Lancia Beta Forum
Technical stuff => Engine => Topic started by: Bumbizzled on May 02, 2026, 02:49:41 PM
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Hi all. My compression tester arrived this week and has unfortunately revealed some issues with the engine. Compression on cylinders 1-3 are a bit low dry, but improved with oil, so guessing rings are just about shot. Cylinder 4 does not improve with a wet compression test, so guessing it's an issue with the valves.
My plan is possibly just leave the rings alone for now. The car isnt on the road so don't know how bad oil consumption is, and honestly was hoping to not have to get in too deep with this, though this was probably naive to think with a Lancia. As for the top end, does anyone have experience doing this with the engine in the car? Or would it be easier to remove the engine and do it out of the car
Any other advice is much welcome. My old nissan 300zx's engine is sweet as a nut so never had to do too much engine wise so this would be my first major engine work outside of timing belts and water pumps
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I would get the car up and running on the road before considering an engine tear-down.
These engines are robust and rarely need overhauling.
A couple of oil and filter changes, and some spirited driving, together with fresh 99 fuel
may well improve your compression figures. Give it a few hundred miles.
Mine was stood for 14 years, ran terribly at first, but the above cured it. Now sweet, no work.
Nigel
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Hi
In answer you can take the head off in situ to refurb.
However have to agree with Nigel. What values are you getting on compression?
Peter
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Valvoline do a range of restore and protect oils that seem to have very good reports but the nearest they do to a beta grade is a 5w40
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I agree with the try running it for a while provided you are not on an old belt and tensioner or actually have a blown head gasket. Check for oil runs down the block at number 4 exhaust side. Mayonnaise in the oil and contaminated coolant with oil scum in it.