Manifold

manifold

El manifold, Together with the intake manifold, is one of the key parts of an internal combustion engine, both in cars and other vehicles. Despite its vital function, it remains unknown to many people who are interested in mechanics and drivers. To have the basic notions about this component, its function, where it is located in the engine, possible breakdowns and their symptoms, and the prices that this part has in the market if you had to replace it.

What is the exhaust manifold

single engine manifolds

El manifold It is a fundamental piece that collects the exhaust gases from the engine cylinders, which come out through the exhaust valves and unites them in a single exhaust pipe. In cars with turbo, the turbine will be installed at the end of this collector to take advantage of the high-energy exhaust gases to move the air compressor for intake.

You should know that the exhaust manifold has on the one hand the cylinder head that is attached to the engine block and on the other hand it is the exhaust catalyst, the one that expels the gases to the outside through the exhaust.

What is the exhaust manifold for?

The exhaust manifold is a component that conduct exhaust gases that are produced during the combustion process of the engines to be able to expel them to the outside through the exhaust system. It has a set of tubes, depending on the number of cylinders (not the number of exhaust valves), which end up joining in one, which ends up in the catalyst.

It is important that the manifold design exhaust allows the perfect expulsion of gases, without any of the outlets of one cylinder being slowed down by another, and that has a resonance and a specific design to extract the maximum from the engine. In addition, you must control the force and pressure with which the gases are expelled. IF there was an EGR valve, it would also be in it to collect a certain amount of exhaust gases and redirect them to the intake manifold to help in the combustion process and respect the established limits of gases to respect the environment.

Finally, it is important to note that it is generally a piece made of molten iron to make it sturdy.

where is the exhaust manifold

The exhaust manifold is installed at the outlet of the cylinder head of combustion engines. They are two elements that must be manufactured taking into account the dimensions and temperatures that they must withstand, and that are generally made of cast iron.

exhaust manifold faults

There are few faults that may occur to an exhaust manifold. As was the case with the intake manifold, this part does not require maintenance, but when it breaks it needs to be replaced. Perhaps you might think that it would not affect the operation of the engine so much since it is a part that is once the entire combustion process of the engine has passed, through which the gases are released, but the truth is that it is also important for the engine and affects more about you think.

Leaks in the exhaust manifold

It is possible that leaks may occur in the exhaust manifold, and this is due to a poor sealing of the gasket or a poor fixing of it.

cracked exhaust manifold

It is also possible that it is perforated or has a crack, so the gases are escaping where they should not, and that also affects the operation of the engine.

How to know if the exhaust manifold is damaged

From what can be seen, the exhaust manifold may indicate faulty because of the noise the engine makes. Cracks or leaks usually generate intense noises due to gases escaping somewhere. You can also see the smoke coming out and the smell of burnt gases when the engine starts and especially when accelerating. Other symptoms are the jerks and lack of power that the vehicle may have, since, as I mentioned before, believe it or not, the manifolds and exhausts have to do with power, and their noise as well.

Therefore, remember Check this component when the following problems occur:

  • abnormal noise: With a cold engine, if there is a leak in the exhaust manifold it may cause a “ticking” sound. This is because broken exhaust manifold bolts cause a cold manifold to leak gases around it, causing this sound. As engine temperature rises, the exhaust manifold expands, closing the cracks and quieting the ticking noise. However, this not only affects the vehicle, but could also cause a safety issue as gases could leak into the cabin and cause dizziness and headaches, i.e. symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
  • Abnormal fuel efficiency: If fuel efficiency is decreased, consuming more than normal, it can also be due to a broken exhaust manifold. Not because fuel is lost because of it, but because the temperatures and cycles that the engine has to handle optimally have been misaligned due to the breakage of this exhaust manifold.
  • Engine light on: If you do not check the vehicle and the manifold repair, the error indicator lights on the car panel will come on warning that something is wrong. Additionally, an exhaust valve could burn due to prolonged exposure to the wrong air/fuel mixture, among other issues. It is best not to give rise to this situation, as repairs can be extensive and costly.

red hot exhaust manifold

El exhaust manifold is normal that it becomes red hot in high-performance engines such as those used in motorsport or in other engines when they have been running hard for some time. However, if the exhaust becomes red hot very soon, it may be due to a too lean mixture of gasoline, which causes the engine to run hotter. In fact, some engines that work with lean mixtures have to use some type of protector or cover to protect this area and that it does not burn or damage other parts due to excess heat.

Exhaust manifold change price

exhaust manifold of an engine

The prices of an exhaust manifold can go from 100 and some euros to more than 500€ depending on the type of collector and for what model or brand it is. Here you can see some purchase examples so you can choose the one that best suits your needs:


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