Symptoms Of A Bad Intake Manifold

Around 92% of car owners put off car care tasks longer than they should.

It’s easy to notice a small problem and ignore it, but most of the time this will cause more serious issues down the line. If you think there may be an issue with any of your engine components, the sooner you address it, the better.

You should always be on the lookout for signs that your car may need maintenance. For some of the main symptoms of a bad intake manifold, keep reading.

What Is an Intake Manifold?

An intake manifold is an engine component that carries air to the cylinders. It works alongside the throttle body, fuel delivery system, and air intake to keep the air-fuel mixture correct.

It’s important for the intake manifold gasket, throttle body parts, and other components to be in a good state to avoid any issues with your car.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Bad Intake Manifold?

When an intake manifold is faulty, it can have a negative effect on your car, just like any engine part. There are always replacement costs, but you should get things fixed as soon as you can. Keep an eye out for the following signs as they may indicate a bad intake manifold.

Leaking Coolant

Not all, but some intake manifolds seal engine coolant. As the gasket degrades, the chances of a leak increase. This can leave puddles under your car, but it may also leak internally into the engine bay, which is harder to spot.

You may also be able to notice this from the district smell that coolant gives off. Coolant leaks can cause larger problems, so you should have this addressed as soon as you notice it.

Engine Stalling

The intake manifold assists with supplying the engine with the correct air-fuel mixture, so this mixture can be off if the intake manifold is faulty. This can cause the engine to stall even as you’re driving along.

There are other reasons your engine may stall. You should see a mechanic so they can determine if it’s the intake manifold or something else.

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Engine Overheating

This can happen if the intake manifold is allowing coolant to leak out. As the coolant helps regulate the temperature of the engine, this can easily lead to overheating.

Sometimes you may not notice the coolant leak, but you will be able to see that your engine is overheating from your dashboard. Like the engine stalling, there can be other reasons for this, so have a professional take a look to confirm the cause.

Bad Fuel Economy

If a faulty manifold is disrupting the air-fuel mixture, this will affect the efficiency of your engine. It will start using more fuel than it should, which is bad for the engine, and it will cost you more money to travel the same distance.

Poor Acceleration

Another engine performance issue you might notice is in the acceleration – you may get some power at first, but it can stop and start. This can be a safety hazard, so you should avoid driving your car if this is happening.

Replacing A Bad Intake Manifold

While all of the above are symptoms of a bad intake manifold, they can also be caused by other issues with your car. If you notice any one of these, you should have a professional take a look at your car. If more than one symptom comes up, then it is more than likely due to a bad intake manifold.

For more auto repair articles, check out some of our other blog posts.