Took my truck to the auto shop today to do an oil change. The Shop teacher told me, from the way it cranked, it had a dead cylinder. I don't really like to doubt people, but I find this highly unlikely. Could somebody please tell me how a dead cylinder would affect driveability?

Thanks in advance.

 

you have a 4 cylinder. it would be running on 3. or at 75%. you would be wasting fuel and have no power. You could easily tell because it would be rough. A quick test is pull the spark plug wires off one at a time. If the idle drops, the cylinder is active. when you plug it back on the engine smooth out and the idle will raise up. The dead cylinder will have no effect when you pull the wire. Or just do a compression test.

 

Well I tell ya, I pulled the plug wires- All appeared to make a difference.

Does the truck sound OK in this video-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muFI0KLjDkg

Thanks

 

well it fires up nice and runs. if all cylinders are showing activity do a compression test. even just reading the plugs when you pull them out can tell you a lot. Also how is the mileage. If its where its suppose to be then there is no way you have a dead cylinder. all the fuel would be being wasted in that cylinder and you'd have no power.

 

I'm getting around 20mpg city/26 hwy. I'm guessing this is ok for a 25 year old carb'd engine?