Engine vacuum leaks can cause all sorts of problems no matter what you drive. The reason why vacuum leaks are so problematic is that they increase the amount of air found in the engine and the combustion chamber. Benton Road Auto & Diesel Repair advises that vacuum leaks generally come from the hoses, and replacing the hoses usually fixes the problem. Here are things that will happen if your engine has a vacuum leak.
Acceleration Problems
Because there is more air than fuel in your engine, your vehicle’s acceleration will be compromised. You will press down on the accelerator but the response will be sluggish at best. Depending on the extent of the vacuum leak, you may have problems every time you accelerate or sporadically.
Accessory/Component Failure
Engine vacuum is created during the combustion process. The vacuum system reroutes this vacuum through hoses to various accessories and components to power them. If your vehicle has a severe vacuum leak, some of your accessories and components might not work.
Check Engine Warnings
Your engine control unit, the main computer chip in your automobile, will also turn on the check engine light to let you know that there are problems being caused by the vacuum leak. Once the vacuum leak is repaired, things will go back to normal in the engine and the check engine light will turn off.
Engine Performance Issues
Aside from the acceleration problems listed above, you may also have engine performance issues if your vehicle has a vacuum leak. Specifically, your engine will hiccup and stutter as you drive along. In severe cases, your engine might stall while you are idling or refuse to start.
High RPMs
High RPMs are definitely a sign of a vacuum leak. Because air is being pushed into the engine, the revolutions per minute increase. You’ll see this reflected on the tachometer on your dashboard. In fact, the needle may even bounce up and down.
Suction Noises
Vacuum leaks can cause strange sounds to come from your engine. These sounds include hissing and suction. At first, the noise may not be audible at all, but as the vacuum leak gets worse, you might start hearing these sounds.
Benton Road Auto & Diesel Repair in Bossier City, LA, has you covered when it comes to vehicle maintenance and repair. We can find the location of your engine’s vacuum leak and replace the hose to alleviate the problems listed above. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
