If your vehicle is sputtering and giving you trouble, you might have a vacuum leak. Engine vacuum leaks usually occur through one of the vacuum hoses, and this creates a condition of too much air in the engine and not enough fuel, i.e., a “lean” fuel mixture. This will not only affect how your engine performs but also cause the issues listed below. If you are experiencing any of these problems, bring your automobile to Ideal Automotive right away.
Check Engine Light
Because there is too much air and not enough fuel in the engine, your car, truck, or utility vehicle’s engine control module will turn on the check engine light to let you know there is a problem. The check engine light serves as a catch-all to alert you of trouble in the engine that does not have its own warning light. For example, your dashboard does not have a vacuum leak light on it. As such, the unit has no choice but to turn on the check engine light.
High RPMs
You may also notice the needle dancing up and down on your tachometer because the vacuum leak is causing sporadic RPMs. This is because your engine is getting spurts of air from the vacuum leak that increases the RPMs. As they go up and down inside the engine, your tachometer needle will also go up and down. Sporadic RPMs are a definite sign of a vacuum leak, and this problem should be looked into as soon as possible.
Power Troubles
You may also notice that your automobile has power troubles. You may press down on the accelerator only to have your engine sputter and refuse to go faster. As the air leaks out of the vacuum hose, you may also experience sputtering while you are in motion. If the vacuum leak is severe, it could fill the engine with air and cause it to stall. Your vehicle may be more prone to stall when you are stopped and idling as opposed to when you are in motion.
Suction Noises
Finally, many drivers can hear the vacuum leak in their engines. They hear suction noises coming from the engine, and this is the vacuum hose that is leaking. With your vehicle parked and the parking brake set so there’s no chance of it rolling, pop your hood and listen to your engine while it is running. If you hear suction, follow the sound with your eyes to see if you can see which vacuum hose is leaking.
If you can’t, don’t worry about it. We here at Ideal Automotive in Blaine MN, would be happy to find your automobile’s vacuum leak and replace the leaking hoses. Call us today for an appointment.