# 09 Corolla Low Compression on #3 & #4 **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 9, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508 "2023-05-09T12:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![vtchris\_185108](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e9a140/32.png) [@vtchris\_185108](https://community.cartalk.com/u/vtchris_185108)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 12:29pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/1 "2023-05-09T12:29:39Z")
I am getting 70 psi on cylinders 3 & 4, 125 psi on the other two. I am wondering if others have had this issue and what they found out was the issue? 164K, runs good, only symptom is hesitation when I stop. Well maintained. ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/2 "2023-05-09T12:41:15Z")
125 psi is lousy, 70 is worse. Did you hold the throttle open while cranking? Pour a tablespoon or so oil in each spark plug hole and see if the comp number rises. If so the rings are bad. If not the valves are bad. Either way the engine needs some major surgery, or replacement. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 1:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/3 "2023-05-09T13:00:05Z")
> [@vtchris\_185108](#): > > . I am wondering if others have had this issue Yes anyone who has a worn out engine will have readings like this . ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 1:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/4 "2023-05-09T13:06:18Z")
The last time I found two adjacent cylinders with low compression, it was caused by a blown head gasket. ![HEAD GASKET](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/3/638488512e7e52a743754ad158a9bb8977fe096c.jpeg) Tester ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/5 "2023-05-09T21:15:25Z")
> [@vtchris\_185108](#): > > I am wondering if others have had this issue and what they found out was the issue? I seem to recall another recent post here on this same topic, involving a Corolla with two cylinders really low, and the other 2 “iffy”. Maybe it was this same poster? ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2023, 9:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/6 "2023-05-09T21:25:20Z")
> [@vtchris\_185108](#): > > runs good, only symptom is hesitation when I stop. With compression that low, the engine would be running on only two cylinders, not drivable. I don’t believe those compression values are valid. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 4:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/7 "2023-05-10T04:47:23Z")
> [@circuitsmith](#): > > Did you hold the throttle open while cranking? I asked the other OP about that with no answer, both OP post have almost the same numbers… And the 09 being a drive by wire, not sure they know how to open the throttle or even that you have to open the throttle for a proper compression test… ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2023, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/09-corolla-low-compression-on-3-4/190508/8 "2023-05-10T16:11:11Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > not sure they know how to open the throttle Hold the gas pedal to the floor I would think; not complicated.