Driving on 5 cylinders

[deadcylinderman]

Hey so turns out I have a burnt valve on my 3.0 v6 Accord. I'm going to replace the engine with a junker when I can, but in the meantime could I disconnect the fuel injector/ignition coil and drive on 5? Would it more balanced if I drove on 4? How quickly would this destroy the engine? I've heard of people driving around one dead cylinders for years

 

[bullwinkle]

It will sound bad, and throw lots of codes, but the cat will last a lot longer. If I absolutely HAD to do it, I would unplug the injector to prevent unburned fuel from getting into the oil & cat. There’s an amazing number of hoopty Ford pickups & vans sputtering around here on 7 cylinders because of spitting or cracking a plug!

 

[Propflux01]

When the oxy sensor senses the leaner overall exhaust stream, it may put the others at full rich. This happened to me when a coil went out on a V6, and I did the same thing as you are contemplating. I’d just run it as is until you replace it.

 

[The_Jeff]

Don't do it, maybe 20 miles max to get to a mechanic. The imbalance won't be good for the engine internals (which admittedly you won't need to worry about) and could even do weird stuff to your transmission input shaft or TC clutch.

 

[deadcylinderman]

Don't do it, maybe 20 miles max to get to a mechanic. The imbalance won't be good for the engine internals (which admittedly you won't need to worry about) and could even do weird stuff to your transmission input shaft or TC clutch.

I was going to replace the clutch anyway haha but alright

 

[ecotourist]

Why not do a valve job? Used to be quite common.

 

[kschachn]

Deadcylinderman. Nice.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-you-drive-with-a-dead-cylinder.353499/

 

[dishdude]

Deadcylinderman. Nice.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/can-you-drive-with-a-dead-cylinder.353499/

Similar question, not the same person.

 

[kschachn]

Similar question, not the same person.

No I didn’t think it was.

 

[deadcylinderman]

Why not do a valve job? Used to be quite common.

Bought this beater for $1000. Sounded like it needed a valve adjustment. Opened it up and found a broken rocker arm. I have no idea how long it had been like that with metal circulating in the oil so I don't want to just replace the valves if serious damage has already taken place

 

[Trav]

Did you replace the broken rocker arm?

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Welcome to BITOG

How long and how far do you plan on driving it until you get the new engine?

It'll run with Vigor

 

[PimTac]

How far do you think you can drive with a broken rocker arm?

 

[deadcylinderman]

How far do you think you can drive with a broken rocker arm?

I replaced the rocker arm. It was driving for a while before I bought it with the broken rocker arm,with the new rocker arm the valve keeps tightening itself after rotating the engine.

 

[Trav]

IIRC this engine has mechanical lash adjusters, they have to be set with a feeler gauge. If you just tightened it down the valve with never seal.

 

[PimTac]

This story keeps evolving.

 

[kschachn]

T

This story keeps evolving.

That's how these fantastical tomes always progress.

Just keep Powerbait out of the fill hole.

 

[deadcylinderman]

IIRC this engine has mechanical lash adjusters, they have to be set with a feeler gauge. If you just tightened it down the valve with never seal.

I used a feeler gauge. All of the other valves are fine. It's the one particular valve where I replaced the rocker arm that had been broken. It continuously gets tighter and tighter with each rotation

 

[Trav]

What year is this car?

 

[deadcylinderman]

What year is this car?

2004, J30