The collector (resonator, “pants”) is an engine attachment; it is a closed reservoir of complex shape with a common chamber (receiver) and outlet pipes. Depending on the nature of the functions performed in a car, there are two types of manifolds - exhaust and intake.
The main task of the intake manifold is to supply air from the distribution system, mix it with fuel and transform it into an air-fuel mixture of the desired consistency, followed by a uniform supply to the combustion chamber of the cylinders. Therefore, the main task of the exhaust manifold is to collect exhaust gases from the engine cylinders into a single pipe.
Symptoms of air leaks in the intake manifold of a VAZ 2114
All car engines, regardless of their type (with an injector or carburetor), operate on a mixture of fuel and air.
The ratio of these components in the mixture is precisely calculated and regulated either electronically or mechanically. But, sometimes it happens that additional air leaks occur, the mixture is “diluted” and the motorist can observe a serious loss of power in his car (which is especially noticeable at low speeds). We’ll talk about why this happens and how to correct this situation in today’s article.
Symptoms of air leaks
The first sign of air leaks is the Check Engine light coming on. There are many reasons to turn on this light bulb. You'll need to rule out other problems before you decide it's a leak. But be sure that it is an air leak if it is accompanied by hissing from the engine and loss of power.
Is your car not developing full power? It could be an air leak.
Leaking can cause additional engine problems such as fuel inefficiency.
Air leaks and its symptoms
The phenomenon of suction is associated with the penetration of air into the fuel tract of the machine. It leads to a lean mixture and, as a result, greatly affects the operation of the engine, reducing its power and causing interruptions in operation.
If air leaks occur in the intake manifold, the symptoms of the VAZ 2114 may be as follows:
- unstable idle speed;
- engine tripping;
- “sagging” during acceleration;
- increased gasoline consumption;
- difficult starting even at high air temperatures;
- a sharp drop in power (especially at speeds below 3,000 min-1).
If the engine stalls very often, this may also indicate that there is an air leak in the VAZ 2114. You can additionally verify the presence of this problem by using a car scanner. The presence of suction may be indicated by errors P0171 (very lean mixture) and P300 (misfire observed).
Stable engine operation at high speeds does not at all indicate the absence of suction, since it is most clearly manifested at low speeds. It is worth remembering this so as not to be misled and start looking for other causes of problems.
As soon as you notice that there are signs of air leaks, you should immediately begin searching for a possible place where it has entered the system.
Places of possible suction
There are quite a few places through which air can get inside the fuel system, and during the test you will have to examine them all (we’ll talk about how to detect them a little lower).
For now, let's say that you have to check:
- The intake manifold gasket (its destruction or burnout in the vast majority of cases is the cause of suction).
- Hoses and pipes suitable for the manifold.
- Injector seals.
- Throttle gaskets.
- Plugs placed on the manifold.
- Bushings.
- Vacuum brake boosters.
If symptoms of air leaks appear in the VAZ 2114 injector, all these elements will have to be checked.
You should also check and, if necessary, replace the idle speed sensor. Very often they are of poor workmanship and are not sealed, leading to air entering the manifold.
How to find the leak location
There are 3 main methods by which you can find a leaky area:
- by monitoring the rarefaction of air in the line;
- using a smoke generator;
- using a volatile flammable liquid.
We will omit the first method, since it requires special equipment, which is not available at all service stations. But the second method deserves a lot of attention, since it is quite simple to implement and at the same time very accurate. It will require a compressor, a blow gun and cigarettes (the latter will serve as a source of smoke).
Before checking the air intake of the VAZ 2114, you will need to assemble the entire installation, namely, connect the gun to the compressor receiver, and insert a cigarette into the nozzle of the gun. After this, a pressure of about 0.8 atmospheres is built up and the smoke is directed into the collector using a gun.
The smoke itself created by such an installation is quite thick and quickly fills the entire system. All that remains for the motorist is to carefully monitor the place where the smoke is coming out, and after detecting it, carry out repair work.
In some cases, the leak can be found without additional means - the damaged area can be easily detected by the characteristic whistle or hiss that is produced by the intake air when the engine is running. True, this only happens if there are serious cracks and breaks.
If the proposed method using a smoke generator is not suitable (for example, there is no compressor available), then the test can also be performed using volatile flammable liquids packaged in pressurized cans. As such, you can use ethyl ether (although it is almost impossible to get it in its pure form now), a means for winter starting diesel engines (the main component of which is the same ether), as well as special cleaning products based on hydrocarbons.
In order to find the location of the leak, you need to start the car engine and, while idling, begin to spray all possible components, joints, plugs and hoses that relate to the manifold and may cause air penetration.
This should be done with pauses - after spraying one place, you should wait a few seconds. If you notice that the engine speed has increased sharply after the procedure, then the detected area should be thickly sprayed again. If after this the revolutions quickly go up again, then the leak point has been successfully found.
Replacing the intake manifold gasket on an injection VAZ-2114 with your own hands
Replacing the intake manifold gasket on a VAZ-2114 car, as well as replacing the exhaust manifold gasket, is a very complex procedure and requires certain knowledge and experience. Of course, you will have to do a colossal amount of work and spend a lot of time, but this will save 4-5 thousand rubles on replacement at a car service center.
