Hi AJ, correct it is an assumption. But what I didn't mention is that with the air in the cylinder - I rotated the engine and the leak almost stopped at around 40 degrees BTDC (engine was fighting me with pressure in it, so hard to be exactly sure where the leak stopped), so the valves are closing; just at the wrong time. Perhaps it could be something other than valve timing, but I think that is the most likely culprit and the next place I'll check.