.

  • @avisliberis

    @avisliberis

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ferndog1461 Thank you!

  • @mookjdg
    @mookjdg11 ай бұрын

    Ummm thank you for this video

  • @JasonBohl
    @JasonBohl3 жыл бұрын

    Im not certain that your theory holds any validity. I understand what youre saying. However when youre measuring compression, youre not measuring volume. Youre simply measuring pressure. Think of it like measuring psi of a tire. Bike tires measure just as high in psi as a car tire even though they obviously hold less air. So even though yes the hose may have extra air in it, remember pressure is important. Not volume. So once youre guage hits a certain pressure, then whether the valve is in the end of the tube or at the tip of the guage, the psi will still read say 45psi, because thats the amount of force on the gauge.

  • @bushmaster2936

    @bushmaster2936

    3 жыл бұрын

    So you're saying that the gauge itself was inaccurate.

  • @JasonBohl

    @JasonBohl

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@bushmaster2936 No. The gauge being inaccurate was what the person whos comment I commented on was saying. What Im saying is the gauge is most likely correct because pressure is what matters when doing the test. Youre not measuring volune. Like I said a bike tire and a car tire may hold the same psi and one is bigger then the other. But you are not exactly measuring for volume when measuring the air in the tire. Youre measuring pressure.

  • @turboleggy

    @turboleggy

    2 жыл бұрын

    Bigger volume, same amount of gas means lower pressure

  • @JasonBohl

    @JasonBohl

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@turboleggy not sure if I get which side of the fence you're on. With that being said though, volume is not important when doing a pressure test. Pressure is.

  • @turboleggy

    @turboleggy

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@JasonBohl I thinks he's wrong but youre also wrong. A longer hose would make the pressure reading drop because the pistons only move so much pressure = mols*R*temp/volume. They are related through this equation for an ideal gas. A higher volume will mean a lower pressure for a given amount of air. A piston can only move a given amount of air.

  • @jonathangarzon2798
    @jonathangarzon27982 жыл бұрын

    Isn't the compression tester only to see difference in pressure not the value itself?

  • @FroztiProductions

    @FroztiProductions

    2 жыл бұрын

    It's both. If it's not reading accurately then the percentage difference may likely be off as well.

  • @BrandoMotion

    @BrandoMotion

    2 жыл бұрын

    As @FroztiProductions said it's both. When you test and need to know how far away from the original compression value each cylinder is reading this will help you determine one set of potential causes. Also, if the values are different between the cylinders that could tell you another set of potential causes. It really depends on what the results are to help determine a list potential causes and this is only an initial first step. After a compression test its a good idea to get a leak down test done to hone in on the the issue.

  • @babyjesusx1608
    @babyjesusx16083 жыл бұрын

    Im buying it to see if my s2k motor is healthy 😀

  • @BrandoMotion

    @BrandoMotion

    3 жыл бұрын

    Also make sure you have you valve clearances checked and adjusted. Common issue with our cars is over tightened valves.

  • @FroztiProductions

    @FroztiProductions

    2 жыл бұрын

    Check valve lash, new timing chain tensioner, use oem oil filter, see if you have the revised oil squirter bolts, etc. Unlike most honda engines, these ones need a lot of attention.

  • @gunnykiller1623
    @gunnykiller16234 жыл бұрын

    I made the same mistake🤦‍♂️

  • @Devo1987
    @Devo19873 жыл бұрын

    Now test the madox fuel pressure tester

  • @user-lp3cf5yn5b

    @user-lp3cf5yn5b

    2 ай бұрын

    Beware. Gauge works. But on mine the bleed fitting is machined incorrectly and will spray fuel all over you.

  • @xsagemasterx
    @xsagemasterx Жыл бұрын

    how do we know you used it correctly

  • @Alanthe918mobilemechanic
    @Alanthe918mobilemechanic Жыл бұрын

    The Maddox master kit is way better then both of those

  • @MattJonesYT
    @MattJonesYT3 жыл бұрын

    Please use fewer "ums"

  • @jacobfrank5149
    @jacobfrank51492 жыл бұрын

    Just rebuilt my kx250 because of that hf piece of shit

  • @Toddo1985

    @Toddo1985

    2 жыл бұрын

    Just ordered a new top end kit for my kids Polaris 90 because of this piece of shit as well, Good thing its only 100 bucks lol!

  • @salvadorhernandez3404
    @salvadorhernandez34043 жыл бұрын

    "Thanks China" ☹️

  • @staycurious3954

    @staycurious3954

    5 ай бұрын

    Thanks Reagan, Clinton, Bush, Bush, Obama, Trump. Allowing businesses to move overseas and close US operations 🎉

  • @donovan4009
    @donovan4009 Жыл бұрын

    It’s not the a actial pressure reading you are looking for in a compression test. It the pressure difference. Between the 2 testers the pressure difference of the cylinders is the same

  • @negativeindustrial

    @negativeindustrial

    5 ай бұрын

    You’d still want to see a number within spec. His engine shouldn’t even be running with readings that low. I had the same issue on my running 1JZ-GTE.

  • @dontchangethisdontchangeth9337
    @dontchangethisdontchangeth93372 жыл бұрын

    Uh.uh.uh.uh

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