Putting cams in what seemed to be a strong H22a motor with 100k miles on it. Pulled the old cams and started changing out the springs/retainers with an overhead valve spring compressor by pressurizing each cylinder with 90 psi. Head is still on block. Cylinder No. 4 leaking bad out the intake. Open the throttle butterfly and it's easily felt by hand. Cylinders 3 and 2 don't pressurize as well as I would like either but I can't tell where they are leaking. Cylinder 1 wasn't that bad at all. Plug No. 4 was white/hint of a light tan when I pulled it. Hoping there is no damage to the head around the valve seat. Time to pull the head. Wish I had done a compression check before I started this. It's too damn cold (45deg) out to be working on cars, and getting colder! The only thing this car has as far as power adders is a CAI and Cat Back Exhuast. Maybe the injector is clogged. DAMN IT!

 

Head is off and there is some major carbon build-up esspecially No. 4 cylinder. Looks like it's keeping the valve's from sealing. Pulling the valves tomarrow and off to the machine shop she goes.

 

What year model motor is it? In the 97+ models they ahve about the shittiest valve train Honda ever put in anything. They have bad valve train problems. Might want to check the valve seats and make sure they are seating properly. I would advise replacing the whole valve train.

 

It's a 97. What's the problem with the valve train? Valve guides, valve stem, the seat, what and why?

 

...while its off, get a 3 angle and backcut the valves to match. I agree that your valve seats are just brucked up from carbon, check to see that you dont have lil pieces of aluminum on there! detonation is yucky...

 

Valves are out. Seats look good no sign's of detonation. There was a lot of carbon crowding around the valves. Sent it to the machine shop and the diagnosis is the intake valves and seats are good after the carbon was removed. The exhausts need to be re-ground. Since they are already grinding, there going to put 3 angles on all. Guides are fine.