Indicators of A Defective Manifold Gasket That Should Spur You to Seek Mechanical Repairs

When it comes to auto repairs, the exhaust is likely the last thing you expect to break down. But when you take into consideration the environment that it is exposed to, it is surprising that motorists do not experience problems with this system as often as they do with their other auto systems! The manifold gasket, in particular, is the component that is vulnerable to damage, and this is because it is directly exposed to gases emanating from the engine.

The primary function of the manifold gasket is to collect these gases and discharge them through the exhaust. Routine exposure to the heat from these gases causes normal wear that leads the manifold gasket to crack, loosen or even completely fail. Once compromised, this can lead to serious issues with other parts of your vehicle, especially the engine. To prevent this from happening, here are indicators of a defective manifold gasket that should spur you to seek mechanical repairs.

Bizarre smells inside your car

To begin with, not all odours are symptomatic of manifold gasket deterioration. Secondly, not all leaks are pungent, so you may have an odourless leak.  With that said, it is essential that you know how to identify if the bizarre smells in your vehicle stem from a damaged manifold gasket that is causing exhaust fumes to seep into your vehicle. In typical cases, the odour will have a sickly sweet smell, and this is indicative of coolant leaking from your manifold gasket, which increases the likelihood of engine overheating.

In other cases, you may catch a whiff of burning, which is indicative of internal components burning from the exposure to the hot gases that are supposed to be redirected away by the damaged manifold gasket. Whatever the scenario, any weird odours in your vehicle should prompt you to seek mechanical repairs immediately to prevent the potential of further damage to other auto components.

Strange vibrations from the accelerator

One thing you should know about automotive leaks is that once one crops up, it usually causes parts of the car to vibrate. Thus, by knowing the different causes of these vibrations, you can narrow down the potential issues with your vehicle and seek repairs as soon as possible. When the manifold gaskets acquire physical damage, it springs a leak that, in turn, causes strange vibrations to emanate from your accelerator.

A mistake some motorists make is assuming these vibrations will resolve on their own. The reality, though, is that the longer they go unchecked, the worse the damage to this component gets. Hence, the vibrations travel to other parts of the car, most notably the steering wheel, the floor and so on. Seeking mechanical repairs as early as possible will go a long way in preventing undue damage to other auto parts.