How Do You Find An Intake Manifold Air Leak?
Intake manifolds sit on top of the engine and transport air and fuel into the engine’s combustion chamber. The intake manifold also conveys vacuum and coolant through the system. An air leak in the intake manifold can lead to poor idle quality, poor fuel economy, stalling and worse due to vacuum loss. Since an air leak leaves no visible traces, pinpointing one can be a bit trickier than finding a standard coolant or fuel leak. Start the engine cold, but do not wait for it to warm up to operating temperature before beginning the inspection. Leaks often seal themselves as the intake swells slightly when brought to full operating temperature. Raise the hood and use the flashlight and inspection mirror to perform a visual inspection of the intake manifold. Look for any signs of cracks in the manifold’s surface. Depending on the year, make and model of the vehicle, you may need to remove an engine cover, move hoses aside and use the inspection mirror to see the entire surface of the intake
