if i get a compression testing kit should i still use ATF in the spark plug hole?

 

U can if u want to. It wouldn't hurt to do one before the ATF goes in.

 

my buds got a compression tester at the house and i wanted to use it to 1. see if my engine has compression, and2. if it does what are the numbers. as for ATF where can i find some in the small quantity that i need? i dont wanna buy a big jug of it thats never gonna get used.

 

in my car i think the previous owner tried to do a compression test to the top plugs (because the rear top plug is missing), what would result in this? would compression come out low?

 

umm if a plug is missing, yes compression would be low
and if you are using a piston compression tester (not one of those huge *** complicated rotary ones) then you'll only get the compression of the highest compressing face of the rotor (as in you won't know if you blew an apex seal or not)

 

The tester I have has a check valve that you can press while cranking. That way, it won't hold a compression reading. The needle bouned when I did my check last night.

 

i think he tried to do a compression test w/o a tester, (checked for the pffft pfft pfft sounds) but i think instead of the bottom he used the top plugs because the top spark plugs is missing but im gonna replace them all anyway as for the test i wanna do i think im just gonna go out and get a compression tester from autozone and use that.