240 DL loss of compression

[sbhmf]

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hi all,

i'm new to this site and to volvos. my folks had one when i was a kid, and i remember that i always liked it, so i decided to buy this one.

it's an '86 model whose clock was replaced with a tachometer. i had been driving it on highway with no problems. when i got off the hwy i could not go faster than 20mph. i put it in neutral and pressed the accellerator, but the rpm guage did not go above 2000. the engine still runs though.

first, i must say that i did not physically investigate the problem yet, and hope to glean from experienced volvo enthusiasts before opening a toolbox and poking around. it's an old car, so the less poking the better.

my initial suspicion is the injectors, and i might consider adding an injector cleaner additive to the gas tank. but i prefer to get your advice before doing anything.

can anyone recommend anything?

as an added note: i live near san francisco, california. what type of gasoline and oil will offer best results?

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[Volvord]

When was the last time you replaced the timing belt. Although there are several things that could cause these symptoms I suspect that the belt may have skipped one tooth. Have have seen engines run this way and the result is the same as you are describing.