Find And Diagnose A Dead Cylinder

How to find and diagnose a dead cylinder, if the engine is knocking, starting it may cause more damage to it.

[@Ralisk86]

I am going to try this tomorrow on my truck, at low RPM I get a shake and I was told I may have a dead cylinder. Thank you for posting this!

[@robertgordon9295]

The water trick is ingenious!

[@davekauffman8727]

Beautiful engine, simplicity is fantastic, I wish I could find a car that was so easy to work on.

[@Se7enthsonSS]

This is ten years ago but I really hope that you still look at comments. My driver side bank was rich and missing. Zero power from a 450hp 383. Did your exhaust trick and it worked amazingly. I ended up swapping dizzy cap, wires and button but eve. After that the 3/5 cylinder was rich and missing. Sprayed exhaust and no sizzle. Adjusting valve lash and back in the game. So very grateful for this video. Extremely grateful

[@groutaone]

Nice that it worked out, thanks for watching.

[@fryreartechnology7611]

Major knowledge drop from the troubleshooting toolbox. I’m still learning after 20+ years to read plugs as my ‘65 boat motor (2 cycle) threw me for a loop. Great video

[@cj15941]

great video Grouta! i'll definetily be using this sometime in my life. THIS is what they need to teach us in school!!!!!!

[@car_ventures]

Great vid, thanks for sharing. Always enjoy seeing the pontiac :)

[@fgjf1079]

Wet rag technique is brilliant! Thanks

[@michaelmorris6575]

Great tips! Thank you for the video.

[@ackleyengineering5413]

Awesome information and straight to the point

[@ScaleCarModels]

Never thought to use some of your methods great stuff!

[@blobcsgo7190]

Thanks great editing and explanations :)

[@Executable.exe.]

i laughed so hard when he said "so i took at hammer to it"

[@harley22x]

I'm thinking "so, if my spark plug has been smashed with a hammer... I should... Replace it?" 😂

[@hughmcbeath5463]

Thanks 😊 🙏 from the bonnie Highlands of Scotland

[@kamutiub]

Nice...simple and straightforward..

[@MRSROCKINROBIN]

Good stuff!!!!! It's always a good thing to have more knowledge on diagnosing problems.... Don't forget to put the plug wires back on my car..... LOL . Merrie-Merrie

[@SuperCougarlover]

Thanks a lot for the video it is very helpful. When you can, can you do some on setting valve lash, setting the timing and how to make a car hook right off the line everytime. I look forward to your future videos.

[@bonzo9303204406]

that was very helpful to someone who doesn't know what he is doing when he pop the hood lol... you could make tutorial videos for like anything from changing tire to something more complex ... this will help a lot of people ! nice vid there bud keep em coming !

[@denmarckmaxwell4521]

Man my 4.3 mercuriser had an issue with light to no spark on my #5 cylinder . Changes plugs and ignition coil. I check the distributor looked good. End up doing a compression test all were at 150 #5 0. Anyways I thought I had a bad piston but, seeing your video I don't recall having any damage sparkplugs I have a valve issue. Thanks for the video my mind can ease.

[@Futurensen]

Thanks once again for the lessons!! :)))

[@Silverpup78]

Great vid!

[@markday2198]

Grrt video . Helps much . Also theirs oil on outside meaning the exhaust manifold is leaking . Thanks .

[@805ROADKING]

Good lesson Professor!!☺

[@Lucky13RatRod]

Great video!

[@coltontucker1601]

Love the vids man!

[@redwingf4i654]

Good stuff man

[@jimharrow8104]

Awsome video...

[@onlyreallifematters]

very good and simple explanation. i'm planning to building myself a aircooled vw bug engine and was just wondering if i should go for forged pistons and crank. why/why not? some guy told me that forged pistons and crank expand alot more than regular castings, and being aircooled the engine gets alot hotter than a watercooled performance engine

[@tharealBDOGG]

great vid and nice car dude

[@Jodeyjoe559]

no thats coolant , blue is oil

[@RS-performance]

Laser temp guage on each header tube out of the head usually works pretty good too

[@frederickconner8572]

This was amazing thank you!

