Best Repair Shop in Plano for Fixing Your BMW’s Vacuum Hose Leaks
by europewpadmin May 21, 2020BMWs are able to offer high performance and style in one vehicle. In order to keep this perfect partnership of your BMW in peak running order, you need to keep on top of your vehicle’s scheduled servicing and maintenance.
European Auto Tech knows exactly how to keep your car operating at its best. We want to make sure that all our customers know when to visit us in the case of part failure, such as vacuum leaks. We understand how frustrating sudden part failure can be, and as we’re BMW experts, we know that vacuum leaks are a common issue you’re likely to face over the lifespan of your car. Let’s explore this issue further and learn when you need to visit us for repairs.
What are vacuum leaks?
When we’re talking about vacuums under the hood of your car, we’re definitely not talking about the household appliance. Instead, we’re talking about the vacuum that is created by a running engine.
Your engine needs to create a vacuum inside the engine in order to maintain the delicate balance of air and fuel in the engine. This vacuum is needed for optimal combustion. So when a vacuum hose fails, most commonly because of a leak, it increases the amount of air inside the engine, leading to an imbalance of air and fuel. When this happens, you’ll likely notice the following:
1. Lean Misfires
When the air and fuel ratio is uneven, the engine will struggle to combust properly, resulting in lean misfires. This type of misfire is an inconvenience and can reduce the performance of your BMW as well as damage the engine over time.
2. Stalling
When your BMW doesn’t get the right mixture of air and fuel to ignite, it will stall.
3. Starting Problems
In order to ignite correctly, your engine needs the right mix of air and fuel. Without this, starting will become a challenge.
4. Rough Idling
The combustion cycle happens constantly when your BMW is operating. While the air and fuel mixture may not be off-kilter enough to stall the engine, the combustion cycle may not be able to circle smoothly, resulting in a rough idle.
5. Sucking or Hissing Noises
Hearing this kind of sound when operating your vehicle is almost definitely caused by a vacuum leak.
6. Engine Management Light
Because a vacuum leak causes a reduction in engine performance, it may trigger the engine management light, also known as the check engine light. When this happens, take your BMW to a specialist as soon as possible, as it could also be pointing to a much more severe issue.
Reasons for Vacuum Hose Leaks
Vacuum hose leaks can occur for many reasons. A damaged or loose hose is the most common cause. As we all know, engines produce a lot of heat. While vacuum hoses are made of heat-resistant plastic, over time, the high heat will cause wear, leading to cracks and air leaks. The same can be said for the fittings that connect the hose, meaning that your hose may be perfectly fine, but it has become disconnected from a faulty fitting.
Secondly, your BMW’s seals and gaskets may be to blame. These parts are designed to keep in fluids and keep out dirt and debris via an air-tight seal. Given time and use, these parts will become dry and prone to cracking. This can allow air to escape.
A third reason for a vacuum hose leak is associated with part failure. For example, brake boosters can take a toll upon vacuum hoses. Worn out parts which are connected to the vacuum hoses may also fail, resulting in a vacuum leak as an additional negative effect.
How to Identify Vacuum Leaks
While other articles may tell you a variety of hacks and so-called mechanics tricks to detect vacuum leaks at home, if we’re being totally transparent, it’s just not worth your effort. Adding elements such as soapy water under your hood is asking for a mishap, which will likely cost you more in the long run.
Instead, if you want to do your best, keep on top of your scheduling and maintenance practices and look out for the warning signs as to when you should seek professional help. It’s as simple as that.
European Auto Tech
If your BMW springs a vacuum leak when 
driving through the communities we serve, then call on our team of experts at European Auto Tech. We are BMW specialists, and we know that vacuum leaks can be a common problem. We will be able to target the problem far quicker than our competitors at a much less expensive price. To find out more, call our friendly customer service team for help in the areas of Allen, Dallas, Flower Mound, Frisco, Highland Park, McKinney, Park Cities, Richardson, Southlake, University Park, and Plano, TX.