California Autohaus are European automobile experts and the best European auto shop in Encinitas. Sprinter vans take a lot of abuse because they are usually used as delivery vans. This means they do a lot of stop-and-go driving that can make the engine run hotter than normal. Unfortunately, the heat from the engine can crack the exhaust manifold. Here are signs that your manifold is leaking.
Rotten Performance
Exhaust is produced in the combustion chamber during engine combustion. It is drawn out of the chamber by the exhaust manifold. The chamber needs to be free of exhaust in order to continue producing combustion. When the manifold leaks, the exhaust makes its way back into the chamber. Unfortunately, this causes your Sprinter van to have rotten engine performance.
Rotten Gas Mileage
You don’t need us to tell you that rotten performance means rotten gas mileage. As you already know, the only way to get the best gas mileage out of your Sprinter van is for the engine to run as efficiently as possible. The exhaust that fills the engine will reduce its efficiency.
Tapping or Popping
One way you can tell that the problem is a cracked exhaust manifold is to listen for tapping or popping sounds. If the leak is a small one, you will hear squealing or hissing. If you hear these sounds when you fire up the van, this is a good sign that exhaust is leaking out of a crack in the manifold.
Rancid Burning Odors
As we mentioned above, the exhaust fills up the engine as it leaks out of the manifold. Unfortunately, the exhaust is hot enough to increase the engine’s temperature and overheat your Sprinter van. In addition, you will smell rancid burning odors coming from the engine as the exhaust melts parts.
Strong Exhaust Odors
As if those odors were not bad enough, you may also smell exhaust odors inside the van. If this is the case, you should pull over and park the van. Turn off the engine and call for a tow truck. You cannot drive the van while you are breathing in engine exhaust.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, the Sprinter van’s engine control module is going to turn on the check engine light. As you have seen while reading this blog, a cracked exhaust manifold can cause all kinds of problems in the engine.
Call California Autohaus in Encinitas, CA, today to schedule a service appointment for your Sprinter van.
