HELP save my Rover

[Station]

If timing is out, exhaust gas will be slipping out straight on compression, and you won't get proper compression readings ... Only one way to find out though.

 

Off with it's head!

[Albert Ross]

If the timing has slipped, then it will be the same on ALL cylinders. I might suggest a couple of the valve lifters have over pumped, try an oil flush and change the oil for a good semi-synthetic. Failing that, whip the cams out and squeeze them all back, then try again. It ain't timing. Fact. Did you recently do an oil change with cheap oil?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I wondered about the belt too so I took all the covers etc off and inspected it. It hasnt slipped, however the alignment of the timing marks etc is very poor. I took the belt off and tried to align eveything better, but its as good as it can be.

 

The valve lifter thing is a good idea, could be that. I did recently chuck a load of tesco 10/40 in the sump after I dipped it and found the sump to be empty (yet again). But the engine ran fine for a while and it was only when I was blezzing along the motorway a few days later that I noticed i'd lost some cylinders.