Any time an automobile develops a vacuum leak, there are noticeable signs that make driving the vehicle difficult. Moose Jaw Truck Shop not only services big rigs. We also service and repair cars, light-duty trucks, and utility vehicles. If you’ve noticed that your automobile isn’t operating as it should be lately, it’s possible that one of the vacuum hoses is leaking in the engine. One of the signs that you do have a vacuum leak is a problem with your vehicle’s components. Here are other signs of a vacuum leak.
Engine Performance Lag
When the vacuum hoses start to leak, they add more air to the engine. As the air makes its way into the combustion chamber, it overtakes the fuel and you end up with a lean fuel mixture. When this happens, you will start to have engine performance issues such as lagging and sputtering. This is because the engine is fuel-starved. It cannot maintain higher speeds or operate under stress well if there is more air than fuel in the combustion chamber.
High/Sporadic RPMs
Vacuum pressure often leaks out of the hoses in spurts. As a result, you will see the needle on the tachometer bounce up and down with each spurt. If the vacuum pressure is leaking out of the hose evenly, your RPMs will be consistently high. Even though the vacuum leak is causing a lean fuel mixture, the excess air affects the revolutions per minute. It gives them a boost and this is reflected on the tachometer.
Hissing/Suction Sounds
If you’ve noticed the two signs above, listen carefully while your engine is running. If you hear hissing or suction sounds, your engine definitely has a vacuum leak. Smaller leaks tend to make hissing or squealing noises; larger leaks sound like a vacuum hose. The only way to get rid of the strange noises is to replace the vacuum hose that is leaking in your engine.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, a vacuum leak often causes the check engine light to turn on because of the imbalance of air and fuel in the combustion chamber. Unfortunately, your check engine light will stay illuminated until you get the vacuum leak fixed. You’ll want to have it fixed as soon as possible anyway so you can restore your engine performance and level RPMs.
We can help here at Moose Jaw Truck Shop in Moose Jaw, SK. Call us today if you suspect that your vehicle’s engine has a vacuum leak.
