The paper discusses the impact of changes in the compression ratio on the operating parameters of a diesel engine, e.g. on the temperature of exhaust gases. It presents the construction of the laboratory test stand, on which experimental measurements were realized. It is characterized how the actual changes of the compression ratio were introduced to the existing engine. The program of experimental investigations taking into account the available test stand and measurement possibilities was described. A statistical and qualitative analysis of the obtained measurement results was made. The use of F statistics of the Fisher-Snedecor distribution was proposed to assess the significance of the effect of compression ratio changes on the specific enthalpy of the exhaust gas stream. The specific enthalpy of exhaust gases was analysed for one cycle of diesel engine work, determined on the basis of the course of quickly varying temperature of exhaust gases. The results of these analyses are discussed and the utilitarian purpose of this type of evaluation in parametric diagnostics of piston engines is presented.