7 Common Symptoms of an Exhaust Leak
Hearing an unpleasant noise coming from under your car? Is your accelerator pedal vibrating? An exhaust leak could be the culprit. Exhaust leaks can allow harmful gases into your car, reducing engine performance and fuel economy. In this article, we’ll cover the 5 main symptoms of an exhaust leak and whether it’s safe to keep driving until the leak is repaired.
Common Symptoms of Exhaust Leaks
Below are the 5 most common symptoms of exhaust system leaks.
1) Louder Noises
When starting your car, listen for any strange noises coming from around the engine. If the noise gets louder as the engine runs, this is often a clear sign of an exhaust manifold gasket leak.
The gasket that seals the connection between the exhaust manifold pipe and the engine block undergoes the same heating and cooling cycles as the pipe. If you can’t find any visible cracks or leaks in the lines, inspect the gaskets more closely for signs of damage or wear.
2) Vibrating Accelerator Pedal
Even a small exhaust leak can cause your car to vibrate. The larger the leak, the more noticeable the vibrations will be. Usually, these vibrations are first felt in the accelerator pedal. If you don’t fix this problem, the vibrations will eventually be transmitted to the steering wheel. In severe cases, you may even feel a shaking sensation in the floorboards.
3) Poor fuel economy
Pay attention to your fuel consumption. If you notice that your car suddenly needs more gas than usual to travel the same distance, a leak in the exhaust system could be the culprit.
Exhaust leaks put extra strain on the engine to maintain performance, resulting in lower fuel economy. If you find yourself filling up more frequently than usual, it’s worth investigating a possible exhaust leak.
4) Abnormal noises when accelerating
Listen for any strange noises that sound strange when you press the accelerator pedal. If you hear a sound similar to an air leak or a whistling noise, this is an indication that you may have an emissions problem.
However, for the average person, it can be difficult to distinguish between various engine sounds, exhaust sounds, and even vacuum hose leaks. Consider this symptom as a confirmation only if you have already noticed another sign of an exhaust leak and want to verify your suspicion.
5) It has an unusual smell
Carbon monoxide itself is odorless, but not all exhaust gases are odorless.
- If you have a leak in the exhaust manifold, it can cause a strong, unpleasant smell inside or outside the car.
- If this smell persists, it’s a clear sign that you’re being exposed to harmful fumes and you should not inhale it for long periods of time.
- If the odor is strong and you suspect an exhaust leak, take it to a repair shop as soon as possible. Have the problem diagnosed and fixed immediately. In the meantime, drive with the windows open to minimize exposure to dangerous exhaust fumes. Carbon monoxide can be deadly in high concentrations, so don’t take any chances.
6) Check Engine Light
Your car’s exhaust system is equipped with O2 sensors that monitor its performance. If there is a leak, these sensors can detect it and illuminate the check engine light on your dashboard.
It’s best to use an OBD-II scanner to read diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) to pinpoint the exact problem.
7) Reduced Engine Power
Exhaust leaks can negatively affect engine performance. You may notice a loss of power, especially when accelerating or idling roughly.
This happens because a leak allows exhaust gases to escape before they can pass through the catalytic converter and muffler. This results in low backpressure, which can confuse your car’s oxygen sensors and throw off the air-fuel mixture.