Does anyone have any compression test results for the 1.7,DeKays is giving 180,180,180,140 after some foreign object appears to have gone through an inlet valve,rattled about a bit,then got spat out through the exhaust.

i'm guessing the last one should be 180 too? 140 seems low in comparison..

Four 180's would probably be ideal results in an A1 engine but ive had variations of 10 - 15% on other cars that gave no cause for concern.

Hmmm doesnt sound good.

Compression pressure should be 128PSI in when new. with a max difference between cylinders of 28.
Although the 3 180s seem a bit high (could be compression testing overreading?), its the large difference i'd be worried about. Perhaps something has scratched the cylinder liner/valve seat or chipped a valve. Unless you can get some sort of endoscope type thing i guess you're not gonna know until the head comes off. Maybe simply a complete new engine would be cheaper than wasting time taking the (possibly) knackered engine apart.

Have you checked the air filter to see what condition thats in? Obviously it shouldnt be letting any foreign particles through!

Anyways, sorry to hear about the problems, hope you get it all sorted!!

I did have a look with an endoscope but could only see the top of the piston as it wouldn't go all the way in. all seems well though something had been thro' the cylinder there was no evidence of it on top of the piston I put it back together today and it seems as well as it was before whatever it was got sucked in.

Well if its running fine, then thats the main thing!