Driving on three cylinders?

[skate1968]

My car has a rough idle and stumbles on acceleration. It's running real rough until i get it in higher rpms. It appears as though one of my spark plugs is fouled.

Can drving a car like this cause major damage? If there is a risk of major damage i'll drive it up the block to get it fixed. Otherwise i'll go to my regular mechanic who is 3 miles away.

 

[chrome]

A misfire and stumble will pour raw fuel down the exhaust and right into your catalytic converter. Depending on how far you drive, you risk wrecking the cat converter by overheating it.

 

[skate1968]

Thanks for responding, chrome. That seems to be a somewhat tolerable risk to take for a few miles to the mechanic shop.

 

[oilyriser]

run your fingers along the ignition wires while the engine is idling, to see if there is any obvious leakage Don't lean forward against the car while doing this, especially if the side of the car is at waist height. Only use one hand, and keep the other one in your pocket.

 

[Eddie]

I love the warning about leaning against the car if it is Waist high.

 

[tomit]

Model and year? If some computers sense a misfire fuel is cutoff to that cylinder.

 

[MrCritical]

If the car has a composite intake manifold, missfires can crack the manifold.

 

[JTK]

I like the shade-tree ignition wire check! Oooo tingly.. If the OP has coil-overs, the process might not be so straight forward. Maybe swap coils around to see if the problem follows the coil. The Subaru Justy 4x4 my brother bought new in 1989 came with 3 cylinders! I bet they'd sell like hotcakes now. That was actually a nice little car.

Joel

 

[skate1968]

Thanks to everyone for the response.

I had a fouled plug from a bad grommits/sparkplug ring. New Valve Cover gasket, grommits & plugs.

cheap & easy