zeroek

I have a 95 honda civic cx that sat for a week. Well we decide to go out and start it and it cranks and no start. Well I decide to go through and do a no start diagnosis. We can heard the fuel pump kick in. We went through and tested the ignition system components. We get spark. We decided to do a compression test and find that all the cylinders have very low compression. Well I couldn't think of anything that could be wrong beside a real bad head gasket possibly. So we take off the head and find the head gasket is all intact. I did notice when doing the detorque sequence on the head that some of the bolts felt a tad looser than the others. We are going to put another head gasket on it but how do we keep a lot of the head gasket falling down into the water jackets when you scrape and clean it off? Also any other ideas on what could have been the problem?

Slopoke

You should've done a leakdown test before you tore everything apart.

Just an idea, but with the head off, I'd turn the cam over a few times in the head and make sure the valves are opening and closing.

I've had a couple older hondas that, all of the sudden, have really low compression. Turned out the valves were gummed up and were sticking partially open.
A simple tap to the top of the vave stem breaks them loose(just make sure the cyl your tapping is NOT at TDC).

zeroek

Dang a leak down tester lol. I'm kicking myself now. I forgot all about one of those. That's going to be another thing I'm going to add to my inventory soon now. I'm going to go through and check the valves and such. But would that cause the low compression for every cylinder? And they were all around the same number.

Chiovnidca

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zeroek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> Also any other ideas on what could have been the problem?</TD></TR></TABLE>
Maybe it was flooded?

Slopoke

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zeroek &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Dang a leak down tester lol. I'm kicking myself now. I forgot all about one of those. That's going to be another thing I'm going to add to my inventory soon now. I'm going to go through and check the valves and such. But would that cause the low compression for every cylinder? And they were all around the same number. </TD></TR></TABLE>

The #s were fairly different, but all low.
They would also change everytime I'd do a compression test. Like they were not sticking everytime.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chiovnidca &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Maybe it was flooded?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Being flooded wouldnt cause low compression.

Chiovnidca

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slopoke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">


Being flooded wouldnt cause low compression.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Sure it can, it washes out the cylinders so the rings dont seal well. They'll usually measure around 30-60 psi with a compresion test.

Slopoke

Yes, but the minute it floods it doesnt drop compression.

The car sat for a week and then it wouldnt start. Im sure it wasnt from being flooded.

zeroek

There was a point where I cranked it over for a few moments to see if it'd start. I think I did that for a few seconds before I decided to do the compression test. Do you think that'd do it?

Chiovnidca

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Slopoke &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

The car sat for a week and then it wouldnt start. Im sure it wasnt from being flooded.</TD></TR></TABLE>
I'm not saying it was, just putting out the possibility based on the information given. Let us know what it was when you find out.

Slopoke

Cool. I understand.

zeroek

Any idea on how to clean out the water jackets?