The video below will tell you about replacing the receiver and manifold. During the replacement process, the intake manifold gasket is also changed:
The video will tell you how to properly replace the intake manifold gasket, and also tell you about some of the subtleties and nuances of the process.
How much does a repair at a service station cost?
How much will it cost to replace the exhaust manifold gasket? The price for this type of work depends on the type of engine (carburetor, injection, 8-valve, 16-valve), the model of the seal itself, as well as the prices of the service station where you plan to repair your car.
On average, the work itself, together with the seal, costs somewhere around 1,500 rubles.
But you don’t have to spend money on work. Replacing the VAZ exhaust manifold gasket can be done on your own without much difficulty. Especially if you have a set of hand tools and you have even the slightest idea about the design of your car’s engine.
The easiest way is for the owner of a car with an injection engine, the operation of which is monitored by an ECU (electronic control unit). It sends a signal about a gasket failure to the dashboard, where the Check light comes on. This means that the lambda probe, which is usually equipped with the manifold, detected a change in the volume of oxygen in the exhaust, informing the ECU. The engine begins to operate in emergency mode until the defect is eliminated.
“Symptoms” of a burnt gasket:
- the engine is unstable;
- makes an uncharacteristic sound during operation;
- The cabin smells like exhaust gases.
ATTENTION! The fact that the exhaust manifold gasket has burned out is indicated by a recognizable chirping sound created by gases that break through the seal. Motorists often say that the engine “cuts.”
Exhausts through ventilation and heating systems quickly penetrate into the cabin, which is fraught not only with a deterioration of the microclimate, but also with negative consequences for health. This is why replacing the exhaust manifold gasket becomes a forced but necessary measure.
Replacing the exhaust manifold and gasket on a VAZ 2114
The exhaust manifold is a unit that is responsible for ride quality, without which comfort is impossible. This is silence and the absence of exhaust smell under the hood, which can be drawn into the cabin through the hole in the cabin filter. Fixing a leak in the exhaust manifold of a VAZ 2114 is a necessary repair. Fortunately, it is not urgent; you can prepare in advance and choose a convenient moment.
Exhaust manifold for VAZ 2114
Pad
As already mentioned, the VAZ manifold gets very hot during operation. Heating sometimes leads to thermal stress. The consequence of this is the movement of the surface of the part along the surfaces of the cylinder heads. To ensure that the connection between the manifold and the cylinder head is airtight, AvtoVAZ engineers used a manifold gasket. Sometimes the gasket may need to be replaced, and sometimes the manifold needs to be replaced entirely.
The gasket is an important part that serves as a seal. The correct operation of the exhaust manifold depends on its condition. If replacement is not made, the vehicle's performance may noticeably decrease.
The gasket is located between the exhaust manifold and the cylinder head. Its task is to under no circumstances allow gases to enter the space under the hood. The gasket is the weakest link of this assembly. She has to perform her functions in particularly difficult conditions. It is these gaskets that car enthusiasts often have to replace.
When should you change the gasket? Today, seals are made from compressed asbestos, and then they are reinforced with steel. But even such a high-strength material one day becomes unusable. How do you know when it's time to change the gasket? When the vehicle moves, the motorist will hear noise and a clearly distinguishable smell of gases.
In addition, the car will start every once in a while, and from under the hood you can hear sounds that are unnatural for a car. To replace the gasket, you need to remove the air intakes, then you will need to remove the VAZ exhaust manifold. Sometimes this requires dismantling the thermal screen. Now you need to unscrew the bolts that connect the exhaust manifold to the engine.
Next, the VAZ exhaust manifold is removed. Immediately below it you can see the remains of the gasket. It will be necessary to work hard, because what is left of the gasket is strongly stuck to the cylinder head. First you need to remove the carbon deposits, and then clean the area where the VAZ manifold is adjacent to the cylinder block. Next, you need to apply a special graphite lubricant to the surface, and then you can install a new gasket.
Causes of malfunctions
The key factor that causes 90% of exhaust manifold malfunctions on VAZ 2114 cars is high temperature and poor quality materials from which the parts are made. During operation, the steel repeatedly heats up and cools down, which leads to the appearance of cracks in the body. This is a common occurrence for VAZ cars older than 7-8 years.
Auto repair shops offer crack welding services using argon welding. However, for a number of reasons, this activity is useless for cars older than 7 years.
1) Just removing and installing the exhaust manifold will cost about 2.5 thousand rubles. Taking into account the work of the welder and other actions, the cost of repairs can be 4-5 thousand rubles. If you do the work yourself, buying a new part will cost less.
2) Welding, even argon welding, disrupts the structure of “tired” metal. A boiled part rarely lasts longer than a year, after which new holes appear. The older the car, the faster the problem returns, and the collector has to be removed again.
If the car is older than 8 years and there are problems with cracks in the manifold, it is better to remove the part and replace it with a new one.
