Whether you drive European, Asian, or domestic, your automobile uses vacuum pressure to power things like your power steering pump. If you notice that your vehicle components are acting up, it’s possible that you have a vacuum leak in one of the vacuum hoses. This will create additional engine problems because the vacuum leak will fill the engine with air. LP & Sons Auto Care says don’t worry. We can find your engine vacuum leak and fix it quickly and easily. Here are signs that your car has a vacuum leak.
You’ll Get a Check Engine Warning
One of the first things that will happen is the check engine light will come on. When the engine fills with air, changes to the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber occur. This causes the engine performance issues we will discuss next. In addition, system sensors report back to the main computer chip that there is too much air in the engine. Consequently, the engine control unit, as the main computer chip is called, will turn on the check engine light to let you know there’s a problem.
Your Acceleration and Engine Performance Will Lag
Excess air means that you have a lien fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. When this happens, you end up with acceleration and engine performance lag. Your vehicle will sputter when you try to pick up speed and it will sputter when you try to drive at higher speeds. It may even install when you are sitting at an idle if the error overpowers the fuel and the engine becomes fuel-starved.
You’ll See Your Tachometer Needle Bounce Up and Down
You may also notice that your tachometer needle will begin to bounce up and down. This is an indication that the engine is getting spurts of air, and this air is likely coming out of the leaking vacuum hose. While you are sitting at an idle, if you suspect you have a vacuum leak, keep an eye on your tachometer to see what the needle does. If your engine’s RPMs are sporadic, you probably do have a vacuum leak.
You’ll Hear Hissing or Suction Coming From the Engine
Finally, you can generally hear a vacuum leak coming from the engine. The sound may be hissing if the vacuum leak is minor or sucking if the vacuum leak is major. If you follow the sound, you may be able to find the specific vacuum hose that is leaking.
Call LP & Sons Auto Care in DeLand, FL, today if you think that your engine has a vacuum leak. We are European automobile experts, and we will find the leak and fix it.