Intake Manifold Gasket

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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