The Evils of Water, or, Why does it sound as though only 3 cylinders are firing

[josephrm]

So the engine won't even stay lit. It sounds as though only 3 cylinders are firing. wow. I pull the coils today, and I find the spark plug wells nearly full to the top with water. I guess this is a product of using a leaky tarp to cover my engine bay for a month through several big rains. Does anyone think that spark plug wells full of water would cause utterly massive misfiring? Does anyone think this would cause permanent damage to the coils?

P.S. The water definitely got in there after I installed the engine, since I tore the thing completely apart before hand.

[bmadd2402]

ummmm... yes it will cause huge misfires. spray the plus out with compressed air, start it and let it run for a few hours until it dries out. it shouldn't cause permanent damage, unless it has sat in there for a long time, then some could seep into the cylinders maybe. you should be fine. Thats why I don't wash my engine too often. it just causes the spark plugs to short. put a hood on the car!!! or buy a new tarp!!! take care of that RB in there. if you do it will love you forever

[josephrm]

the engine was only sitting in the car with the tarp on for about a month. I just put the hood on a week ago and started it for the first time a few days ago. all of the cylinders were firing when i first started it, but about 5 minutes later it started this misfiring. i'm thinking as it warmed up and expanded, the water got past the rubber boots and then was in contact with the spark plugs, causing the misfires.

[themadscientist]

Dry the wells out; that is all it is.