Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Fixing the Exhaust Manifold Leak

By Herminia Walsh


There's this time of the year when the car has to be checked for emissions. It is mandatory and necessary to keep the vehicle environment-friendly. The exhaust must be inspected for any harmful gas such as carbon monoxide and many others.

The exhaust manifold must be checked and inspected should the vehicle fail the emission test. If there's a bit of a rumble when starting up the car or when running it's cold, it's a good indication that there's a leak. The nice thing about this test is that it's pretty easy to do. After doing this, you won't have to put yourself through any more complaints.

You should do the testing just after starting up the car. There's a good chance the leak can be detected while the engine is freshly fired. This also helps you in properly checking without getting yourself burned. Do a little smelling around the exhaust. It may not be the best idea in the world but at least, you can pick up some indications of a leak. You should know that carbon monoxide doesn't have a smell and so, it's a bit difficult to detect.

Keep your ears open when checking the car. You might hear some ticking noise caused by the cracks or leaks in the exhaust manifold. You can hear better when the engine is running cold. There could even be some vibrations acting up with all the noise going on. You can use a stethoscope to listen better to the manifold and easily determine the location of the leak. If you don't have a stethoscope, you can use a tube or hose to localize the sound.

Check for the physical structure of the manifold. Try getting it out of the car and inspecting the part manually. You may succeed in determining the cracking or warping. You will have to remove part from the engine to do this and you'll want to consult a mechanic just to be sure. Looking around for some damage on the exhaust ports. A leak is signified by burnt paint or discoloration. Other indications of a leak are burned boots, spark plugs or valves. If this kind of damage is present, get the manifold fixed right away to avoid serious damage.

It's best that you take the car out for an emission test even if it's still not due yet. A leak can cause a reduction in oxygen output and this will surely get a failing mark in the test. In some cases where the manifold passes the test, you may have to get it straightened out to fix the warping.

Check for joints with hot spots as this surely indicates a leak. If there is heat escaping the joints, its effects are the same as with a manifold leak. Don't ever ignore the check engine lights found on newer cars. The light could be the earliest sign of a leak since the oxygen indicator is found near the manifold.

Even a seemingly insignificant leak can cause adverse reactions to the car and its passengers. If there is carbon monoxide seeping in the car's interior, you might find yourself getting dizzy and nauseous. It's really best to go fix that leak and get a complaint-free car.




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