How much damage can a misfire do?

[ButtonIt]

As stated in several threads, my car has been misfiring on and off for a while now. Every time I think it's running well I head out full of confidence only for the problem to develop while I'm out and I end up having to limp home with all sorts of pops, bangs and loss of power.

What damage can this do? I've heard it can cause CAT damage, although I thought this would effect emissions and it passed it's MOT 2 weeks ago without fault. How about the mechanics of the engine?

I await your ever educational responses. One of the things I love about this site is the amount I learn each time. A few years ago I wouldn't have even attempted to change the lightbulb, now I'm running fuel lines, changing brakes and all sorts!!

[Milky400]

It will eventually kill the cat I'm sure as I burnt fuel entering the cats is not a good sign. As for engine damage, not entirely sure it will do a huge amount of damage, other than a spark plug. But it isn't suppose to run that way so personally I'd be getting it fixed ASAP. But I'm sure someone more knowledgable will be along to tell otherwise.

[V8 GRF]

Pops and bangs are just unburned fuel so really only damage to the cats as mentioned above, but pinking and other types of misfire can damage the pistons severely so you need to be clear as to what the car is actually doing.

[domV8]

Borewash if run continuously, misfiring with unburnt fuel, I would have thought..?