how exactly does a cylinder die? and how can the engine keep runnin if one is just "dead". Just curious.

Can a cylinder be dead and you not know about it?

I also own a 93 civic, but mine is a coupe and EX. Not sure if your's is an EX or not.

Dave

 

mines a LX.. I did a comp test on cyclinder 3 and theres no compression at all. No compression = dead cylinder. Also I'm curious now to know if theres no compression sitting not running, and some compression when it IS running.

 

well when u do a compression check u run the car for a little to see if the needle goes up and falls with leaking compression, and then u do a leak down test by putting a tablespoon of oil into that particular cylinder to see if it regains any resistnace to loosing pressure, if after putting in oil it slows then its most often ur rings if it still leaks out at the same rate its most likely blown headgasket, or leaking valve seals. normally the cylinder has some compression but it can not hold it for any length of time which will not add much power at all, ive ran an engine at 40 lbs of compression on all 4 cylinders b4

 

You can do a compression test when the engine is running? Or do you mean do a test after its been ran for awhile? Because I've done both when it was stone cold and warmed up temps and it didn't make a difference, but maybe I'll try that teaspoon of oil and see what happens. But sitting stone cold there is no compression on cyclinder #3 at all.