The exhaust manifold is bolted to your engine block to deliver excess combustion gases to the rest of the exhaust system. If it’s damaged or leaking, it can be a serious fire and safety hazard, so don’t delay in getting it repaired.
Your engine is a complex beast, and unless you’re a certified car repair technician, it can get pretty tricky to know which part does what. That’s why Jerry
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What are exhaust manifolds and headers?
Exhaust manifolds and headers serve the same purpose in your vehicle: both direct exhaust gases from your engine to the exhaust system. Exhaust manifolds are an OEM part that typically comes standard on most vehicles, while headers are found in high-performance engines or are available as aftermarket upgrades.
In general, headers are usually longer and lighter than exhaust manifolds. Headers are made of thin steel tubing, while exhaust manifolds have thick cast iron or stainless steel parts. Because of headers’ lighter weight and different shapes, they decrease back pressure on your engine and allow for greater horsepower and engine performance.
What does an exhaust manifold do?
The exhaust manifold is bolted directly onto the engine block and funnels exhaust gases from your engine’s cylinders to the rest of the exhaust system. The exhaust gases have a long way to travel before they are expelled through the tailpipe, and going through the exhaust manifold is the first step. The exhaust manifold has multiple openings, one for every cylinder in your engine, and is secured to the cylinder heads with gaskets.
It’s helpful to think of your exhaust manifold as a funnel–but it does much more than just push the exhaust gases from point A to point B. The exhaust manifold also contains an oxygen sensor that communicates with the fuel injection system to monitor whether there is too much or too little oxygen in the fuel/air mixture. Not only that, but the exhaust manifold is a high-temperature car part that also burns up excess exhaust gases.
Once the exhaust manifold has done its job, the burnt-up exhaust emissions are then funneled to the catalytic converter and through the rest of the exhaust system.
How do I know if I have a manifold problem?
If there’s an issue with your exhaust manifold, your car won’t be all that shy about letting you know there’s a problem! In addition to the check engine light flipping on, here’s how else to spot a problem with your exhaust manifold:
Cracked manifold
Your exhaust manifold experiences some pretty drastic temperature changes and all of this heating and cooling can make it and the exhaust manifold gaskets wear out faster than other car parts. Loud engine noises can indicate that your exhaust manifold has a crack in it, as can a strange odor in your car
(like the smell of burning plastic). Decreased acceleration and poor fuel economy also indicate that there could be a problem with the exhaust manifold.
If the manifold is leaking, the exhaust gases that should be going through the exhaust system can leak up into your vehicle’s cabin. These exhaust fumes are toxic to breathe, so if you suspect that your manifold or manifold gasket is cracked, be sure to take your car in to an automotive engineer ASAP.
Intake manifold leak
The exhaust manifold isn’t the only manifold you’ll find under the hood; there’s also the intake manifold. Instead of connecting the engine block to the exhaust system, the intake manifold distributes the air/fuel mixture that powers the engine.
Engine overheating, misfires, decreased fuel efficiency, and coolant leaks, are all indicative of a faulty intake manifold or intake manifold gasket leak.
When to replace your exhaust manifold
You may never have to replace the exhaust manifold during your car’s lifetime, but the gaskets can be a different story. These smaller, more fragile parts are more prone to failure than the manifold itself. In general, you can expect your exhaust manifold gaskets to last somewhere between 50,000 and 75,000 miles.
Cost to replace a manifold
If you begin to notice signs that your exhaust manifold needs replacing, it’s time to give your auto repair technician a ring. Thecost of exhaust manifold repair
can range between $500 and $900, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. Estimates vary widely for each vehicle. For example, replacing the exhaust manifold on a 2019 Chevrolet Cruze
costs a mere $353.74, while the same job on a 2017 Hyundai Elantra
costs a staggering $1,200.80. However, before you start panicking over the cost we have two pieces of good news for you. First, the problem may not be with the manifold itself, but with the manifold gasket. And, thankfully, the cost of exhaust manifold gasket repair
is significantly lower, usually between $150 and $500. Second: check your vehicle’s warranty before you begin smashing piggy banks and digging through couch cushions for loose change. Oftentimes, exhaust manifold repair will be covered under your vehicle’s powertrain warranty.
MORE: Car insurance vs car warranty: What’s the difference?
Find hassle-free car insurance
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