Help, engine misses randomly
 

I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.

I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

Hi Steve,
You didn't mention the obvious misfire cause, bad spark plugs, do
you have more than ten thousand miles on them? Oil eats most silicone
modern ignition wires, once they're oiled down you should replace them.
It's kind of an automatic thing to replace the cap and rotor with plugs.
You forgot to replace the oil cap, indicating you have to add oil
between oil changes, might give it a compression check:
http://www.georgiazclub.com/tips/ztech/comptest.htm
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

Hi Steve,
You didn't mention the obvious misfire cause, bad spark plugs, do
you have more than ten thousand miles on them? Oil eats most silicone
modern ignition wires, once they're oiled down you should replace them.
It's kind of an automatic thing to replace the cap and rotor with plugs.
You forgot to replace the oil cap, indicating you have to add oil
between oil changes, might give it a compression check:
http://www.georgiazclub.com/tips/ztech/comptest.htm
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

Hi Steve,
You didn't mention the obvious misfire cause, bad spark plugs, do
you have more than ten thousand miles on them? Oil eats most silicone
modern ignition wires, once they're oiled down you should replace them.
It's kind of an automatic thing to replace the cap and rotor with plugs.
You forgot to replace the oil cap, indicating you have to add oil
between oil changes, might give it a compression check:
http://www.georgiazclub.com/tips/ztech/comptest.htm
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

Hi Steve,
You didn't mention the obvious misfire cause, bad spark plugs, do
you have more than ten thousand miles on them? Oil eats most silicone
modern ignition wires, once they're oiled down you should replace them.
It's kind of an automatic thing to replace the cap and rotor with plugs.
You forgot to replace the oil cap, indicating you have to add oil
between oil changes, might give it a compression check:
http://www.georgiazclub.com/tips/ztech/comptest.htm
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

It's oiled.... Oil conducts.

I would figure you will find oil under every spark plug wire boot on
both ends.

You could try having the engine running in the dark and spray a mist of
water on the plug wires and distributor cap. This will show you where
the spark is leaking from.

The oil also likely got into the distributor cap via the vacuum advance
linkage opening so you should open up the cap and check in there too.

I also would figure the power plug on the coil is oil saturated.

Carb cleaner spray or brake cleaner will wash a lot of that off.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

It's oiled.... Oil conducts.

I would figure you will find oil under every spark plug wire boot on
both ends.

You could try having the engine running in the dark and spray a mist of
water on the plug wires and distributor cap. This will show you where
the spark is leaking from.

The oil also likely got into the distributor cap via the vacuum advance
linkage opening so you should open up the cap and check in there too.

I also would figure the power plug on the coil is oil saturated.

Carb cleaner spray or brake cleaner will wash a lot of that off.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

It's oiled.... Oil conducts.

I would figure you will find oil under every spark plug wire boot on
both ends.

You could try having the engine running in the dark and spray a mist of
water on the plug wires and distributor cap. This will show you where
the spark is leaking from.

The oil also likely got into the distributor cap via the vacuum advance
linkage opening so you should open up the cap and check in there too.

I also would figure the power plug on the coil is oil saturated.

Carb cleaner spray or brake cleaner will wash a lot of that off.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

It's oiled.... Oil conducts.

I would figure you will find oil under every spark plug wire boot on
both ends.

You could try having the engine running in the dark and spray a mist of
water on the plug wires and distributor cap. This will show you where
the spark is leaking from.

The oil also likely got into the distributor cap via the vacuum advance
linkage opening so you should open up the cap and check in there too.

I also would figure the power plug on the coil is oil saturated.

Carb cleaner spray or brake cleaner will wash a lot of that off.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

Stevil wrote:
>
> I have a 89 4.2L Wrangler, recently I somehow lost the Oil filer cap
> and a some oil was lost inside the engine compartment lightly covering
> the block, distributor cap and wires and the air filter cover. Since
> then it will randomly miss 1 to 3 cylinders whilst driving, when it
> occurs there is a notable loss of rpm and "go". On a couple of
> occasions whilst in 1st gear it has missed completely and stalled.
>
> I replaced the air filter and cleaned down the surfaces, I also took a
> look at the distributor wires and all seemed clean... what am I missing
> here, help! Thanks in advance for your reply's.

Re: Help, engine misses randomly
 

> Carb cleaner spray or brake cleaner will wash a lot of that off.
>
Just make sure you do that with the engine off, and that it is dry before
you start it.
Carb cleaner and leaking voltage are a bad combo.
--
Stupendous Man,
Defender of Freedom, Advocate of Liberty