Tri Valley Auto Repair & Diesel is here to help if you suspect that your exhaust manifold is leaking. We are going to list the signs of a leaking exhaust manifold below. It is important to note that these are also the signs of a leaking exhaust manifold gasket. Generally, the manifold and gasket will last the life of your automobile. Excess heat, however, can crack the manifold or the gasket prematurely.
Performance Problems
One of the first things that you might notice is that your engine is not performing as well as it normally does. This is an indication that there is exhaust leaking into the engine and filling it with exhaust gases. Exhaust gases can leak out of the manifold or the gasket. Unfortunately, your engine will struggle to perform until you have the exhaust manifold replaced or the exhaust manifold gasket replaced.
Reduced Fuel Efficiency
The engine performance problems are also going to cause a noticeable reduction in your SUV, car, or truck’s fuel efficiency. This can create a huge hole in your household budget if you have to fill the tank more often with gas prices as high as they are right now. Any reduction in fuel efficiency should be looked into right away to determine and fix the problem.
Burning Plastic Odors
As you can imagine, when the exhaust leaks out of the cracked manifold, it is extremely hot. As it makes its way into the engine, it will melt any plastic or rubber auto parts. Consequently, you will smell burning odors coming from the engine that smell like burning plastic or burning rubber.
Burning Exhaust Odors
You are also going to smell your vehicle’s exhaust. This can make driving your automobile dangerous because you are inhaling carbon monoxide. As the exhaust floats into the engine, your vehicle’s heating or air conditioning system may pick it up and blow it through the vents.
Tapping or Hissing Sounds
If you have a suspicion that your exhaust manifold or manifold gasket is leaking, pay attention to how your engine sounds when you first fire it up. If you hear tapping noises coming from the engine or hissing noises coming from the engine, this is the sound the exhaust makes when it leaks out of the manifold or gasket.
Finally, Tri Valley Auto Repair & Diesel in Limon, CO, advises that you may end up with the check engine warning on the dashboard if the exhaust manifold or manifold gasket is leaking.
