Its easier to drain the oil, as if you just undo the covers you will have a real mess. If you jack the car up on one side and do that side first, and let the oil drain away from the cover, then yes you can do it without a big mess.

 

No absolutely necessary, bit then you need to jack up each side and do it one side at a time. Much easier to time the adjust with an oil change.

 

I just bought an 88 with slightly less miles than yours but a little bit more $$$. My coupe also had minimal service records so a PPI for me was a must. My PPI results came out fine and I the oil did not have to be drained to check the head studs.

For what its worth I just got back from a 500 mile trip driving the 88 through the GA/NC/TN mountains while visiting my family. I have not had this much FUN in a log time!

 

Did you take 129 all the way up?

 

Yep pretty much the whole way. Highway 64 through that winds along the Ocoee River in TN was the best part.

 

Things moving slow due to busy schedule. Seller is being very cool about waiting. Anyway, spoke with a highly referred tech who wants to do a progressive ppi in which he will stop if he finds something he feels could be a deal breaker. He suggested using a temp gun to measure the heat from each cylinder in favor of compression. He did suggest checking the head studs and a valve adjust while in there assuming we get to this point. Very nice fella, awarded master p-tech from Porsche. Offered to allow me to sit in, which I plan to take advantage of. Any opportunity to learn.

Any thoughts on this temp measuring method?

 

If I wanted to know compression, I'd get a compression test. Having said that I ca understand the theory of measuring temp. That may work, but I've never seen anyone do it or claim it works. It seems like it could maybe diagnose a truly bad cylinder, but can it detect a cylinder that was 20psi off of the others?

 

Would it stand to reason that a cylinder with lower compression may not be as hot? I will certainly discuss this with him during the inspection.

 

there is not a crystal ball involved in this is there....?

heat detector??
sounds like a lazy way to check things over - I think it might be possible to tell if a cylinder is lean this way..., maybe lacking lubrication - but compression ?

 

That is why I said I can understand the theory, however I also questioned how much accuracy could be had if it is a viable idea. As I also stated, I've personally never heard of anyone using it. And, I may as well repeat my entire response: If I really wanted to know, I'd do a compression check if all else checks out.

It's your money.

 

I don't know. You sure could tell if you had no ignition or fuel in a given cyl, that's as far as I'd ever expect to measure such a way. As Ed says, sounds like a lazy way to do anything.

Let us know how it works out.

 

I understand.

 

The idea of a progressive investigation makes sense. If nothing is glaring in the general inspection you can start to get more serious and deeper into it.

 

I did appreciate his approach in that way. Since I will be there, I will be able to question things as we go. Really looking forward to the inspection.

 

Your tech might use a decible meter, you know - to decibilate each individual cylinder, and test the audibility factoring index of each one at 30 degrees past dead central.

Sorry, bad joke. Ignore that. Lol.