V8 running on 7 cylinders - possible harm?

[Oliver S.]

Ok, this questions belongs to older V8s in general. What harm can be caused if you drive a V8 for 50-60 miles on 7 cylinders ... Due to an inadvertently unplugged spark plug?

Oliver

[Bob H.]

Re: V8 running on 7 cylinders - possible harm?

remove, clean or replace the plug which would be likely fouled. I don't believe there should be any further issue. Assuming you reinstalled the wire, how it it running?

[Oliver S.]

Re: V8 running on 7 cylinders - possible harm?

It was the spark plug socket I missed to put on. Idling wasn't that bad only during acceleration it didn't feel smooth.
After putting it on I drove a couple of miles and the acceleration was great & smooth.
This happened on my '68 Firebird (350, automatic) that I have since last year. Previously, I had trouble with the breakerless ignition with rough idling and stalling etc. This is fixed but apparently I'm not that used to non-Corvettes - I have no long and extensive V8 history. Otherwise I would probably have realized a missing firing cylinder. On my Corvette I would have realized it immediately... or at least much sooner.

Oliver

[Mark H.]

Re: V8 running on 7 cylinders - possible harm?

"Back in the day" a friend of mine was running a '66 Chevelle with a 427 at the local dirt track. One night he was running up with the leaders and then with about 3 or 4 laps to go he dropped off the pace and you could tell the engine wasn't running right. After the race we opened the hood open and saw one of the plug wires had come loose. Popped it back on and everything ran fine. No terminal damage.

[Duke W.]

Re: V8 running on 7 cylinders - possible harm?

Ok, this questions belongs to older V8s in general. What harm can be caused if you drive a V8 for 50-60 miles on 7 cylinders ... Due to an inadvertently unplugged spark plug?

Oliver

...very low probability that it did any harm.

Duke