Thanks roader, sorry, yes you also suggested putting shop air to the engine. I must give credit where credit is due. Thank you.

 

Thanks Poorman, checking the valve lash makes sense if I was having a problem with only the one cylinder, but I have no compression in all 4 cylinders.

 

starting to think it is a cracked head or possibly (far fetched) carbon build up on the valves not allowing them to properly close.

 

I was asking about checking the lash to see if the valves are closing......if large, then the valve would be "open" - for some reason, that is the million dollar question. But I see you are thinking about the same.......

 

This may sound crazy, but could this actually be from a problem with the VTEC or ECU?

 

I don't think the vtec or the ecu will have anything to do with this.

Have someone turn the crank by hand and look at the camshaft and not the sprocket. Does the camshaft actually turn?

 

Not likely that the VTEC was engaged because it needs oil pressure. But even if it were, the compression wouldn't be ZERO.

 

Poorman, you were right on the head.(no pun intended!) I should have checked the valve lash. I finally got around to tearing into the engine and this is what I found: 1 intake valve on #3 cylinder stuck open, both intake valves on #1, 2 and 4 cylinders not fully closing. I found all intake valves gunked up with sooty, rubbery deposits almost like tar. I found the same deposits in the intake manifold. I think my original thought that the old gas caused problems was correct. Tomorrow, I get to take the head to the machine shop to see how much to rebuild it. I already had a ballpark figure of $500.00 from one machine shop without even seeing the head. BTW: the VTEC module was surprisingly clean and clear.

 

Thanks for the update....of course you know the drill, you are there, replace what needs to be replaced so you don't have to see those parts for a while.

 

Hi guys, Just got the head back from the machine shop. Charged $268.00 to redo head; almost half of what the first shop quoted me. Guy at machine shop said there was so much sludge on the intake valves, they had to beat them out with a brass hammer! I am going to drop the gas tank and clean it out as well as the rest of the fuel system so this does not repeat itself. I'll try to get it all put back together this weekend and let you know how it works out. Thank you guys for all of your help.
Paul