[@kx80moto]

nice video n nice car

[@banshee01ful]

hang out in the shop with Groutsy.......awsome vid.......that is sweet... thanks for that...no cheezies or Ritz......Bummer...lol.......Love the vids....

[@sbartasek]

Good stuff Groutaone! Somebody once told me you should always stick an unused spark plug wire into the top of the carb to keep it still and make sure it gets a good ground. But then my intake manifold jumped out of my car and over the house... strangest thing lol

[@rranger1014]

Haha!

[@groutaone]

In all out drag my choice would be in this order, Big Chiefs, AFR then the Dart Pro 1's but I may even consider Pro Filler before the Chiefs and there are some other heads that would line up between the Chiefs and AFR's

[@22Angst]

Curious, whats the new(?) rad/cooler thingy on the front of the main radiator doing? I don't recall seeing that there before on older vids. A new trans/oil cooler?

[@groutaone]

Thanks, I do appreciate you all watching, I would even offer you some Ritz

[@anthonyatkins8034]

I got a 1999 plymouth breeze and it started missing on #2 cylinder its was getting fire and gas and air,change sparkplugs check that it was getting spark at end of sparkplug and it was but still missing,come to find out it was carbon build up inside sparkplug wire and thats what was causing it.

[@userunavailable3095]

Useful. Thanks

[@kaysmooth319]

very nice

[@groutaone]

It could be that the small amount of oil the engine uses is all being used by one cyl. It could be valve / seal related like you say. Does the engine still not fire that cyl. even with a new plug? Then it would likely be compression

[@ForcedFalcon]

This is pretty helpfull, the wet rag part i meen. What if said car is running a log manifold? Cause my Skyline runs a log manifold and the pipes are very short and right next to each other so wouldent it heat up the pipe leading to a misconception that the cylinder isnt dead when it could be?

[@zefrum3]

thank you

[@groutaone]

Depends on the application of the engine, no nitrous or turbo then you will be fine with cast, in fact then it would be my first choice

[@wuxianku]

This very good way to check misfire

[@xtremeownagedotcom]

Reminds me of finding the dead cylinder(s) on my old lsx. Apparently, melting pistons and breaking ringlands will cause no compression... and mechanically damaged sparkplugs.

[@mrthomas2000]

Ive got an exhaust manifold cover man... Do i have to take t off?

[@frankieguevara9807]

Would this cause the exhaust temp to be cool on one side I can literally feel the difference from the left and right sides.the right exhaust temps are hot.

[@22Angst]

You should get one of those on the CR for the front wheel... DOUBLE TIRE ROOSTING!

[@user-tk1bk8wm2j]

Good man

[@harshac.g6640]

Hi, I have a 3 cylinder engine and one cylinder is dead, looks like its not running for some time now and the piston doesn't look too good. Should I rebore and get a new piston for that cylinder. Or there is any other way?

[@nandogutierrez1223]

I just installed a new motor in my Camaro and put a couple thousand miles on it and I have two misfires .. 2 and 5 would a valve seal cause a misfire and to run rich or is it more of a position ring situation

[@Cumminsmaniac16]

always lovin your vids this one was very informal. & i learned the HARD way to always use new gaskets after a rebuild! after rebuilding my cr 125 i thot i would save money & use the old head gasket. well being old it got crusty & gave out lettin water in the cylinder melting the piston & hydo-locking it up. i was doin bout 60 mph down the dirt road when it happened. rear wheel locked up i skidded about 80 yards. lol. that was bout 2 months after rebuilding this summer. now i gotta do over again!

[@anthonysalinas6195]

I really like the wet rag idea. I will definitely have to do this to my car to figure out what is the dead cylinder

[@jakefriesenjake]

Just take a squirt bottle, and squirt some water on the pipes while running

[@groutaone]

Thanks

[@777Timberwolf]

can you help me on this problem... 1994 Nissan Pathfinder One cylinder has cold temp knock but clears up at operational temp.

[@groutaone]

When the cold weather comes and makes me think about inside projects

[@wallypaige1240]

I have a mercury 50 hp. outboard motor,and one spark plug I put in. Is like brand new,nothing on it. Does that mean I have a cylinder problem. Or is the spark plug,bad.If I put another spark plug in. How will I know its working?

