Symptoms of a Cracked Exhaust Manifold

Generally, Techway Automotive advises that you can expect to get about six to eight years out of your vehicle’s exhaust manifold. After this time period, the manifold may develop small cracks that cause exhaust to leak out of it. Exhaust can also leak out of the manifold gasket if it cracks. The following problems are signs that you are driving with a cracked exhaust manifold.

Check Engine Warning

One of the first things that might happen is the check engine light will turn on because the exhaust system sensors will send error codes to the engine control unit. This unit is your automobile’s main computer chip. If the exhaust manifold is cracked and leaking exhaust, the engine sensors may also pick up on the problem and send error codes to the engine control unit.

Burning Engine Odors

You will know that the exhaust manifold is leaking exhaust into the engine because you will smell burning engine odors inside your automobile. The exhaust is scorching, so when it comes in contact with vulnerable auto parts such as those made from plastic or rubber, it will melt them. Consequently, your engine will overheat and you will smell the burning engine parts.

Hissing or Tapping

If you suspect that you have a cracked exhaust manifold or manifold gasket, listen carefully when you first fire up your automobile. Because the manifold is cold, it has not expanded and sealed any cracks. As such, you may hear hissing or tapping noises coming from the engine. This is the exhaust leaking out of the cracked manifold or cracked manifold gasket.

Sluggish Acceleration

The leaking exhaust is also going to affect how well your engine accelerates. Unfortunately, it does not affect it in a good way. Rather, your acceleration will become sluggish and you may wonder if your vehicle is ever going to pick up speed. This can be frustrating and dangerous in situations where you need to pick up speed quickly, such as driving on a freeway on-ramp.

Poor Fuel Economy

To add salt to the wound, the sluggish acceleration is going to cause problems with your vehicle’s fuel economy. The automobile will burn through the diesel fuel or gasoline more quickly as it tries to generate power when you press down on the accelerator. Consequently, you will go through a full tank quicker than you normally do.

Techway Automotive in Opp and Dothan, AL, or Blakely, GA, would be happy to help, so ring us up today to set up an appointment for your automobile if you believe the manifold or gasket is cracked.