When you are troubleshooting your car, you may come across the question of what should compression be at idle. This is an important question to answer, as it can help you diagnose potential problems with your engine.
Compression is the process of air being forced into the cylinders of an engine. The air is compressed by the pistons moving up and down in the cylinders. Compression makes the engine more efficient by allowing it to burn fuel more completely.
The ideal compression ratio for gasoline engines is around 12:1. This means that for every 12 units of air, there is 1 unit of fuel. For diesel engines, the ideal compression ratio is around 14:1.
If your engine has a lower than ideal compression ratio, it will run less efficiently and may produce less power. A lower than ideal compression ratio can be caused by a number of factors, including worn piston rings, leaky valves, or a low-quality fuel mixture. If you suspect that your engine has a low compression ratio, you should take it to a mechanic to have it checked out.