Another Chevrolet Cruze in the shop today for the same deal - bad head gasket. After replacing the gasket, I found that it was low on compression. In today's video, I will show you how I tested the compression and discovered it was low, and what I did to fix it.

This is part 1 of a 2 part series. In the first part, I will cover disassembly - taking out the pistons and getting them on the bench.

Part 2 (which will be released on 12/10/22) will cover reassembly. I will put new rings on and completely reassemble the engine so that it is running again.

Link to Part 2:    • Part 2 of 2 - Assembly - Replacing pi...  

Once I completed this project, my compression came back up to within spec, and the engine is finally running perfectly again!

The Cruze that I'm working on today is a 2013 (I think I call it a 2012 in the video), but the procedure is identical for the 2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013. I believe the engine changed slightly for 2014 and newer. It is also the same engine that is used in the Chevy Spark and Buick Encore.

Thank you so much for watching. I really appreciate every viewer and every subscriber. If this video helped you out in any way, consider clicking the "Thanks" button!

This video is for entertainment only. You should never take apart your engine. Tinkering with your engine can cause irreversible and catastrophic damage, and will void any warranty. Only have your vehicle serviced by the dealership or licensed repair facility. Don't say I didn't warn you!