I have an Evinrude VE200 SLEID V6 HP engine that been struggling under load. Now, it barely starts and will only move at about half throttle once running. I performed a compression test using a new, verified gauge. Five cylinders read 55 psi, and one reads 60 psi. I’m unsure if I conducted the test correctly—I’ve been told the throttle should be open during testing. I tried it both with the throttle open and closed, but the results were the same. Everything points to the engine being worn out, but I’ve also heard that faulty reed valves could contribute to these symptoms. Before I start tearing into the reed valves, I want to confirm whether I\'m interpreting the compression test results correctly. What are the chances that all cylinders would show compression that low? Could it really just be the reeds, or is this likely a deeper engine issue?

