Is it safe to drive with a cylinder misfire?

Engine misfires can be caused by faulty spark plugs or an unbalanced air/fuel mixture. Misfire driving is unsafe and can damage the engine.

The cylinder is the part of the engine where combustion takes place. Combustion in the cylinder is what drives the car. The engine block is usually made of cast iron or aluminium. Depending on the type of car, the engine can have from two to 12 cylinders (the Bugatti Chiron has a 16-cylinder engine!). A misfired cylinder can cause a proportional loss of power. For example, if a four-cylinder engine misfires in one cylinder, the car will lose 25 percent of its power.

Driving a vehicle with a misfire is not safe. Here are 4 signs and symptoms to look out for if you think you have a cylinder misfire:

1. Loss of power accompanied by abnormal vibrations

One of the main signs that your cylinder is misfiring is a loss of power along with strange vibrations. As the cylinder powers the engine, your fuel economy will noticeably suffer as the rest of the working cylinders have to make up for the loss of power. Also, if your car is shaking at idle, this is another sign of a misfire. Combine these signs and they are sure indicators that your cylinder is misfiring and should be inspected by a mechanic as soon as possible.

2. Engine spark loss

Another reason a cylinder may misfire is due to a loss of spark. It could be something that prevents coil surges in the gap at the end of the spark plug, such as worn or corroded parts. Damaged, worn or faulty spark plugs or a weak ignition coil can cause a loss of spark and therefore a misfire in the cylinder. This may happen intermittently at first, but as ignition system components continue to fail, you will notice an increase in misfires. While this cause of engine misfiring still requires mechanical repairs, replacing spark plugs, ignition wires, and distributor caps and rotors is inexpensive.

3. Unbalanced fuel-air mixture.

If there is not enough gasoline in the air-fuel mixture, this can also cause misfiring. If the fuel injector is clogged, dirty, or leaking air, low pressure will affect all cylinders, not just one cylinder. A stuck EGR valve can also contribute to an air/fuel imbalance. Misfires caused by the fuel system appear suddenly and are usually more noticeable at idle than when driving on the highway.

4. Intermittent misfires

Cylinders sometimes experience intermittent misfires, which means the cylinder does not misfire all the time. Misfiring can occur when it is cold outside or when the vehicle is carrying a large load. In other cases, the cylinder may appear to misfire randomly and without any pattern. These are difficult problems to diagnose, so the car should be inspected by a professional mechanic. It can be a car vacuum line, intake manifold gaskets, a timing belt, or even a valve train.

Driving with a cylinder misfire is potentially dangerous. If you lose power while driving, or the second or third cylinder fails, it could lead to a car accident that could injure you and others. If you suspect a cylinder misfire, make an appointment with a technician as soon as possible to check and repair your vehicle.