Compression Tester Kit
 

I need to do a compression test, just wondering if anyone has used the cheap test kits like the ones below:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_f...rt=nc&LH_BIN=1


Any recommendation?

I've had the Gunsons gauge for the best part of 25 years - never let me down.

To be honest, I would say spend a little more for one of the known makes, such as ...
https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/lase...sion-tester/?d
Many others, Sealey, Gunsons etc
Will probably give better / consistant results

If you've a friendly local garage they might lend you one

I have the Laser one linked by volvo again above, i think it is reasonably accurate! I bought it in Halfords.

I've had the Gunsons one since sometime last century, but hadn't used it for such a long time I couldn't find it. When I can't find a tool, I usually buy the cheapest one I can find on eBay (which in this case looks identical to the first set from your link), as this usually results in my original misplaced tools coming out of hiding and being found before the eBay one is delivered. But this didn't happen and I had to use the eBay one.

It appears to work fine, but it's definitely not a quality tool and I'd not expect it to be highly accurate.

It should be fine if all you want to do is check cylinders against each other to see if one gives a low compression reading, but if you want an accurate measurement to compare to the manufacturers specifications, then you might be better off with something a bit more trustworthy.

That would be my expectation too - that the cheapo tools can be used as a comparator but probably are not helpful at getting an accurate reading.

I'm another Gunson user BTW - mine must date back to the mid 1980s but as it is only used very very occasionally (so maybe 20-30 times overall lol), and is stored carefully, I expect it to have retained most of its accuracy.

I think it depends on what you expect to do with it. I have a cheapo no name one which for the few times I've used it has proved adequate to show one cylinder was a lot down compared to the others, or I had nowhere near enough compression on all cylinders, or they were all within the tolerance. I can't think of a scenario where I'd need to know the actual value to high level of precision. The ebay kit appears to have a lot of adaptors and extensions so should be useful for one off tests on other cars too.

Amazingly cheap price and looks the same as the proper set I used, go for it!
Best advice I had on this job : make sure you turnover the engine the same number of times for each plug. I used 7 and got very matching 140s so mine's proper decent.

Thanks for the replies. I want to test to see if I have any issues with worn piston rings, leaking valves, head gasket etc. as I am getting smoke through dip stick after recently servicing the PCV system (twice). But it dose pass the glove test!

I found this Gunson 4101 tester for £20 in cpc.farnell which should fit with the 14mm thred on the hose.
https://cpc.farnell.com/gunson/4101/...ter/dp/CP01082