Why Is My Car’s Engine Hissing at Me?

Righteous Auto Care advises that if your car, truck, or utility vehicle makes hissing sounds when you first start it up, you likely have a leaking exhaust manifold. The other sound that a leaking manifold will make is tapping. We are the best auto shop in Racine, and we can replace the manifold if it has cracked. We can also replace the exhaust manifold gasket if it is the part that has the crack.

Aside from the strange noises when you fire up your automobile, you will also notice a reduction in your engine’s performance if the manifold is leaking. The reason why is that the engine fills up with exhaust gases that prevent combustion in the combustion chamber. Your engine needs to produce combustion efficiently in order to run efficiently.

When your engine is running inefficiently, it will sputter, lag, and use up more gasoline or diesel fuel. Consequently, the leaking exhaust manifold can indirectly cause a reduction in your automobile’s fuel economy. Once we replace the manifold or the gasket, whichever part is leaking, your engine’s performance will be restored. You will also start to get the gas mileage you normally get.

When the engine fills up with exhaust gases, it will start to overheat. The reason why is that the exhaust is extremely hot. As such, it heats up your engine’s metal parts as well as the plastic and rubber parts. You will smell strong burning odors coming from the engine that indicate that the metal parts are too hot and the plastic and rubber parts are melting.

You may also smell strong exhaust odors inside the passenger cabin if your ventilation system picks up the exhaust and pushes it through the vents. This exhaust is untreated, so it is very dangerous if you inhale it. You will be inhaling carbon monoxide. As such, the leaking manifold can actually make you sick while you drive your automobile. It’s important that you do not drive your car if you can smell exhaust.

Finally, because the engine is not performing as it should and is overheating, the engine control module is going to turn on the check engine light to give you the heads up that there is a problem in the engine. In this case, the problem is actually in the exhaust system.

Righteous Auto Care in Racine, WI, can replace your leaking manifold or gasket, so give us a call today to set up a service appointment.