Driving on 3 cylinders --- am I pushing my luck?
Posted by right_nite_moon@reddit | askcarguys | View on Reddit | 28 comments
2005, PT CRUISER, 85k, auto, turbo, 4cly ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hey buds,
My car is smoking like a diesel truck waiting to get ticked by the Cops.
The Turbo is new (6mths), but this doesn't rule out bad gaskets or seals inside the turbo. Since #4 is the problem, I disconnected the fuel injector and the car seems to put out less smoke.
My mechanic and I did leak down tests and scoped the cylinders, and have determined that cly 4 is the problem.
We figured it must be either;
- blown piston ring
- bad valve seals and or spark plug seals
QUESTION; Since it will be 2 wks before he can fix this issues, --- IS it a bad idea to keep driving the car (my only transpo mode) ?
Thanks for your Help!
BSCA@reddit
I know it's your only transportation.. but I honestly wouldn't put any money in this car. It's way past its lifespan. On borrowed time. I also wouldn't drive on 3 cylinders. If other things are failing and the engine isn't running normal. It's not good. But if it's all you have to drive. Get AAA and drive until it dies. And it will.
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
you Really think 85k is the life limit of this car --- Why?
tandyzmills@reddit
Obviously, you've taken great care of it. Jesus christ, driving it on 3 cylinders?
Hoopajoops@reddit
I've seen them last longer and shorter than that. If your mechanic quoted you a decent price and the car is worth it for you go for it. Look up the KBB value and use that as a metric for how much you want to spend on it.
And no, you shouldn't drive it. Running on 3 cylinders is a bad idea. Engines should be close to perfectly balanced between their components and engine firing order. They generate a crazy amount of power all things considered, but they don't last long once that balance is disrupted.
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
Hmm... yeah, you're right --- I'm looking for a 2nd ride as we speak.
BTW; I like these PIA cars (call me crazy). They're fast, handle decent, and are great commuter cars (haul food, construction tools, etc).
Hoopajoops@reddit
They have grown on me over the years. One of the cars that I thought were useless and looked stupid when they were new, but now I realize the utility and the looks have grown on me. My buddy had one for a while (no turbo) and he got around 180k miles before he sold it but it was still running. You can fit a crazy amount of stuff in the back of those things
erik_salvia@reddit
It’s a PT cruiser. The only one I’ve ever seen in “good” condition was a boomer than only used it for church and got his oil changed every 3 months
bravejango@reddit
I think 5k miles was pushing the limits of that giant pile of excrement. It was a horribly modified neon that took the worst parts of the neon and made them worse. It was designed for boomers when they were in their 50’s to remind them of the cars they drove around in as kids. They bought boat loads of the things and for decades they died on highway on ramps by the thousands.
Vegetable_Log_3837@reddit
I’d say 20 years is a pretty good run for a PT Cruiser.
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
You ever own one?
tuckedfexas@reddit
At a certain point, age is a bigger factor than miles. Averaging 4k miles a year is close to the point of being too low imo.
There’s tons of parts that wear with age even if they’re not being used.
Relevant_Election530@reddit
I don't mean to be rude but why are you putting this much time/effort/money into figuring out what's wrong with a 20 year old PT cruiser?
Isn't it cheaper to buy another old car and keep it moving?
Or did PT cruisers develop a cult following?
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
Believe it or not,... A turbo PT is a fun car; comfortable, handles decent and accelerates like a MOFO.
The car is in EXCELLENT (like new) condition, right down the interior. NOT what you'd expect on a 20yr old car.
erik_salvia@reddit
Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for driving fun, shitty cars that you enjoy, but some of them are just bad cars
It’s like dogs, some people love pitbulls that they are statistically the worst dog to have. You might have a one that won’t cause as many problems, you might not. You love your car and it might be fine, but it is statistically going to be a bad car. If you’ve been keeping up on maintenance, there’s no reason for any car to crap out at 85k unless it’s poorly made or you’ve been beating the hell out of it
135is@reddit
Not everyone can afford a new car
Relevant_Election530@reddit
I specifically said another old car.
He's presumably paying $50-$100 an hour in shop time to troubleshoot it then likely a $1500+ repair
135is@reddit
Not everyone can afford another car or maybe he just likes the car
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
I do like the car... its surprisingly quick and roomy. THE PIA with cruisers is 'working on the car' is a pain. I've replaced lots of parts and the car was riding AWESOME before this incident.
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
Not that much (since my mechanic and i are friends). --- YES, cars are expensive to maintain and the PT is PIA to work on.
ThirdSunRising@reddit
If a cylinder is toast, there’s not much point in spending more time and money at the mechanic. A bad engine is a bad engine.
Now, unplugging the injector and running it as a three cylinder car is perfectly valid. But with one dead cylinder the oxygen sensor will give bogus readings and throw off the mixture in the three working cylinders. You could disable the valves on that one and just drive on three til it can’t anymore, at which point you ceremonially set it on fire in the town square
right_nite_moon@reddit (OP)
You saying if Valve seals are bad, the engine is toast --- Why?
CarbonReflections@reddit
Yes you are pushing your luck.
CompetitiveLab2056@reddit
PT cruisers were trash when new: I would get rid of the problem and get a reliable car
Dr---Beeper@reddit
What do you tell the driver of a PT cruiser?
Nothing, their life is already reached rock bottom.
Adventurous_Boat_632@reddit
It's always a bad idea to drive something that is not running right. You might or might not get away with it.
West_Swimmer1325@reddit
I drove months on 3 cylinders, no real issue. I did what you did and unplugged the injector so it wasn’t spitting fuel into the dead cylinder. I had a slight loss of power, but it got by just fine. Mine was bad piston ring. I ended up getting a used motor of fb marketplace and swapped it myself
On my car, it’s basically my delivery vehicle car ( I do gig work), so that bad boy was on the road all day long.
CaesarsArmpits@reddit
My shitty company couldn't be bothered to fix my work vans ignition coil [that is replace it lmao], so i kept driving a 3/4 cylinder fiat van for about a month before trump bombed iran and prices went up. They fixed it afterwards.
YMMV, that car is still alive and kicking with the part replaced, these 1.4ls are gutless as fuck but somewhat bulletproof.
Fair_Willingness3937@reddit
I ran around for several weeks driving low miles, 10-20 miles a day with a blown valve in a 2000 saturn. good luck.