What is the more likely outcome of running an engine with a failed vibration damper?

Running an engine with a failed vibration damper can lead to several severe issues, but crankshaft failure is one of the most significant and likely outcomes. The vibration damper, also known as a harmonic balancer, is designed to reduce torsional vibrations generated by the engine's rotating assembly. If this component fails, the crankshaft can experience excessive vibrations that stress its metal structure.

As the crankshaft experiences these amplified vibrations over time, it can lead to metal fatigue due to the oscillating forces that exceed the design limits of the crankshaft. This may eventually result in cracks or fractures in the crankshaft, leading to catastrophic engine failure. This possibility underscores the importance of the vibration damper in maintaining the integrity of the engine's components and preventing costly repairs or replacements.

In contrast, while increased fuel consumption, increased cylinder blowby, and camshaft failure could theoretically be consequences of engine imbalances, they are not as directly linked to the immediate failure of the crankshaft as the effects seen from a faulty vibration damper.