The car seems to dropping a cylinder, or two maybe, after using engine brake.

In tippy mode, bringing the revs up to 3500rpm, then closing the throttle to drop the revs before resuming steady throttle/lower rpm results in the engine sounding like it's dropped a cylinder.

It doesn't last long, I hear the dropped pot then ease on throttle and it disappears. There's definitely lost power but it comes back shortly after. It's intermittent, so far the car has done it on my drive home from work twice (about a month apart). Today's dropped pot reminded me to post here.

I haven't done anything to the car lately, apart from check the oil and top up the washer bottle. No major bumps or clunks or broken bits recently. Car runs fine otherwise apart from being a little thirsty.

Wouldn't like to see this problem turn into something serious later. All help, guidance and/ guesses appreciated,

sounds like we need to give the car another compression test, and this time shove that little camera of yours down your spark plug holes and check the condition of your bores, a dropped/sticky/slightly bent valve will sound more like a (choofing) sound. it may even be a dud spark plug, and or lead. also check the condition of the contacts in your dizzy cap

sounds like we need to give the car another compression test, and this time shove that little camera of yours down your spark plug holes and check the condition of your bores, a dropped/sticky/slightly bent valve will sound more like a (choofing) sound. it may even be a dud spark plug, and or lead. also check the condition of the contacts in your dizzy cap

Easy does it, put the rattle gun down, its going to be something simple.

It'll be fuel delivery most likely, maybe my ignition system - like a spark plug. Compression test was 180 even over all six 8 weeks ago, no smoke, no bangs, no clunks or failures that would indicate internal damage to the engine.

I had a Mitsu once that literally dropped a cylinder. Found the mangled piston and conrod sitting outside the engine on the engine mount. lol

In this case though, it may just be a lazy or leaky fuel injector?

So I had a bit of a poke around under the bonnet today. Nothing obvious stands out. All connections good and tight, cleaned them as I checked them. Temperature sensor tests good. Ignition leads all fitting well. No fuel stains or anything to indicate a fuel leak or possible vacuum leak. Battery terminals tight and clean.

The manual has a resistance check for the injectors, I'll try that when it cools down. The injectors were cleaned a few months ago and installed with fresh o-rings/grommets.

My assistant for the day was a 3yo who has discovered the alligator clips on my multimeter attach well to my leg hairs when I'm not looking.

Madmax, I've had one of those come into the shop but it was a Suzuki Baleno.
A big piece missing on the block and a conrod poking through.
The guy said he saw the oil light but kept going looking for a good place to park.

The really freaky thing is that he said he was a commercial pilot.

Have a check of the fuel reg.
It's affected by vacuum from the inlet manifold and this problem is happening with change of throttle position.
Check the vac hose for cracks.
If you can get a vac pump, see if you can suck the reg down to a few ins/Mer and see if it holds vac.

Also check the fuel rail press if you can get hold of a pressure tester.

Have a check of the fuel reg.
It's affected by vacuum from the inlet manifold and this problem is happening with change of throttle position.
Check the vac hose for cracks.
If you can get a vac pump, see if you can suck the reg down to a few ins/Mer and see if it holds vac.

Also check the fuel rail press if you can get hold of a pressure tester.

Excellent. I have a vac pump/gage I can check the reg' with, will do that next weekend. Lines seemed good, but I'll take a closer look when I'm checking the regulator.

As for fuel line pressure I don't have the tools to check that. Fuel filter was replaced 4000km's ago, no leaks there.

Its very intermittent though, this dropped but isn't every time I close the throttle. Its impossible to replicate for diagnosis.