All automobiles have combustion engines. Combustion engines create vacuum that is routed through hoses to power components. If the vacuum hoses start to leak, you will notice a few things wrong with your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine. Anderson Automotive is going to list those problems below. Don’t panic. We can find the vacuum leak and fix it quickly and easily.
Component Malfunction
One of the reasons why the vacuum pressure is routed via hoses throughout the engine is so that it can power some of the engine’s components. For example, most power steering pumps use vacuum pressure to operate. Extending this example further, if you are having problems with your vehicle’s power steering, it’s possible the power steering pump’s power is being affected by a vacuum leak.
Engine Performance Lag
A vacuum leak can also affect how well your engine performs. For example, a leaking vacuum hose will introduce extra air into the engine that it does not need. When this happens, the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber becomes lean or heavy with air. Consequently, your vehicle’s acceleration and engine performance will suffer as a result. Specifically, your vehicle will lag when you press down on the accelerator.
High or Erratic RPMs
You might be able to actually see the vacuum leak if you keep your eye on your vehicle’s dashboard. A vacuum leak affects the engine’s RPMs by increasing them with every spurt of air that comes out of the leaking vacuum hose. Depending on whether the leak is steady or unsteady, you will have consistently high or erratic RPMs, respectively. You will be able to see this by keeping an eye on the needle of your tachometer.
Suction or Hissing Sounds
Vacuum leaks are rarely silent. Most of the time, drivers can hear suction noises coming from the engine that reminds them of a household vacuum. Smaller leaks make hissing sounds that are also detectable by the ear. Listen closely for these types of noises if you suspect you have a leaking vacuum hose.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, your automobile’s main computer chip, the engine control module, might turn on the check engine light because there is too much air in the engine. When this happens, system sensors report error codes to the ECM and it illuminates the check engine light.
Call Anderson Automotive in Marion, IA, today if you suspect that your car, truck, or utility vehicle has a leaking vacuum hose in the engine. We will find the leak and fix it.