Your tachometer needle will bounce up and down if your engine has a vacuum leak. The vacuum created in the combustion chamber is used as a power source, and, as such, it is routed through the engine to various locations using vacuum hoses. Over time, Collins Auto Care advises that these hoses can start to leak. When this happens, the vacuum pressure comes out in spurts and raises the engine’s RPMs. This is the reason why your tachometer needle is moving up and down.
Malfunctioning Components
As we just mentioned, the engine uses the leftover vacuum pressure to power components such as your power steering pump. Consequently, a vacuum leak can cause the power steering pump and other components it powers to malfunction. This may leave your power steering inoperable, and it may feel as if you are driving an automobile with manual steering instead of power steering.
Performance Problems
The spurts of vacuum pressure that come out of the leaking hoses also fill your engine with air. As the air makes its way into the combustion chamber, your car, truck, or utility vehicle will start to experience engine performance problems. Specifically, the engine will struggle to maintain high speeds, and the acceleration will lag and hesitate. You will also experience power loss when the vehicle is under stress.
Suction or Hissing Sounds
Engine vacuum leaks also create auditory symptoms. If you listen closely enough, you might be able to hear suction or hissing sounds coming from your engine. These are the sounds vacuum leaks make if they are large or small, respectively. It can be easier to trace the vacuum to the exact hose by listening for it. We can do that for you here at our shop. We can also pressure test the vacuum hoses.
Check Engine Warning
Finally, as you can see, vacuum leaks can wreak havoc in your engine. As such, system sensors will send error codes to your vehicle’s main computer chip, the engine control module. Normally, the engine control module will make an adjustment in the engine to resolve the problem. In the case of a vacuum leak, it can’t, so it turns on your dashboard’s check engine light to let you know something is wrong.
Collins Auto Care is the best auto service shop in Houston, TX, so call us today to schedule an appointment for your automobile if you believe it has a vacuum leak. We will find the leaking vacuum hose and replace it.
