The exhaust manifold accepts the exhaust from the combustion chamber and pushes it into the catalytic converter for treatment. The exhaust manifold can crack if your engine gets too hot. When this happens, the exhaust will leak out of the manifold and into the engine where it will cause the following problems.
Lagging Performance
The whole purpose of pulling the exhaust out of the combustion chamber and releasing it into the environment is to keep the chamber clear of exhaust. If there is exhaust stuck in the combustion chamber, the cylinders will be unable to produce fresh combustion and keep your engine running. Consequently, if the exhaust manifold is leaking, your engine’s performance will lag because the exhaust will return to the combustion chamber and take up crucial space.
Increased Consumption
This lagging performance will directly affect how much fuel your automobile consumes. We wish we could say that your vehicle will consume less fuel, but this is not the case. Rather, you will notice an increase in the fuel’s consumption that will leave you heading to the service station more often.
Popping or Tapping
The exhaust can make strange noises when it is leaking out of the exhaust manifold. The most common sound that you will hear coming from the engine is popping. This popping sound may also sound like tapping. If the manifold is only slightly cracked, or if the manifold gasket is cracked, you may also hear a squealing noise in the engine that is coming from the manifold or gasket.
Burning/Hot Odors
Unfortunately, the exhaust that is filling the engine as it leaks out of the manifold is quite hot. As such, you will see the temperature gauge needle rise on the dashboard. In addition, you will smell burning and hot odors coming from the engine the hotter the engine gets.
Exhaust Odors
You may also start to smell your vehicle’s exhaust inside of the automobile. If this is the case, you should stop driving the vehicle and call for a tow truck. Your vehicle’s exhaust is poisonous, and it can be deadly if you inhale it.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, all of the above is going to cause system sensors to report malfunctions to the engine control unit. The engine control unit cannot replace the exhaust manifold so it will turn on the check engine light. This light will remain illuminated until the manifold is replaced.
We can do that here at our shop, so give us a call today.