Compression Test, PC- An exercise in mental masturbation Options

[SLITS]

Scenerio: You buy an engine and do a compression test. Cylinders measure 135, 130, 130 & 85 - BUMMER. So, since this engine has not run in upteen years, you throw it on the lift and pull the valve cover on the 3/4 side (#4 cyl is the low one).

Lo and behold, you notice that the #4 exhaust valve rocker has no adjuster screw or lock nut and there is a v-shaped piece of aluminum missing from the rocker box beneath the #4 intake valve. Futher probing (Aaron would like that) with a magnet reveals the missing parts.

Great story, but not the point of the post.

Problem:

If the exhaust valve is not opening to relieve the pressure, allowing kinetic energy to pull a larger charge of air into the cylinder when the intake opens, it will not build cylinder pressure like a normal compression test of a cylinder that is working. This is my theory anyway.

I have already been told by one mechanic that I am full of shit and another that agrees with me. No I haven't redone the compression test since replacing the screw and locknut.

This is your chance to mentally masturbate and tell me if I am full of feces or not! Spew away.

[ChrisFoley]

The inertia of the airmass at cranking speeds is definitely not a factor. If this engine has a stock cam, overlap is definitely not a factor.
I say do a leakdown test on cyl 4. If you don't have a leakdown tester, just pump air into the cylinder through the spark plug hole while the piston is at tdc on the compression stroke. If something is wrong you will hear the air rushing out somewhere.