How To Know If Your BMW E46 Exhaust Manifold is Leaking in Jeffersonville?

Commonly, the main purpose of the exhaust manifold in your BMW E46 is to seal between the engine cylinders and the exhaust system. It is made up of multiple layers of embossed steel and graphite and ceramic composites to enhance its longevity. On the other hand, it is made up of several combinations of materials in different layers.

When the exhaust manifold of the vehicle is leaking, it will indicate something wrong with the exhaust manifold. Left untreated for long can damage the engine or pose a health hazard because it will let the toxic fumes enter the cabin. At this point, you have to take it to a reputed auto repair center for diagnosing and fixing the problem.

What do you mean by exhaust manifold?

Among the several components of the BMW E46, the exhaust manifold is responsible for collecting and transporting the exhaust gases which is produced by the internal combustion engine to the catalytic converter. Subsequently, it has multiple inlets and exit channels for directing the exhaust gases from the engine’s cylinder head into the underbody.

On the other hand, the manifold is gathering the engine’s gases to the following parts of the exhaust system via the tailpipe. It can keep the vapors to increase the overall performance of the engine. If you want to increase the engine’s efficiency and torque qualities, you have to maintain the structure of the exhaust manifold.

Symptoms of the bad exhaust manifold

When the exhaust manifold of the BMW E46 is leaking, you will notice the following symptoms while driving on the road.

Burning smell from the engine bay

All we know is that the exhaust gases are hot and routed through the entire exhaust system. When these gases are escaping from the combustion chamber, they can cause serious engine damage and wear out several engine parts. When it happens, you will notice strong burning smells coming from the engine bay and need the investigation by a mechanic.

Weak acceleration

Thus, the most common sign of a leaking exhaust manifold in your car is the lack of engine power while accelerating. At this point, you will find that your car doesn't accelerate as quickly as possible as before and you need to push the gas pedal very hard to achieve the proper gear shifting. Eventually, you will find the broken manifold is reducing the acceleration force.

Poor fuel mileage

Another common sign of exhaust manifold leak in your vehicle is the reduced gas mileage. Eventually, the manifold leakage is lowering down the pressure in the exhaust system. In this case, the O2 sensor thought that the engine has a lean mixture and increase the fuel delivery to the engine by the ECU. As a result, the fuel mileage of the vehicle is reduced drastically.

Illuminated check engine light

When the exhaust manifold of the car is leaking, the O2 sensor is causing a lean operating condition that can affect the air/fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Due to these reasons, the check engine light is illuminated on the dashboard. In the worst conditions, these damages will affect the engine issues such as rough idling and engine misfiring.

Loud engine noise

Generally, the loud engine noise is the common sign of a leaking exhaust manifold in your BMW. Thus, the cracked manifold or sealing will produce a loud noise from the engine. Neglecting it for longer will create a loud tapping or hissing sound coming from the engine bay. During the cold start, these sounds should be loudest or most pronounced.

Way to find the exhaust manifold leaks

For determining the exhaust manifold leaks in your BMW E46, you have to start a visual inspection of the engine bay. Throughout the process, ensure that the engine is cold or leave it for a few hours to cool down after driving the car. If you found black soot around the manifold, ensure that the exhaust manifold is leaking that needs immediate attention of a mechanic.

Conclusion

When the exhaust manifold of the BMW E40 is leaking, you have to go through the symptoms to determine the earlier before it causes any major damage. If you are currently living in Jeffersonville and found that the exhaust manifold in your BMW is leaking, then consult with a reputed mechanic for determining the causes behind the problem and fix it as soon as possible.

We at MikeJohnsImport are Louisville’s leading source for master level service and repair exclusively of BMW and Mini Cooper. We have a team of BMW and Mini Cooper experts who guarantee to get all jobs done professionally.