If you are driving along and, all of a sudden, the check engine light turns on, it’s possible that you have a leaking vacuum hose in the engine. The engine takes the vacuum pressure that is created in the combustion chamber and routes it through a hose system to power components. If one or more of the vacuum hoses springs a leak, the escaping vacuum pressure will wreak havoc on the engine. Consequently, the main computer chip will turn on the check engine light due to system sensor error codes. This is just one sign of a vacuum leak. Clark’s Car Care is going to list the other signs below.
Malfunctioning Components
As we just mentioned, vacuum pressure is used to power components found in the engine. One such component is the power steering pump. This pump circulates the power steering fluid through the system. If the pump is not being powered because of a vacuum leak, the power steering will get stiff. This is just one example of component failure due to a vacuum leak.
Lagging Engine/Acceleration
Your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine will fill with air when the vacuum hoses start to leak. This air can make its way into the combustion chamber and mess up the combination of air and fuel already in there. When this happens, you end up with a lean fuel mixture. A lean fuel mixture will make your vehicle lag when you press down on the accelerator. Your engine will also struggle to run.
Poor Fuel Economy
Unfortunately, the side effect of a lagging engine is poor fuel economy. Anytime the engine is not running efficiently, it burns through the fuel quickly. This will cause a noticeable difference in how many miles you are getting to the gallon. You’ll head to the service station more often.
Dancing Tachometer Needle
A unique sign of a vacuum leak is a dancing tachometer needle. As the vacuum pressure escapes the leaking hose, it increases the engine’s RPMs. Generally, the vacuum pressure escapes from the hose in spurts. Consequently, the engine’s RPMs will go up and down sporadically.
Suction or Hissing Noises
Finally, listen carefully to your engine while it is running if you think it might have a vacuum leak. In most cases, you will hear strange sounds coming from the leaking vacuum hose. The most common noises associated with a vacuum leak are suction sounds and hissing.
Clark’s Car Care is the best auto service shop in Naperville, IL, so schedule a service appointment with us today if you think your car’s engine has a vacuum leak.