Checking Valves on 3.8L

I was putting air in the #1 cylinder while the #1 cylinder was at tdc and all the air was escaping. Could this mean I have a valve stuck open. What is the best way to check if I have bad valves, because I also did a compression test and I had like 0 psi. Thanks

You have to be at Top Dead Center on the Compression Stroke. This means the Intake & Exhaust valves should be fully closed.

Car engines are 4 stroke, except for wankle/rotary engines. The 4 strokes are Intake- Intake valve open, piston going down to BDC. Compression- Both valves closed, piston coming back to TDC. Power - Both valves closed, mixture ignited, piston going back to BDC Exhaust- Exhaust valve opening, piston coming back to TDC.

If you have a valve hung open, you will have no compression.. A good way to make sure your valves are closing is to remove the valve cover, and watch them. While rotation the motor over by hand. If a valve does not move or return to full sealing height during all 4 strokes you have a issue.

Charles

Ouch. Sorry to hear about the bad luck. My advice is to get a set of used heads. Have them pressure tested, and decked. Around here salvage yards of good stature will do that included in the purchase price. Charles