How to Check Engine Health???

I have a 90 integra LS, it has 170,000 miles, the water pump needs to be
replaced since the engine is over heating and there is puddles of cooland under
the engine. The car is also due for a new timeing belt. Before I invest more
money on this engine, is there a way to diagnose the health of my engine? I
have heard of pressure testing.

My choice would be either hold on to this engine or have it rebuilt. One other
option I have been thinking about is getting a new engine from one of those car
parts chains like AutoZone or getting it used from Japan. Any inputs?

thanks

 

The only thing you can really do is perhaps an oil diagnosis where you send
a sample of oil to a lab for about $40 or so and they will tell you what
parts of your engine are in your oil. This is best done with a sample from
a while ago to compare though. A compression test, cylinder leakdown test
and oil pressure test are about the only other normal tests that can be done
to determine engine integrity.

CaptainKrunch

 

$32.75 from Analysts, Inc.

 

or $20 from Blackstone Labs.

Pete

 

Get at a minimum compression tests on the cylinders. Better, a
leakdown test. If no compression or too much leakage on one or more
cylinders, it's not worth sprucing up.
New engines cost a bunch. Even rebuilt ones. I've had reasonable luck
with a Japanese engine, even though it wasn't exactly cheap by the
end, but make sure it comes with things like the matching ECU and a
warranty. Might work with the ECU, might not, or maybe work but not
exactly perfectly. Even the 'correct' engine has some differences from
the US one, like maybe different compression ratio, and at a minimum
the wiring harness is backwards. Not a huge problem, but means it
requires at least a minimum of thought, and it might affect
smoggability in some states.