Goldhawg

iTrader: (7)

Getting ready to pick up an LQ4 if it works out that is allegedly a 2005 w/30k miles. But I have no proof of the mileage; person bought it to put in a vehicle and changed directions. What would you look for to give a feel of the mileage?

It's been cleaned up on the outside. Would it be appropriate to pull the pan and a head (I'll be changing to 243s anyway)? Would you attempt to power up the starter to do a compression test? Thoughts?

I'd like not to buy a cleaned up 300k mile motor thats supposed to be 30k.

bottlefedbaby

You should have a pretty good clue when you pull the heads.

JRENIGAR

iTrader: (37)

Do a comp check by powering up the starter. Do the test dry and with some oil in the cylinders. If that checks out then pull the heads and check for cross hatch to be uniform and even in all cylinders from top to bottom.

redtan

iTrader: (5)

Still won't show much. After 30k miles the pistons can be all gunked up, much like an 100k motor.

Best scientific way would be to do a compression test, that will tell you exactly how healthy the motor is. That's really what you care about, not how it necessarily looks. Pistons can be dirty but perform just fine, but compression results don't lie.