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Jaguars are coveted vehicles built with style and performance in mind. Once you have owned your Jaguar for an extended period of time, you may begin to notice more and more parts that need repairs or replacement. One of those important components is the exhaust manifold gasket. Below you will find information about what this part is and what signs to look for to indicate it has failed.

Information on the Exhaust Manifold Gasket

The exhaust manifold is the part in your Jaguar that takes all of the post-combustions gases out of their respective cylinders and leads them to the exhaust pipe. The manifold is connected to the engine cylinders with the exhaust manifold gasket. The gasket is used as a seal in order to prevent any excess gas from escaping the pipes and reentering the fuel and air mixture that have not been combusted yet. The exhaust manifold gasket also seals the passages together to ensure that the gases are vacuumed to your Jaguar’s exhaust pipe.

The exhaust manifold gasket also helps the engine to breathe. In order for your engine to function properly, it needs to have a constant flow of air and gas in and out. The exhaust manifold gasket aids in expelling the used air-and-gas mixture out of the engine so it can continue to circulate a clean mixture of fuel and air.

Signs and Symptoms of Exhaust Manifold Gasket Failure

The first sign that may alert you to an exhaust manifold gasket failure is an excessively noisy engine. When the exhaust manifold gasket has failed, it will produce a leak. That leak will cause noises in your engine, such as tapping or hissing. This occurs when the excess gas is leaking from the manifold and is coming in contact with parts of the engine that are very hot. You will hear these noises especially during a cold start and while accelerating.

A second sign that could indicate that your Jaguar is experiencing an exhaust manifold gasket failure is that there is a decrease in power, acceleration, and fuel efficiency. With a leak in the exhaust manifold gasket, the engine performance that you are used to will significantly decrease. This sign may come on gradually, so you may not notice it at first. However, if the exhaust manifold failure remains unaddressed for an extended period of time, you will see a decrease in power, fuel efficiency, and acceleration.

A third sign that you should be aware of in regards to exhaust manifold gasket failure is a burning smell coming from the engine bay. This occurs due to the fact that the exhaust manifold is carrying gas from the engine all the way to the exhaust pipe, and there are a lot of engine parts that it passes. So if the gasket leak occurs near any part of the engine that is plastic or contains wiring, then those parts will begin to melt and emit a burning smell. If those parts are not made to be exposed to high heats, then a leak in the gasket is going to burn right through them, leading to a strong burning smell. It is also important to be aware that the burning smell can sometimes be accompanied by faint smoke coming from the engine.

Servicing Your Jaguar

Any problems that you may have with your Jaguar should be checked out as soon as possible. This is especially true for a failed exhaust manifold gasket. If this part is failing, your Jaguar may be in danger of other serious problems.

Bring your Jaguar into Autowerks so we can take a look at the exhaust manifold gasket for you. We are conveniently accessible from the areas of Brenham, Bryan, Caldwell, Madisonville, Navasota, and College Station, TX. We will be able to quickly get you an appointment to have your Jaguar inspected. When you bring your Jaguar in at your appointment time, one of our trained and certified technicians will inspect and diagnose your Jaguar using the latest and most up-to-date tools and equipment.

Once the failed exhaust manifold gasket has been identified and located, we will go over the options you have for repair and replacement. We will work with you by offering manufacturer-approved parts without charging you the dealership price. We want to ensure that you and your Jaguar are safely back on the road without breaking your bank.