The intake manifold, also known as the inlet manifold, is an essential part of your car’s engine. It’s one of the most significant contributing factors to how well your car runs, so it’s critical to understand what the intake manifold does and how you can tell if it’s failing. Here are a few facts about the intake manifold and some signs that could mean yours needs to be replaced soon.
What is an Intake Manifold, Anyway?
An intake manifold is a series of tubes that distributes the air/fuel mixture to the cylinders. The primary function of the intake manifold is to ensure that air is evenly distributed to all of the engine’s cylinders. It’s an essential part of your car’s engine, and if it’s failing, you’ll notice some car trouble.
How Does an Intake Manifold Work?
An intake manifold is responsible for supplying air to the cylinders. The intake manifold allows air into the cylinders during the intake stroke, which mixes with fuel to be burned inside the cylinders. If there’s a problem with the intake manifold, it can cause all sorts of car trouble.
What are Signs That the Intake Manifold is Failing?
Here are some signs to watch out for:
- Check Engine Light is On – This is usually the first sign that something is wrong with your car. If the check engine light comes on, it’s time to take your vehicle to a mechanic to have it checked out. After that, the car will either need repairs or replacement parts to run correctly again.
- Lack of Power – A car that has lost power because of an intake manifold problem will often feel sluggish when driving or need more gas than usual to go up hills.
- Rough Running Car – A rough running car can mean many things, including an exhaust leak, dirty air filter, bad fuel injection system, and so on. However, a failing intake manifold will cause the engine to run rough.
- Excessive Smoke from Exhaust – This last sign could indicate a faulty intake manifold is excessive smoke from the exhaust pipe. There are several causes for excessive smoke, but it could be caused by a faulty intake manifold.
How is it Fixed?
Unfortunately, the typical remedy for an intake manifold issue is replacing the entire unit. However, most garages will be able to take care of the problem for you with just a few hours of work, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.
Don’t try to ignore the signs of a failing intake manifold, as they will lead to more engine trouble. Instead, see a professional to get it fixed and your car back on the road.