What does it feel like to drive a car with a misfiring cylinder?
2 Answers
A car with a misfiring cylinder will exhibit very noticeable engine vibrations, and the engine's power output will be significantly reduced. If the engine is misfiring, it should be repaired immediately. There are many reasons that can cause an engine to misfire, such as damaged spark plugs, faulty ignition coils, issues with the intake system, or problems with the fuel delivery system. Spark plugs and ignition coils are part of the engine's ignition system. Spark plugs are wear-and-tear components that need to be replaced regularly. Over time, the electrode gap of the spark plug will increase. If the electrode gap becomes too large, it will weaken the spark plug's ignition energy, which can affect the combustion of the air-fuel mixture in the engine.
I've driven a car with a misfiring cylinder, and the feeling was really off. When the car was moving, the whole vehicle was shaking, and the steering wheel was vibrating like it was on a massage chair, especially when idling at a red light—the body shook so much it felt like it was about to fall apart. Accelerating was particularly laborious; pressing the gas pedal didn't translate to speed, and the engine sound became irregular, making a sputtering noise with some jerking, as if it was struggling to keep going. Fuel consumption noticeably increased, and after just a few dozen kilometers, the fuel gauge dropped quickly, with unstable power delivery. It was even worse when climbing a slope—the lack of power caused the car to shudder. If driven for a long time, the engine temperature tended to rise, potentially damaging the ignition system. It's best to head to a repair shop for a check-up as soon as possible to stay safe.
