A vacuum leak in your truck’s engine can cause more problems than you might realize. Don’t worry. Oxford Automotive will locate the leaking vacuum hose in your engine and replace it. We can do this whether you drive a truck, car, or sports utility vehicle. We are going to list six signs that your engine has a vacuum leak below so you know when to drive straight to our shop.
1. Check Engine Warning
The check engine light will come on because the vacuum leak will create problems in the engine that cause system sensors to report errors to the engine control module. Anytime your check engine light comes on and stays on, head straight to our shop. Sometimes, there is a problem that isn’t noticeable with the exception of the illuminated check engine warning.
2. Component Malfunction
Aside from the check engine light, you may also start to have problems with your vehicle’s components. For example, one of the things that the vacuum pressure does is power the power steering pump. Consequently, you may start to have problems with your truck’s power steering if the vacuum hose that is leaking is the one heading straight to the pump.
3. Engine Performance Loss
You will also notice that your engine is not performing the way it normally does. A leaking vacuum hose in the engine will fill the engine with air. Unfortunately, this air can make its way into the combustion chamber and cause a lean fuel mixture. When this happens, your engine gets fuel-starved and you will notice a significant loss in its power and acceleration.
4. Reduced Fuel Economy
Despite these power losses, you will end up with reduced fuel economy because the engine will burn more fuel in its effort to produce power. Consequently, you will find yourself at the service station filling up your truck more often than you normally do.
5. Hissing or Suction Noises
Engine vacuum leaks are rarely silent. You may hear strange noises coming from the engine that point specifically to a vacuum leak. For example, the leaking hose may hiss if the vacuum leak isn’t that bad. It may also produce a suction noise that sounds like your household vacuum if you have a more severe leak.
6. Increased/Sporadic RPMs
Finally, you will notice your tachometer needle dancing up and down because the vacuum leak directly affects the RPMs that the engine produces. It will increase the RPMs and cause them to go from high to low and back to high sporadically.
Call Oxford Automotive in Oxford, PA, today if you suspect that your engine has a vacuum leak. We’ve got you covered.
