If your engine runs rough or overheats, a leaky intake manifold gasket may be the culprit.
Location:
The intake manifold is an aluminum or plastic cover attached to the top of the engine by an intake manifold gasket made of plastic and rubber.
Purpose:
It directs the air-fuel mixture in the engine to the corresponding cylinder, where it is burned to produce power.
Overtime:
When expansion, contraction, and heat from the engine lead to gasket failure, coolant passing through the intake manifold to the cylinder heads (to reduce engine temperature) will leak.
A leaky manifold gasket can also allow air to be sucked through the leaky gasket, resulting in a vacuum leak and poor engine performance. The gasket must be replaced.
TIP: Red, green, or yellow fluid underneath a vehicle may be evidence of a leak in the intake manifold gasket.
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