Willoughby Hills Auto Repair advises that if you hear loud tapping when you first start your automobile, you have a crack in the exhaust manifold or the manifold gasket. The crack can also make a loud hissing noise. Generally, once the manifold heats up, the metal expands and seals the crack. This is why it’s important that you listen for the sound when you first start your automobile. This is just one sign that you have a cracked exhaust manifold or cracked manifold gasket. Here are the other signs.
Engine Performance Problems
As exhaust escapes from the crack, it will fill the engine with exhaust gases. Consequently, your engine is going to lose its performance because it cannot produce combustion efficiently. You will notice that the engine lags and the acceleration lags. You will continue to have these engine performance problems until you have the exhaust manifold or gasket replaced. We can do that here at our shop.
Reduction in Fuel Efficiency
You will want to have the repair work done sooner rather than later because the poor engine performance also affects your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. As you can imagine, it does not affect it for the better. Rather, there will be a noticeable loss of gas mileage leaving you with no choice but to fill the tank more often. This can get to be quite expensive with gas prices what they are today.
Burning Plastic/Rubber Odors
Another sign that the exhaust manifold is leaking is burning plastic or rubber odors coming from the engine. As we mentioned above, the exhaust will escape through the leak and enter the engine. The exhaust is scorching hot. Consequently, it has the ability to melt plastic and rubber, so any parts made from this material are susceptible to being melted. In addition to melting engine parts, the scorching hot exhaust is also going to make the engine overheat every time that you drive your automobile.
Check Engine Warning Light
Finally, all of the above will cause various system sensors to report malfunctions to the main computer chip. This chip is called the engine control module, and it cannot repair the crack in the exhaust manifold. Because it can fix the problem, it will turn on the check engine light so you are aware that something is wrong. In this case, what is wrong is that the manifold is cracked.
Willoughby Hills Auto Repair in Willoughby Hills, OH, would be happy to help, so bring us up today so we can schedule an appointment to inspect your car’s exhaust manifold.