Yes, excess engine heat can actually crack the exhaust manifold or the exhaust manifold gasket. Mike’s Auto Service & Repair can inspect your engine and find out why it is overheating before the damage occurs. Have your vehicle towed to our shop at the first sign of overheating trouble. If you believe that your exhaust manifold is cracked, look for the following problems to appear with your automobile.
Sputtering Performance
A cracked manifold or manifold gasket will cause your engine’s performance to sputter because the engine is filling with exhaust gases. The exhaust leaks out of the crack and rises into the engine where it directly affects the engine’s ability to produce combustion. Consequently, the performance will lag.
Reduction in Fuel Economy
To rub salt in the wound, you will also see a reduction in the fuel economy that your vehicle gets out of a full tank of gasoline or diesel fuel. The exhaust gases are causing the engine to run inefficiently. As such, it will use more diesel fuel or gasoline in order to produce power. This will reduce the fuel economy.
Hot Plastic or Rubber Odors
Pay attention to any strange odors that you pick up while you are driving your automobile. For example, if there are hot plastic or rubber odors coming from the engine, the exhaust manifold is leaking and the hot exhaust is melting the engine parts. You may also smell hot metal and the engine may overheat.
Scorching Exhaust Odors
These are the only odors that point to a leaking exhaust manifold. You may also smell your vehicle’s exhaust inside the automobile. If this is the case, the exhaust that is filling the engine is making its way into the passenger cabin. Stop driving your automobile because inhaling the exhaust can be deadly.
Hissing or Tapping Noises
Aside from odors, you should also use your ears to determine if you have a leaking exhaust manifold. A very common sign is hissing or tapping noises when you start your automobile. These noises are being made by the exhaust as it escapes out of the crack.
Illuminated CEL on the Dash
Finally, the exhaust system is going to have problems if the manifold is leaking. System sensors will get cranky and report error codes to the engine control unit. The unit cannot repair the manifold or gasket leak. As such, it will turn on the check engine light.
Mike’s Auto Service & Repair in West Springfield, MA, is here to help, so call us today if you suspect you have a problem with your exhaust manifold or manifold gasket.
