Idle surging/pulsing rhythmically until fully warm

I have a 1999 Honda accord v6 that started having weird engine vibrations mostly while
idling or at low speeds which started about 2-3 months ago I found out by having a buddy pulling the codes which told me that cylinder 4 was misfiring I had plans to have it
looked at and fixed but never did and have still been driving the car. I changed the spark plugs and bought new spark plugs wires which never did anything. Cylinder 4Ã Â Ã Â Â Ã Â Â s spark plug was covered in wet sludgy oil buildup and I think within a few days maybe even a day or two the spark plug will be covered in the oil residue and unable to fire. The car has been burning around 2 quarts of Castrol 10w40 high mileage every month sometimes more sometime less. Now recently about 2 weeks ago when I have my car in park or neutral and the car is idling it revs up and down from about 1250rpm to around 2000 over and over and the cars idle is faster as well. It will pick up speed to about 40 mph sometimes without ever touching the gas just simply by taking my foot off the brake. Also when I start the car it has a hard time starting like its wanting to stall and I have to hit the gas pedal to give it some help, this has happened mostly when the car is hot but has done it cold I believe.
Today I bought a new EGR valve, intake manifold plenum gasket, throttle body gasket and some gum out carb and choke cleaner to clear out the carbon buildup inside the intake manifold and I am going to clean the throttle body and replace the EGR valve because I am sure it is have carbon build up inside which I think has it stuck open. I am hoping this will fix the rough idling up and down while in park, but I still need to figure out what to do about cylinder #4 misfiring and all the oil I find on the spark plug which fouls it out. If anyone has had this problem please help me out thanks. Aaron

When I start the car, it runs for a second then stalls. It will keep doing this until I bring the RPMs up to around 2500 for about 10-15 seconds. The idle then returns to a relatively normal level, but sometimes becomes erratic. While revving the engine, there is a hesitation or engine pulsing sensation. The Check Engine light is on but I have not pulled the codes.

This problem occurs randomly, when the weather is above 60 degrees (approx.) And after the car has warmed up to normal operating temperature. It never does it on cold starts or when the weather is cold.

Awizzi,
Some auto parts stores (Advance auto parts) will read the code for you for free I believe. If the code is P0505 the problem is your IAC (idle air control) valve. It is mounted to the underside of the throttle body. If you get the code read get back with me and tell me what it is and we will go from there.
Dave

Thanks, Dave. AutoZone pulled codes P0171 (too lean), P0301-0306 (cylinder misfires), P1739 (auto tranny issue) and P0300 (x2). They gave me a print out with possible causes for each code, which include; ignition system, vacuum leak, fuel system, MAF sensor, O2 sensor and ignition misfires.

The P1739 code (3rd gear pressure switch failure) is particularly frustrating because I had the tranny replaced under warranty less than 15,000 miles ago and will have to jump through those hoops again.

I hate to start going down the list and replacing parts. Suggestions?

I rinsed my engine compartment yesterday and when I started my car this morning, the engine idle speed was fluctuating between 1000 -2000 rpms. I figured that it might have been due to the moisture from the wash and so I started driving to work. I did not noticed anything different while driving it (26 miles) but when I arrived at work and put the car in park (automatic), I noticed that the idle speed is still fluctuating the same way as when I first started the car. What can i do to fix this problem. Please help. My car is a 1999 Honda Accord V6 EX with automatic transmission. Thanks.

Is the idle control valve the one that site on top of the throtle body with the accelerator cable attched to it? If it is shorted out, what or how can I replace? Thanks in advance.

It idled steady at 1050 rpm after I sprayed it with wd40 then I drove it for 3 minutes and put it in "park" then it started fluctuating again. Why does it run nice and steady when it is in drive and fluctuates when it is in "park"?

IMHO: Since I've done some of these things already and none of them resolved squat. My $40.00 compression tester I bought at Autozone years ago is getting a revisit, to see if the whole thing should be unloaded on a college student. Otherwise these are a waste of time.