When I built my motor, it idled for probably 30 seconds, then started missing out the exhaust. Something???? (never found it) had jammed in a valve and was wedging it open. Still had some compression, but a bad leak through the valve. Hit it with compressed air through the glow plug hole while spinning the engine over by hand and after a couple rotations, it blew the debris out the exhaust and sealed. Been perfect ever since.
What was the point of that story? The point is a piece of carbon, or debris from injector install, or whatever, absolutely CAN stick a valve open.
Now, at this point, I'd stop speculating as to what could have caused 0 compression and get on to actually finding out. This isn't actually too hard, especially if the valve covers are off so you know if the valves are open or not.
- Spin the motor by hand until the problem cylinder is at TDC (more or less) with both sets of valves closed.
If the valve covers are off, verify they have 0.012" lash or more so you KNOW they are closed.
- Spray compressed air in to the glow plug hole.
- Listen/feel where the air is coming out of. (Might have to remove the oil cap.)
If the air is coming back out the intake, you have an intake valve not sealing.
If the air is coming out the exhaust, it is an exhaust valve.
If the air is coming out the oil cap, you probably have a cracked piston or piston ring gone MIA. Possibly a lifted injector, but not likely.
If the air comes out the coolant tank, you have an injector cup lifted.