can you drive a car without one spark plug

[StMason]

Yes, you can physically drive a car with one missing or non-functioning spark plug, but you absolutely should not do so for more than a very short distance to get to a safe location or a repair shop. Driving in this condition causes immediate and potentially severe damage to your engine and its components.

An internal combustion engine is designed to have all its cylinders firing in a precise sequence. When one spark plug fails, that specific cylinder stops contributing power. This is known as a misfire. The engine will run very roughly, with a noticeable loss of power, excessive vibration, and a distinct shaking sensation, especially when idling or accelerating. You'll likely hear a sputtering or chugging sound from the exhaust.

The most critical risk is damage to the catalytic converter. Unburned fuel from the misfiring cylinder is dumped into the exhaust system. This fuel ignites inside the extremely hot catalytic converter, causing temperatures to soar beyond its design limits. Replacing a catalytic converter is one of the most expensive common repairs on a modern car. Continued driving can also wash the lubricating oil off the cylinder wall with unburned fuel, leading to accelerated piston and ring wear.

Symptom/Risk	Description	Severity
Loss of Power	Engine struggles to accelerate; feels sluggish.	High (Drivability)
Engine Misfire	Rough running, shaking, sputtering exhaust note.	High (Drivability)
Reduced Fuel Economy	Engine control unit injects fuel that isn't burned.	Medium (Cost)
Check Engine Light	Onboard diagnostics detect the misfire immediately.	Low (Warning)
Catalytic Converter Damage	Unburned fuel overheats and destroys the unit.	Very High (Costly Repair)
Engine Oil Contamination	Fuel dilutes oil, reducing lubrication.	High (Engine Wear)

The bottom line is clear: if a spark plug fails, your only action should be to drive directly to the nearest repair facility if it's safe to do so, or call for a tow. Ignoring the problem turns a simple, inexpensive spark plug replacement into a major and costly repair bill.

[LeJohn]

Oh, you'll know it right away if a spark plug goes out. The car starts shaking like crazy at a stoplight, and it feels like it's going to stall. Pressing the gas pedal does almost nothing—it just gets louder and shakier without really going any faster. The check engine light will definitely flash on. You might make it a few blocks home, but you're risking a huge repair bill for the catalytic converter. Get it fixed immediately.

[IkerAnn]

From a mechanical standpoint, running a cylinder without a spark plug creates an open pathway for combustion pressure to escape. This can blow out the ignition coil seated on top of the plug well, adding another component to replace. Furthermore, the engine's computer will be constantly trying to correct the air-fuel mixture for the dead cylinder, throwing the entire system out of balance. This isn't just a performance issue; it's a fundamental failure in the engine's operation that stresses multiple systems.

[DelHayden]

Think of your engine as a team of horses. If one horse sits down, the others have to pull much harder, and the wagon moves unevenly. That's your car with a dead spark plug. The good cylinders strain to compensate, the ride is jerky, and you're wasting gas because one team member isn't doing its job. It's inefficient and hard on the whole vehicle. It's not a "maybe" fix; it's a "get it done now" situation to avoid a breakdown.