I've been calling around to a few of the local dealers here in Orlando, the going rate seems to be anywhere from 160, to the rape fest of 220. The latter telling me it would take two hours, I laughed. This was also the tech that when I was on 'hold' I could hear him asking his co worker if it was a four cylinder, but I digress.

I've tested a few 13B's before with the piston tester method, but just to have an official compression record on the books, I'd like to get one from the dealer. I assume pretty much any dealer is capable of running one of these, but for those of you out there who have had experience with the modern mazda testers, I'm curious as to if the testers they would most likely be using are compatible with the older 13b's ?

I just ask because they said I would have to bring the car in so they could tell if their compression tester would be compatible with the FC. Which, i know it will plug in to the plug holes, even not having seen one, that's just a given, but I wasn't sure if the new testers required more than that.

Also, anyone mind sharing how much you paid for a test?

 

the Mazda tester hasn't changed since the 90's, its the same digital unit, hopefully, the previous tester was needles and paper, like a TV lie detector. so yes its compatible with the FC, although the Rx8 and FC have different specs.

its fair that they charge an hour of labor, that gives plenty of time, even on a car they apparently have never seen before.

make sure they give you the cranking rpm, and 3 compression numbers for each rotor, otherwise the test is useless.

 

I have been charging $60 a test including numbers for each 3 face and the crank RPM as well as a screenshot of the readout...I cant seem to find many people that want it done though

 

Yeah, I was doing some forum crawling, and I saw someone on the 7 boards had an old lie detector style compression tester for sale awhile back, and I've seen the modern one for sale on Mazdatrix, but like I said, since i've never used one directly I wasn't sure, but I figured it would work.

Yeah, I figured the Rx8 and the FC would be different spec wise and I definitely am going to ask for the cranking rpm and the faces for each rotor, that's the entire point of me going to them to begin with. I called one last dealer in the area, and the service adviser sounded like he has dealt with FC's and FD's before, so I didn't feel like I was speaking to deaf ears. He quoted 110 for an hour, which to me sounds about as good as it is going to get. Also taking it in for the recall on the passengers seatbelt at the same time =D.

On a sidenote, I just got my RX8 back from Pettit yesterday, I've been so used to dealing with the steel hood on the GTU, when I lifted the eights hood up i almost cold clocked myself in the face

 

For like $375 shipped you could get a ReCT-04. It can be used on anything with a spark plug with the correct adapter. I paid $100 for a compression test performed by a local tuner. He was using the ReCT-04 so I bought one too. Figured if I did 4 compression tests it would pay for itself. I've used spark plug extension adapters from a snap-on compression testing kit to hook the pressure transducer up to piston engines. I wouldn't buy a compression tester which can only be used on a 13B!

 

Called another dealer, and found a rate of 110, half that of what the first dealer quoted me. I don't anticipate it getting any cheaper than this, at least in my area.

 

I have one in Hudson FL for $60 to test ya

 

you can use the rotary tester on a piston car. it will just give you the top 3 results

 

go by pettit, I don't think Cam would even charge you

 

I actually JUST picked my rx8 up from there yesterday. Bit of a drive just for a comp test, the cost in gas alone would suck, haha.

 

@tyblat Landon303 isnt too far from orlando (maybe 30-45 minutes?) and has the mazda compression tool they use at dealerships. Hit him up!

 

unless you are selling the car tomorrow having the test for the sake of having it in your file is about useless.
You can blow the engine next week and with it your test results


spend the money on beer and women, or hookers and blow whatever is more your speed

 

Wouldn't hurt to know its estimated life expectancy though.

 

tune it up, insure its running properly- then run it until it breaks

Dont get hung up on compression test the only time I ever did one was to make sure I wasnt dealing with a blown engine. close to a dozen rotary cars over the years- 2 tests performed.

 

When you run a business and overhead and you have to pay that mechanic or mechanics for that 1 hour or 2 to prep your car, paper work, compression check and etc 110 is a steal. Trust me i've been on both spectrum. wanna do it cheap. buy a compression tester and remove the check valve

 

But as Rob sort of hints..
the life expectancy of an Rx7 engine is about the same as your cash flow with hookers and blow!
(at least with the latter you get "blown once or twice"..engine only blows once,..then rebuild...lol!)

I still remember someone saying: the engine ran Great..right up until it blew.