A Misfire is when the Air and Fuel Mixture in one of your Engine’s Cylinders fails to ignite. When your Engine Misfires it feels like the Engine is stuttering or Running Rough. Usually when you have a misfire your Check Engine Light will flash to let you know that there is a serious problem. When your Car Misfires it pushes unburnt fuel into the Exhaust. This can damage Catalytic Converters and Cause Costly Repairs. Each Cylinder needs three basic things to ignite properly. It needs Fuel, Compression, and Spark. If the Cylinder fail to receive fuel then there will be nothing to Ignite when spark is delivered.
Compression is the next necessity. The engine uses a Timing Belt or Chain to make sure that the Pistons move up and down in time with valves opening and closing. If the Timing is Off the Cylinder will not build the Compression needed to Ignite the Fuel Mixture. You can also lose Compression due to worn internal engine parts such as Piston Rings or The Cylinder Wall. Here is a photo of a Timing belt that has failed causing the cause to misfire on nearly every cylinder.
Lastly, you need Spark. The Spark plug delivers spark to the Fuel Mixture to fire each cylinder. Spark Plugs should be changed at recommended intervals to ensure they can spark properly. It also takes the Engine Computer to tell them when to spark. If your Spark plugs are worn you may certainly experience a Misfire in your Engine. Here is a new spark plug next to one with over 100,000 miles on it.
If each Cylinder in your car is getting Fuel, Compression, and Spark your engine should run smoothly. If you experience a misfire at any time or notice your Check Engine Light Flashing call us at 405-225-2007. At Priebe’s Auto Clinic and Tire Center we can figure out why your engine is not firing properly.
