How to fix a leaking car vacuum system
Leaking vacuum system on car will greatly affect the vehicle's operation.
What is a car vacuum system?
The engine vacuum system is an important concept because the engine needs the right amount of air and fuel to run smoothly.
The vacuum system involved in the operation of the internal combustion engine in a car is a delicate, complex part that helps the car run. In other words, the car engine works like a giant air pump.
The vacuum system controls the internal combustion engine and its efficiency has a direct impact on the performance of the engine. Therefore, if you want your car to run well, you must know how to maintain it properly.
What is a vacuum leak?
A vacuum leak occurs when extra air is pumped into an internal combustion engine, and this extra air is not detected by the engine computer - the part that calculates the ideal amount of fuel to be pumped into the engine - thus creating a fuel mixture,
As a result, the engine will not work properly and will stall.
An unbalanced ratio of air to fuel in the engine can cause the following consequences:
The Check Engine light is on on the dashboard
Increased emissions: An engine with too much air will burn hotter and therefore produce more oxide emissions.
More fuel consumption than normal: With too much air, the engine control unit will try to compensate by adding more fuel to the air-fuel mixture, resulting in the vehicle consuming more fuel.
Stagnant engine
Engine idles faster than normal
Uneven engine idle
Poor acceleration
How to fix a vacuum leak
Repairing a vacuum leak is fairly simple. You simply replace any damaged hoses or tubes—the most common causes of vacuum leaks. In some cases, if one end of a vacuum hose is damaged, you can cut off up to half an inch and re-connect the hose.
A temporary repair before replacement is to wrap thick, stiff duct tape around the damaged pipe to limit the leak.
You can drive a car with a vacuum leak for a while. However, vacuum leaks cause the engine to overheat, increasing engine temperature and thus accelerating the deterioration of rubber and plastic parts, such as hoses and vacuum tubes.
Therefore, it is advisable to check for vacuum leaks and have them repaired as soon as possible. Especially if the leak is in the brake booster, it must be repaired before driving.
