Saturday, April 19, 2014
What Can Stop a Manifold Leak
A hissing noise coming from the engine of your vehicle combined with liquid spillage from the car can mean trouble for your vehicles exhaust or intake manifold. Such signs can be symptomatic of a manifold leak, which is when your exhaust or intake manifold leaks oil or coolant. If you notice a manifold leak, its important to stop the leak immediately because it can pose a hazard to the passengers in the vehicle.
Repairing the Manifold
If the manifold is leaking due to damage to the exhaust or intake manifold, or the general wear and tear of it, then the most effective way to stop the manifold leak is to repair and replace the manifold. A manifold can be removed from the vehicle and replaced with something new so that the vehicle no longer leaks. If the manifold just has some small cracks in it that are causing the leak, another repair alternative is to have the cracks welded together rather than purchasing and installing a new manifold.
New Gasket
A new gasket that seals the manifold is one way to stop a manifold leak. If a gasket is cracked, it is no longer able to seal and maintain the connection with the manifold, thereby creating a gap between the manifold and the exhaust pipe. Shear stress to the gasket of the manifold is part of the normal wear and tear of the vehicle due to the thermal contraction and expansion that happens each time the engine is turned on and off.
Sealant Solution
You can try to stop a manifold leak by coating the gasket or manifold with a leak sealant. Leak sealants, which are available at auto repair shops, are applied directly onto the affected area of the vehicle and act as a means of sealing the leak so that no more fluid can be lost. This solution is simpler than attempting to replace the manifold or gasket.
Accurate Assessment
A manifold leak can only be stopped if youve isolated the problem accurately. If you misdiagnose the cause for the leak, or think its the exhaust manifold when its really the intake manifold, then you risk prolonging the repair and, meanwhile, the vehicle continues to lose fluids. An accurate assessment is necessary for stopping a manifold leak, so its important to learn how to diagnose and troubleshoot the problems and locate the source of the leak.
