Intake manifold leak symptoms start to show up when there is uneven distribution of fuel and air combination in a car's engine. To understand the symptoms of this leak, read on.
Have you ever noticed that your car's engine is not running or idling correctly, even after being replaced? Well, chances are that the engine might be having an intake manifold leak.
It is very important to understand what this is, before we learn about its symptoms. An intake manifold, also known as inlet manifold, is a part of the engine that supplies a combination of fuel and air to the engine cylinders.
The Intake Manifold
The intake manifold is a set of pipes that minimize the engine load. It supplies and maintains the ratio of air and fuel, and passes the blend of the two to the engine through the carburetors of the vehicle.
The intake manifold is one of the most crucial parts of the combustion machine that ensures the optimal delivery of fuel to the engine. There are two main conditions that may lead to the problem of a leak:
When the coolant is introduced through the front of the intake manifold to get to the radiator.
When the manifold used in the car is made of plastic.
Both these cases can give way to a gasket lead, which causes serious problems in the functioning of the engine despite proper maintenance drills.
Leak Symptoms
There are a few pretty obvious things that indicate a leak. Chances are that the leak is inside the coolant passage. In such cases, symptoms are clearly visible in the form of water or steam leakage. Typically, they are observed when the vehicle is idling. The pool of oil that we see beneath a parked car is actually one of the biggest symptoms of a leak.
A reduced car output is another significant symptom. As the engine begins to perform on a low supply of both air and fuel, its power starts to drop, greatly affecting the performance of the vehicle.
In such cases, you may find it difficult to accelerate and maintain the car speed. If you do observe such problems, make sure that the manifold is working right by taking the vehicle to the service center.
A third and equally significant symptom of a manifold leak is the noise that the vehicle makes every time you start or idle the engine.
The enunciating or gulping sound made by the engine is one of the most peculiar and noticeable signs. Sometimes, it is very hard to even turn off the engine of the vehicle. A leak indicates that the air released into the machine is getting absorbed by the engine.
Leak Correction
A leak of this kind is definitely harmful for the proper working of a vehicle. However, its replacement or repair is cheaper as compared to other types of car repairs.
Make sure that you replace the older one with an aluminum manifold. You can also opt for manifold spacers, which are stronger and powerful. Along with observing the given intake manifold leak symptoms, you can also detect the leak using a vacuum gouge.
Another easy way of finding the leak is to use a propane gas cylinder, which you can easily find in any hardware store. All you need to do is start the engine and squeeze out a little amount of gas alongside the edge of the intake manifold joint.
The gas will make it easier for you to see the damaged area of the intake manifold. Now, drain the coolant system, take the manifold out, and ask a professional to fix the problem.