Can an Engine Misfire Fix Itself? (Read This First!)

An engine misfire is quite an unpleasant experience. This issue can be traced back to a wide range of car problems. So there is really no simple answer to whether an engine misfire can fix itself.

In this article, we have discussed the various aspects associated with this issue. We have also analyzed the scenarios in which you may experience an engine misfire and it can be fixed. So read ahead to learn more about it. 

Can an engine misfire fix itself?

In most cases, an engine misfire cannot fix itself. You will need to repair the engine. But the process is rather simple. If the misfire is not caused by an external issue or due to an issue in your vehicle, then you should get it checked by an expert. Seek professional help to get it fixed.

Whether an engine misfire can fix itself really depends on the nature of the misfire. But in general, it is unlikely that an engine misfire will fix itself. So you will have to analyze the factor that has caused the misfire in the first place in order to decide whether the engine misfire will fix itself or you need to take action in order to repair it.

The failure or malfunction of an engine cylinder can be traced back to a range of car troubles. So identifying the cause behind it will be quite a task. But generally speaking, if the engine misfire has been caused due to external issues then the engine misfire will fix itself.

In addition, if the engine misfire has been caused by some car issue that is not related to the engine, then it will fix itself. Otherwise, you will have to take immediate action in order to fix the car’s engine.

Now you may be wondering how long it will take for a misfire code to clear itself on its own. There are two ways this will work. The code may clear right after the misfire has happened. Or the issue may be sorted after a trip or two. That is to say, the computer will shut off as soon as it sees no further issues.

Generally, engine misfire is caused as a result of incomplete combustion in one or multiple engine cylinders. Fixing it is not that easy. How long you will need to fix the car really depends on the underlying issues of the car. But you should take the steps quickly in order to avoid any further complications in the car.

When does an engine misfire fix itself?

When will an engine misfires fix itself truly depends on the nature of the misfire. An engine misfire generally does not fix itself. But in the following cases, an engine misfire will fix itself.

An external factor:

There might sometimes be loose particles caught in the engines which will cause a misfire. These loose particles are often made of carbon and get caught in the engine’s spark plug electrode.

In such cases, the engine misfire will fix itself. The loose particle will eventually go away and the code will clear. In addition, this may be cleared up by a high RPM. The burst of a high RPM will clear this issue up.

Misfire caused by moisture and humidity:

When the misfire is caused by moisture and humidity, the engine misfire is likely to fix itself. This type of misfire mainly happens in engines that have poor spark plug wires. 

In these engines, the spark plug is affected by moisture and humidity. In these cases, the misfire will fix itself as soon as the humidity or moisture level goes down.

What does engine misfire feel like?

Engine misfires are quite loud and strong. You will feel them both from the inside and outside of the car. When your engine will misfire, you will feel a range of jerks coming from the engine. These jerks can be both light and strong.

These misfires often come quite loudly. You will notice that your engine is making loud jerks and thuds all of a sudden. This will be your cue to check on the engine or get it checked by a professional if you’re not well accustomed to the parts.

The misfires will come even more loudly if you are accelerating the car. The most likely scenario in which you will hear a misfire is when you are driving the car in high gears or low RPM.

In such a case, you will need to take action immediately in order to avoid any further complications in the car. Do not continue to drive the car until you have had an expert take a look at the engine.

What happens if you don’t fix engine misfire?

If you do not fix the engine misfire and continue to drive the car as normal, there will appear severe complications in the car. And it will surely keep increasing the repair bill of your car. Read ahead to learn what happens if you don’t fix the engine misfire.

Limited acceleration:

If you do not fix the engine misfire as soon as possible, the problem will only keep on getting more serious. You may lose acceleration options in the car.

Acceleration in the car will be limited. You will also have trouble controlling the car and getting out of the way of a vehicle that is coming your way.

So all in all, it will create a bad driving experience for you. You definitely want to get the engine misfire fixed as soon as you can in order to avoid an accident.

Strains the engine:

The longer you drive a problematic engine, the more strain you will cause to it. This may result in further complications for your car. The engine may even end up losing all its function.

Costs you more on gas:

If you do not fix the engine misfire, it will cost you more on gas. The unburnt gasoline as a result of the misfire will be replaced by the burnt gasoline. This is done in order to get the same power that is demanded by the car.

This will cause some severe deterioration in your car. You will have to use more gas than you normally would. As a result, you will have to buy more gas and spend more on your car’s operation.

How much does it cost to fix an engine misfire?

Fixing a car’s engine misfire can be quite a daunting task. But the amount of work and money that you will need to put in really depends on the type of misfire and the cause behind it.

If the misfire is caused due to faulty sparkplugs, it will cost you between $100 to $300 to fix the carbon or oil-fouled sparkplugs. And if you want to replace the plugs altogether, it will cost you roughly $500.

On the other hand, if the plugs have broken down, then you will need about $200 to fix them. So the cost really depends on the type of issue that you are facing. It would be ideal to get your car checked by a professional mechanic in order to identify the cause behind the misfire.

How do you make a misfire go away?

Let’s now discuss how you can make a misfire go away. Read ahead to learn more:

Take a look at the spark plugs:

At first, you should inspect the spark plugs in order to see if the issue is with them. You will first have to identify which cylinder is causing the issue. Then disconnect the spark plugs that are connected to that particular spark plug.

Test the coil plug:

Now you should use a multimeter to test the coil plug. Note that the spark plugs are responsible for igniting the fuel and air mixture. So a faulty spark plug can cause a misfire. You will need to check and identify the coil plug that is causing the issue. Use a multimeter for this purpose.

Replace the coil plug:

If the coil plug appears to be faulty, you will need to replace the coil plug in order to fix the misfire. All you will have to do is disconnect the wiring in the cylinder.

Unbolt them from the engine’s bracket. Then you will have to insert a new coil and it will be fixed.

Final Thoughts

Engine misfires rarely fix themselves. Unless there is an external issue in the car’s engine or a loose particle has caused the issue, the engine misfire will not fix itself. So you will need to check for the reason first and take action as soon as possible to fix the engine misfire.