an auto mecanic should be able to do a compression test for you, otherwise they are a great tool to own for trubble shooting, and for when you plan to buy a car with a few miles on it, I've done without a vaccum gauge, altho now I own one, and rather like it, you can do without by sucking on the little hoses to make stuff move, it's fasinating, and works really well.
krousdb 
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