Have you ever seen this?

[1stGen22RE]

1988 - 22Re - 197,000Miles
Starts rough when cold, smooths out within seconds and runs ok all day.
Have been noticing less power so I ran a compression test:
1: 0
2: 0
3: 0
4: 0
:awais:
Gauge would rise with each upstroke but then immediately fall back to zero. I then added oil to the cylinder and the peak rose slightly indicating worn rings, but it wont HOLD pressure.
Help! I have never seen this happen. I am pretty confident my snap-on gauge is accurate.
What could cause this other than poorly adjusted (overtightened) valve clereances? How long can this beast run with zero compression?
Thanx in advance for your help!

 

[mikestang]

Sounds like bad valve seals. The add some oil trick is only for testing for bad rings, and it's a pointless test if your cylinders aren't holding any pressure.

 

[Gh0st]

thats just crazy! You must have had like no gas milage! When my 3.0 was running on 4 cylinders because the other 2 had little compression, I was getting very poor gas milage, then i got a head job and its all good now!

 

[fourwd1]

... then i got a head job and its all good now!

:lmao: :naughty:

 

[fourwd1]

I'm wondering if you're doing the comp check correctly.
An engine w/zero compression will not even start.

 

[rustyrazor]

There's alot of ways to do a compression check wrong so here are the steps I've found work most often when I've checked compression.

Make sure the engine is at normal operating temp.
Disable the ignition before the coil
Insert the compression tester into one of the spark plug holes
Hold the throttle full open
Crank the engine continually for about 10 revolutions
Read the peak compression from the tester
Record the reading for each cylinder.

I go by the 10% rule for compression. If any 2 readings are more than 10% off then I would investigate further.

I'd also consider some other possible causes of your initial problem. You might consider changing the spark plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor. Any of these can cause the engine to run rough when cold.

 

[mikestang]

Uhhh, you want to disable the fuel, not the spark. Otherwise you're washing your cylinder walls down with raw gas. That's a no-no.