[@maxpower700]

i use startergas to find leaks in the intakemanifold/gasket. easiest way, if you are asking me. start the engine, and spray kinda everywhere. if the engines idle rises, you have a leak =)

[@JETZcorp]

So here's a question. I have a Honda CRX (shut up, I have it so I can afford to drive my Dakota R/T the way it ought to be driven) that's running on 3. The ignition is all good and there's spark on the dead cylinder. The plug looks real black and gooey, but the car doesn't smoke or go through very much oil. I always thought that if the rings and/or bore had trouble, that would cause smoking and oil consumption, and based on that, I suspect a valve-related problem. Does that seem reasonable?

[@22Angst]

I'm sort of surprised more diesels aren't racing in cars... they have so much damn torque. I was running with a F350 dualy (HEAVY BEAST) on an open highway one late night and it was all i could do to keep up with him in my WRX.. I surely couldn't pull away and my car isn't slow... lol

[@ammar0alkashif]

very nice car, nice lesson, but i think it only work if you have long tube headers

[@groutaone]

I would be asking for engine damage if I set my timing by ear, 36 degrees all in distributer locked

[@silentfallen01]

no this works on my shorty headers in a 350. I had to go give it a try

[@FirebirdFarmboy]

An intake vaccuum leak wouldn't completely kill a cylinder would it? Wouldn't it have to leak a lot of air before it becomes too lean and doesn't even ignite? Probably more than a leaking gasket would ever allow unless there's a big chunk out of it. Nice trick with the water but I like those laser temp guns from Canadian tire for $40.

[@groutaone]

Thanks grasshoppa

[@jimmytvfclassic]

maybe could be a broken rocker arm that doesn't allow the intake valve to open

[@kttangos2871]

Too bad i cant use the water trick on my Honda😢 But when i hand crank it over adjusting the valves i hear compression as the piston comes up on all but cylinder no 6. Springs look ok, valve adjustment is good-gonna run a compression test coz im fearing a cracked head but maybe i have a severe intake Leak???

[@mshock9637]

Water?! What dont ya like burning your fingers. Lol. I actually have a FLIR thermal imager that works terrifically for this. Matter of fact my dad had no idea his 69 vette was only poppinf on 7 until one day i was just trying to show him my neat new toy and i said "hey you got a cold one here, pop!"

[@AllRepair]

lets see a video of your toolbox and/or toolboxes :D

[@groutaone]

The water trick would put you in the general area but it wouldnt be precise, best to start with a cold manifold and check it with water without delay right after you run it maybe 20 seconds, there is another way by pulling plug wires and rpm, maybe another video is in order

[@aznnp77]

This is really genius, but I realize that if your cylinder was completely dead you would probably know it. Most people are looking to check for low compression in cylinder(s). I took a commenter's suggestion to use an infrared thermometer on each one. I got 340, 350, 380, 340. All around 350 or something on multiple tests. Admittedly it was a cheap thermometer, but I just wanted to get an idea. Cylinder 3 consistently tested hotter, so I hope that one cylinder isn't an issue.

[@demo9750]

Or maybe just get a compression tester, you can get one on ebay for $16.

[@teresaagee6630]

aznnp77

[@bradleykelvinpope8795]

Yip the old water trick sure thing there.

[@groutaone]

An intake leak can kill more than one cyl but if its real small leak it wont make much differance, I have a laser temp gun myself, thought I would make a vid for all the guys that dont have one

[@RexerYTRexer]

Detonation will smash a plug and the bottom end will look perfectly fine

[@groutaone]

You are very welcome, maybe one day a full blown tour, I could even show the crickets ha ha jk

[@groutaone]

Yep trans cooler, its always been there

[@cumputer1223]

I'm just starting a vlog like the one you have and what is key to getting alot of subscribers

[@cbr1thou]

Vlogzzzzzzzzz

[@groutaone]

yep

[@babyhubert4447]

great video.

[@DALPowersports]

Why did you make a second channel "Piston Scuff"?

[@roudyroy1]

be cafreful when running an engine with the plug wires off, you can fry new electronic ignition modules. this engine looks to be points and condenser? so its not asbad

[@Tallguy29]

Where abouts is the Flux Capacitor on that motor? I don't see it in that video..

