The intake manifold gasket is a crucial component of an internal combustion engine, ensuring smooth operation and proper combustion. It sits on top of the engine and plays a vital role in the combustion process.
The intake manifold distributes air evenly to all cylinders during the first stroke of the combustion process. It also helps cool the cylinders to prevent overheating by absorbing heat and reducing engine temperature.
In this reading, we’ll explore what an intake manifold gasket is, its functions, its diagram, and how it works. We’ll also explore the symptoms of a bad intake manifold gasket.
Let’s begin!
What is an Intake Manifold Gasket?
The intake manifold is a crucial component in the combustion process, found on any vehicle with an internal combustion engine. It ensures that air entering the engine is evenly distributed to all cylinders during the first stroke of the combustion process.
The intake manifold gasket is crucial for sealing channels connecting to your vehicle’s engine. It protects against leakage by sealing surfaces around coolant and air channels.
However, it’s common for intake manifold gaskets to fail. If your car has a leaky or nonfunctional intake manifold gasket, it’s essential to understand the cause and fix it.
The intake manifold gasket is crucial for your vehicle’s smooth operation, and understanding its inner workings is essential for a smoother journey.
The intake manifold gasket is placed between the intake manifold and the engine, ensuring smooth operation and proper combustion. The internal combustion engine relies on the intake manifold to breathe and maintain optimal performance.
Related: What Is An Engine Lubrication System? Its Functions And Parts
Diagram
How Does Intake Manifold Gasket Work?
The intake manifold also helps cool down the cylinders to prevent overheating by absorbing heat and reducing engine temperature.
The manifold has five red-circle-icon configurations: one-red-circle-icon, where air from the outside travels past the air filter and through an ECM-assisted throttle body.
The air exits the throttle body and enters the intake manifold, which is connected to the throttle body housing. The air is drawn into a set of passageways called runners through the vacuum created by the downward stroke of the engine’s pistons.
The manifold is bolted flush to the engine’s cylinder head, with runners located above the intake valve.
The intake manifold gasket, typically made from aluminised steel coated in a carbon-based rubber compound, seals the manifold to the engine.
High-quality gaskets are one-piece, reinforced edges, and linings around ports or runner openings. They must be resistant to decay caused by oils and coolants, affecting engine performance.
Symptoms Of A Bad Intake Manifold Gasket
You’ll experience the following symptoms if your intake manifold gasket goes bad: poor engine performance, smoke coming from the exhaust, coolant in the oil pad, a visible coolant leak, and engine overheating.
1. Poor Engine Performance
If the intake manifold begins to leak, air and coolant will be lost as a result. These two things have the potential to impair performance.
The main worry is that if coolant and oil mix, neither the coolant’s performance nor the oil’s ability to function properly will be preserved. This could result in costly damages and excessive wear on several components.
2. Smokes Coming From Exhaust
At that time, whether or not they were leaking, you should replace the intake manifold gaskets. Of course, you won’t be able to see what’s going on within your intake manifold without disassembling the engine.
One simple approach is to start your car and check the exhaust. Your engine is burning coolant if there is an excessive amount of white smoke coming from the exhaust.
Knowing how to solve this issue without disassembling anything becomes essential.
3. Coolant In The Oil Pan
Whenever you notice coolant in your oil pan, there’s a big chance that you have a bad intake manifold gasket. It’s easy to identify this situation because when you check the oil level on the dipstick, the coolant in the oil pan will appear milky.
When these two issues are present together, a car may need significant repairs before it can be put back on the road. Sadly, this is one of the more major problems.
Not only are you losing out on the coolant’s cooling abilities, but you are also losing out on the oil’s lubricating abilities.
4. Visible Coolant Leak
Coolant may seep into a few areas if the intake manifold gasket is leaking. It can either enter the combustion chamber and cause excessive smoke, or it can mix with the oil and cause cooling in the oil reservoir.
Finding puddles of bright green, yellow, or pinkish fluid under your vehicle after parking can indicate a coolant leak.
If this is the case, you’ll notice a lot of smoke emanating from the top of your engine if the coolant burns off before it reaches the ground.
In either case, the issue will be solved if you can trace the leak to the intake manifold.
5. Engine Overheating
An overheating engine is a sign of a problem with your vehicle’s coolant system. If your car overheats quickly, you should see a mechanic.
It makes sense that if the coolant fails to operate properly, your engine could overheat since the coolant’s job is to keep your engine from overheating.
If the engine temperature gauge rises significantly or you notice steam or smoke from under the hood, it may indicate a coolant leak.
This won’t happen right away, but it typically does when the coolant levels go low. But there’s an increased chance that the coolant leak could be coming from the intake manifold if you have an overheating engine and can’t identify the cause.
How to Fix a Leaky Intake Manifold Gasket
A leaky intake manifold is a concern as it seals the area between the intake manifold and the cylinder head, preventing air and coolant from escaping.
If a leaky intake manifold occurs, it means either coolant or air are escaping between the intake manifold and cylinder head.
Intake manifold gaskets can fail due to extreme stress or natural wear, such as overheating or acidic coolant. On average, most intake manifold gaskets last about 60,000 to 80,000 miles before experiencing leakage.
A leaky intake manifold gasket is a significant issue that can be fixed by replacing it with a new gasket of the same size and type. This DIY automotive task requires the removal of the engine’s intake manifold.
This can be done in just a couple of hours if the right tools are used.
FAQs
What are the symptoms of a bad intake manifold gasket?
Common symptoms include: rough idle or stalling; Poor acceleration; Increased fuel consumption; Hissing or sucking noises from the engine, Overheating (if coolant is leaking), Visible coolant or oil leaks around the intake manifold.
Can I drive with a bad intake manifold gasket?
Prolonged driving with a cracked or leaking intake manifold gasket can result in significant engine problems, such as damaged valves, pistons, or even complete engine failure.
What does an intake manifold gasket do?
It’s through the manifold that coolant is distributed. So essentially, the intake manifold gasket is a key component when it comes to ensuring that a vehicle has enough fluid and air in the engine. The gasket is there to provide a seal, preventing air or fluid from escaping.
How much does it cost to replace intake manifold gasket?
The average cost for an intake manifold gasket replacement is between $564 and $624. Labour costs are estimated between $217 and $273, while parts are priced between $348 and $350.
This range does not include taxes and fees and does not factor in your unique location. Related repairs may also be needed.
What causes a manifold gasket to go bad?
A collision with an obstacle or another vehicle can apply enough shock to fracture the gasket, allowing exhaust gases to leak out of the ensuing crack. If the seal is made of steel and it loses its corrosion protection to damage or extended exposure, it can corrode and fail.
What happens if you don’t replace intake manifold gasket?
A damaged intake manifold gasket often has cracks and gaps in its foundation. With cracks and gaps present, air or vacuum leaks can occur. The worst part is that these leaks can affect the air-to-fuel ratio inside the engine.
As a result, the engine may vibrate, and revolutions per minute (RPM) may become unstable.
