A misfire is the failure of the fuel-air mixture in a cylinder to combust successfully. Combustion is the process that produces the energy that allows your car to move. It takes place in the cylinders and requires fuel, air, and ignition by the spark plug. As your Nissan dealership, we’d like you to know some of the causes of an engine misfiring.
Advice From Your Nissan Dealership: Some Causes of Engine Misfiring
Incorrect Fuel-Air Mixture
Fuel and air combine to form the mixture that powers combustion. The reason for this is fuel is very explosive, but generating and sustaining the spark that ignites the mixture requires a large amount of air. The correct ratio of air to fuel is 14:1.
A blocked engine air filter, a dirty intake manifold, or a faulty O2 sensor can all cause a higher level of fuel to air. In this situation, your engine becomes fuel-rich. The lack of air makes spark plug failure more likely, and this directly causes misfiring. We’ll examine your engine to identify the cause of the problem, and then we’ll repair it.
Emission Equipment Failure
Vehicle emissions can be a major source of airborne pollution. Your Nissan has several systems that work to effectively prevent dangerous gases from the combustion process from exiting your exhaust. The centerpiece of this system is the catalytic converter. Engine gases enter the converter, which uses chemical reactions, extreme pressure, and high temperatures to change potential emissions into harmless gases and water.
A blocked converter can force the gases back into the engine. This increases the ratio of fuel to air, and as we saw above, this can cause a misfire. Problems with other emissions equipment like the oxygen sensors or exhaust gas regulation system can also induce misfiring. We’ll need to investigate your engine to identify the fault, then we will repair it.
Compression Issues
When the fuel-air mixture enters a cylinder, the cylinder closes, and the piston rises at high speed. The rising piston compresses the fuel-air mixture, which increases its potency before the mixture is ignited at the height of compression. The cylinder must remain airtight for the mixture to compress successfully.
Any damage to the piston or the cylinder, for example, a hole in the cylinder or a worn piston head, can allow more air into the cylinder. As a result, compression will be less effective and can cause the engine to misfire. Our technicians will check the affected cylinder and repair any damage we find.
Misfiring causes wasted fuel and poor engine performance. If it continues, it can result in engine damage and a more extensive repair. If your engine misfires, call us right away at Tony Nissan in Waipahu, HI.
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