[@WatersandWilderness]

I have a 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertable 6 cylinder. I had taken it to get a tune up and fix what seemed to me to be a spark plug that burned out while I was driving it. While driving it, I began to smell burning oil and then the sound of the car was different. The men that I took it to said that they could fix it and give it a tune up. I picked up the car and brought it home. Later in the week, I drove it to Walmart. The cylinder began to do the same thing it did before it was "fixed". I cannot afford to take it back to the same place since it doesn't make sense that I would pay them twice to fix it... What do you think could possibly be wrong with it? I'm in Anaheim, CA and need to find a reputable garage to fix it and make sure that I'm not taken advantage of.

[@groutaone]

Possibly piston ring or valve trouble on that cyl, maybe get a compression test done see what it shows.

[@samcwach4475]

thats a mean cam:)

[@rranger1014]

Love that water outlet! (thermostat cover)

[@MrBikedrummer]

Hello. I have a 1962 Chrysler Imperial with a 413. I think it's firing on only 7 cylinders. I can't touch the header pipes to find a cold one. Can I connect a timing light to each wire to see if it's bad, or will that only test the wire and not also the plug? I hope you can help with a suggestion. Thanks

[@groutaone]

+MrBikedrummer Dribble a bit of water over the exhaust manifold at all eight exit points, do this with a cold engine after it has run for about a minute from cold start up

[@MrBikedrummer]

+groutaone thanks. it's so easy with my 4 cylinder motorcycle. the headers couldn't be easier to get at. I've used this method before. It's foolproof and quick. Thanks again.

[@rodger6940]

groutaone please help my 03 kia optima I put gas went to work and I try to start the car and nothing just grinding noise it won't crank up, it sounds like there is no compression in the engine. I look the timing belt looks pretty worn-out ( cracks )

[@groutaone]

Yes a timing light will help a bit as it will show if the wire has fire but that's about it, can you dribble water over the exhaust manifolds?

[@2002yz250rider]

Fuel Spark Compression and AIR

[@gabbermaikel]

can you borrow a compression tester somewhere? or else buy a cheap 1 from ebay or somthing. And then measure the compression pressure on that cilinder and on the working ones. If they are all pretty close to eachother then its fine. But i think you could have a valve thats not closing, then that cylinder will get no compression because the pressure can escape. Another way to check it if u have a compressor would be to blow compressed air into the sparkplug hole and check where its comes out.

[@Newo7c]

when will you have a dune buggy vid

[@groutaone]

Oh ya, the plug wires ha ha

[@kfjfjfjewlsls]

if you have an injected car and its running poorly check the lambda (usually right after the exhaust manifold) and air mass sensors (after the air filter)

[@BRZ_RN]

Does a dead cylinder produce a white smoke?

[@groutaone]

White smoke from a gas engine can be a sign of coolant getting into the cyl

[@p51dgp91]

Water trick won’t work on a cast manifold lm guessing due to heat transfer?

[@groutaone]

Starting with a cold engine and run briefly before testing with water would still give a fairly good visual reference.

[@groutaone]

They are fun but I dont have one

[@groutaone]

Lol did you just run outside and try it?

[@groutaone]

Could be how the cam lines up with the crank, a bit retarded and it takes from the bottom power and move some to the top

[@shivandabideen4587]

Don’t mean to sound like I’m bashing u but the cylinder would not have heat up once u had the plug wire out It’s not getting spark so how combustion gonna take place and cause heat. The way to check is definitely not what u did there. You need to check if there is any difference in idle when u take out the plug wires individually

[@shivandabideen4587]

You and I may know what u meant to do but ppl who aren’t experienced will take out the wire then fire it up and check to see. But I understand what u did. U just need to have one where there is really a dead cylinder

[@marknewman9430]

Bro you completely misinterpreted what he was trying to do.

[@gabbermaikel]

or if someone is smoking or 1 of the plug wires is bad you have a heater.(fire)

[@groutaone]

Ah yes, the dreaded flux capacitor

[@22Angst]

Sometimes the flux capacitor is just a few degrees out of alignment, that'll do it every time.

[@rranger1014]

Haha