5 Symptoms of a Bad Intake Manifold Gasket
The intake manifold gasket is a simple but very important part. It sits between the cylinder head and the intake manifold and ensures a seal there. If this seal fails, serious problems can occur. Learn the most common symptoms of a bad intake manifold gasket, what causes it to fail, and how much it costs to replace it.
Symptoms of a Bad Intake Manifold Gasket
1) Coolant Leaks
Some vehicles are equipped with a water jacket on the intake manifold to cool the intake charge. In these configurations, the intake manifold gasket functions a bit like a head gasket, in that it’s intended to seal against both air and coolant leaks.
Of course, if this seal becomes worn or damaged, coolant can seep past the seal and leak. The leak can be either external (to the engine compartment) or internal (to the intake manifold and then the combustion chamber). You’ll know when this is happening because the smell of coolant will waft through the cabin and it’s a very noticeable smell.
If the situation is really bad, you may even see steam and a puddle of coolant underneath the vehicle. Losing too much coolant can cause the vehicle to overheat, which produces white smoke as the coolant burns in the combustion chamber.
2) Engine Stall
The engine will not turn over or will run too slowly and then shut down. This can happen if a defective intake manifold gasket causes a vacuum leak and throws off the air-fuel ratio.
This can also cause the engine to suddenly stall while driving. Of course, there are many other possible reasons why an engine can fail, but a faulty intake manifold gasket is definitely one of them. Go to a mechanic and have them check if it’s this seal.
A mechanic can run a smoke test to rule out vacuum leaks. A smoke test involves injecting smoke into the intake system. If there is a leak in the system, smoke will come out where it shouldn’t.
3) Engine Overheating
Engine overheating is a continuation of the coolant leak problem. When an internal coolant leak occurs due to a bad intake manifold gasket, coolant will pool inside the intake manifold. When this happens, it will eventually cause the engine to overheat.
You may not see a visible leak from the outside of your car. However, you will know if your engine is overheating because it will show up on your dashboard. It’s best to have this problem fixed as soon as possible. If you leave your engine overheating, it can cause more serious damage. If your engine is overheating, you need to rule out other parts in the cooling system and replace the correct part.
4) Poor fuel economy
A bad intake manifold gasket will throw off the air-fuel ratio, so your engine will burn more fuel than normal. This means you will end up spending more money on gas to drive the same distance. This will reduce your fuel consumption significantly.
5) Loss of acceleration
Aside from the engine stalling, you may notice a simple sluggish acceleration after you step on the accelerator. It may take a little effort at first, but if you keep pressing the pedal, it will stop accelerating and start accelerating again. Of course, you should not continue to drive your car in this condition as it is dangerous. If two or more other symptoms occur, it is important to replace the intake manifold gasket immediately.
Faulty Intake Manifold Gasket Diagnosis
The symptoms already mentioned may indicate a defective seal, but there are other issues that can cause similar problems. Here are some of the diagnostic methods that professional mechanics and experienced DIYers can use to determine if the intake manifold gasket is the culprit:
1) Visual Inspection
The first step in almost any type of diagnostic work is a visual inspection of the engine compartment. A mechanic will look for signs of a coolant leak, such as: B. Coolant buildup or white residue around the intake manifold. You can also check to see if there is any visible damage to the seal itself, but it can often be difficult to see clearly.
2) Pressure Test
Pressure testing the cooling system is one of the best ways to detect an intake manifold gasket leak. Compressed air is pumped through the system to check for leaks. If the seal is leaking, the mechanic can usually identify the source of the leak at this point.
3) Smoke Test
Another way to determine if an intake manifold gasket is leaking is to perform a smoke test. Smoke is directed into the intake system, and attention is paid to whether it escapes from the seal areas, since smoke can get in through even the smallest cracks. This method is especially useful for identifying vacuum leaks caused by broken seals.
4) Leak Test
If the intake manifold gasket is causing internal coolant leakage, a cylinder leak test can be performed. Compressed air is pumped into each cylinder and the amount of air that escapes is measured. If coolant is leaking past the intake manifold gasket into the cylinder, this test will tell you.