Quick question about plug firing order

[oneathefaintest]

I was about to start taking apart my carburator and I decided to trace the spark plug wires first. Well the firing order is 1-6-5-4-3-2 LH. It looks like someone got two switched so my boat was firing 1-4-5-6-3-2 but it was running ok?? I'm confused, would that have been my problem of lower power on the water and not getting up to top speed? I guess my question is would the boat still run ok if two were switched? Maybe I messed up but I tripple checked.

 

[Robj]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

It would definitely result in lower power. But you said it was running OK, and on 2 dead cylinders it would not be. Double check. I would definitely be able to notice 2 dead cylinders on a 6 banger.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

What kind of engine would be helpfull

 

[Don S]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

Are sure you are numbering the cylinders correctly
Front
of engine
1---2
3---4
5---6

 

[Don S]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

He has a 91 V6 Mercruiser and 2 other posts on this page.

 

[oneathefaintest]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

yeah a V6. in the boat looking at the engine....

6----5
4----3
2----1

the 4 and 6 were definately switched around. I guess I thought it sounded "ok" because I didnt know what it was supposed to sound like. Now that they're switched to normal the engine doesn't really sound like anything, it sounds like my girlfriends 2005 hyndai really quiet except for the exhaust.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

yeah a V6. in the boat looking at the engine....

6----5
4----3
2----1

the 4 and 6 were definately switched around. I guess I thought it sounded "ok" because I didnt know what it was supposed to sound like. Now that they're switched to normal the engine doesn't really sound like anything, it sounds like my girlfriends 2005 hyndai really quiet except for the exhaust.

I've had occasion to come upon an engine with those 2 particular wires crossed, and it's hard to tell there's anything wrong, except loss of power. I don't know if you suffered any damage, but I didn't notice any when put back to the right cylinders.

I actually had someone pull a prank on me yrs ago, and switch those same 2 wires on a 1972 big block 402 SS Camaro while it sat at the Railroad station while I was at work one day I noticed the odd sound of the engine right away when I started it up, even though it ran fairly smooth surprisingly, I immediately put them back to where they belonged, and all was well again

 

[oneathefaintest]

Re: Quick question about plug firing order

Thank you! Thats very comforting, now that the wires are right I can def tell a difference. But before it ran pretty good you really couldn't tell anything was wrong until the motor was under load. Def be one to add to the adults only list up there. I'm just thankfull I didn't go tearing into the carburator yet!! And i'm just thankfull it was something as simple as plug wires. Thanks everyone for your input.