A combustion engine produces vacuum pressure that is routed through hoses to power components. Generally, these hoses last the life of your automobile. In some cases, however, Hightech Automotive advises that you might end up with a leaking vacuum hose. There are specific symptoms that are caused by the vacuum hose leak. We are going to list the symptoms below. Don’t worry. We can find the vacuum leak in your engine and fix it.
Malfunctioning Components
As we mentioned above, the vacuum pressure powers components such as your power steering pump. If you have a vacuum leak, you may notice that your power steering is stiffer than normal. This is an indication that the power steering pump is not being powered and circulating fluid through the system.
Lagging Engine
When vacuum pressure leaks out of the vacuum hoses, it introduces excess air into your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine. Unfortunately, this air can find its way to the combustion chamber. This creates a lean fuel mixture in the chamber that causes your vehicle’s acceleration and engine to lag. You will notice that your engine struggles to run at higher speeds and sputters and hiccups.
High RPMs
As the vacuum pressure leaks out of the hose, it will increase the engine’s RPMs. Consequently, you will notice that your idling is much higher than normal. You can tell by looking at your tachometer. If it is registering unusually high, you probably have a vacuum leak. The needle may also balance up and down as the air is introduced into the engine in spurts. Your engine will continue to have a problem with the RPMs until such time as you get the vacuum leak repaired.
Strange Sounds
Your engine will also make strange sounds as a result of the vacuum leak. These sounds include hissing and sucking. The sucking sound is a lot like the suction you hear coming from your household vacuum’s hose. You may also hear squealing noises coming from the engine if one of the vacuum hoses is leaking.
Check Engine Light
Finally, because there isn’t a specific light to warn you of a vacuum leak, your vehicle’s main computer chip, the engine control module, will turn on the check engine light. It’s important to have any check engine warning investigated as soon as possible because the light is very accurate.
Call Hightech Automotive in Forest City, NC, today if your vehicle is experiencing any of the symptoms of an engine vacuum leak listed above.