Final answer:
Possible component failures in the bottom end of a vehicle's engine that could cause low compression in one cylinder include worn piston rings, cracked or worn cylinder walls, and a blown head gasket. The most probable cause is worn piston rings.
Step-by-step explanation:
Compression is the ability for the engine's pistons and valves to take the air and fuel being ingested and do just that – compress it – either to the point in a diesel engine that the compressed fuel simply ignites on its own, or in a gas engine, where spark ignites the mixture using a spark plug.
The low compression issue in one cylinder of a vehicle's engine can be caused by several possible component failures in the bottom end of the motor.
Some possible causes include:
- Worn piston rings
- Cracked or worn cylinder walls
- Blown head gasket
The most probable cause would be worn piston rings. Over time, the piston rings can become worn or damaged, resulting in reduced compression.
This can happen due to factors such as normal wear and tear, poor maintenance, or fuel contamination.
The worn piston rings allow the air-fuel mixture to leak past them, leading to low compression in that cylinder.