Perfect replacement of the Renault Logan intake or exhaust manifold gasket
Manifolds on a car fail at any time, regardless of the actual mileage or frequency of technical inspection. The causes of failure are varied, ranging from violations of manufacturing technology to moisture ingress and broken pins. It is the last two factors that occur most often, which is confirmed by the statistics of orders for preventive services at service stations.
It is not recommended to repair the breakdown yourself, since the process requires minimal skills in servicing the equipment. Often, as a result of unprofessional intervention, service station technicians had to redo the work of “garage specialists.”
Signs of trouble
Exhaust manifold gasket
One of the main signs of a leak in the system is a “sporty” growling sound when the engine speed increases. This may be a symptom of various exhaust system problems. To check, it is better to take an assistant and go to a garage with a pit or to an overpass. Most often, you can determine by eye whether the problem lies in the muffler, resonator or exhaust.
Gasket wear may become apparent during planting. Open the hood and start the car - white or grayish smoke rising from the manifold during warm-up indicates a leak for this reason. VAZ car owners usually encounter this problem once every 3-4 years. When using low-quality spare parts and before. The solution may be to manufacture a custom-made steel gasket. It can last as long as the entire collector.
Service specialists, when attracting clients, like to tell scary stories about the explosion of the exhaust manifold on VAZ 2114 cars due to cracks. In reality this is nothing more than a myth. But the real problems are no less serious, so there is no point in putting off repairs.
A cracked exhaust manifold or worn gasket can cause your engine to run rough.
1) A lambda probe is installed in the exhaust manifold, which affects the operation of the injection system. Strong air suction disrupts the oxygen mass content in the exhaust; the lambda incorrectly adjusts the quality of the mixture, causing tripping, uneven idling, loss of power, and “black” spark plugs.
2) Another function is crankcase ventilation. Impaired air circulation causes disturbances in the operation of the gas distribution mechanism, increased wear of valves, the formation of carbon deposits on the pistons and other “joys”.
If increased noise and unpleasant odors during engine operation are combined with dirty work, the car needs urgent repairs.
What does a faulty collector affect?
There are many stories about the rupture (and even explosion) of a cracked manifold while the car is moving.
Of course, none of them are true, but nevertheless, a leaky manifold is a very serious problem that requires an immediate solution, and here’s why: through burnouts and cracks, air can enter the exhaust system, diluting the exhaust gases.
As a result of this, the lambda sensor will incorrectly determine their composition and incorrectly adjust the composition of the fuel-air mixture injected into the engine, which will lead to tripping, a drop in speed and carbon deposits on the spark plugs.
These same cracks will affect the crankcase ventilation, disrupting it. This will lead to timing problems and increased valve wear. And finally, exhaust gases escaping through the burnouts will enter the engine compartment and, partially, into the interior, causing unpleasant odors and discomfort during trips.
A severely burnt manifold gasket can lead to exactly the same consequences as cracks on the part itself.
Tools and necessary parts
To remove the exhaust manifold on a VAZ 2114 in order to replace the gasket or entire part, you will need the following tool:
- open-end and ring wrenches for 8, 10, 13, 17;
- wrench with heads 17, 19;
- screwdrivers, pliers.
It is also a good idea to have tools such as a Dremel, nut saw or nut pick on hand. As a rule, the fasteners on the exhaust system parts stick tightly.
A few days before your planned repair, begin treating accessible nuts with WD-40 or another penetrating lubricant. Repeat the operation 2-3 times. This will make the task of removing the manifold a little easier .
The question often arises: is it worth using a sealant after removing and replacing the gasket? Experts believe that if you apply sealant to the gasket, it should only be high-quality silicone. A bad sealant can bring a lot of trouble to a VAZ 2114 engine: when it burns out, it turns into “pellets” that are pulled into the crankcase. And this is unnecessary contamination of the piston system.
Tips for replacing the intake manifold
Also, do not neglect the procedures for repairing and cleaning the intake manifold. The stability of the VK is very important for the normal functioning of the car. A certain vacuum is formed in the intake manifold, which is the source of drive force for many systems: cruise control, windshield wipers, vacuum brake booster. In the event of a collector malfunction, this threatens the failure of one or more of the above systems.
To avoid the appearance of cracks and distortions, you must use a torque wrench to tighten the nuts on the manifold and follow the tightening order of 20.9-25.8 (2.13-2.63) N_m (kgf_m). As a rule, it is recommended to start tightening the nuts from the center and gradually move towards the periphery, alternately tightening the nut on one side or the other.
To work on removing and replacing the VAZ 2114 intake manifold on an 8-valve engine, we will need:
- keys “for 8”, “for 10”, “for 13”, “for 17”;
- “cardan” type nozzle and socket heads “17”, “19”;
- magnetic screwdriver;
- screwdrivers, pliers;
- new intake manifold.
Exhaust manifold removal procedure
Before removing the exhaust manifold yourself, think 7 times. Having this work done by a service center is not cheap, but the inaccessibility and difficulty of unscrewing some nuts can be a serious problem.
Unscrew the bolt securing the intake pipe
It is important to drain the coolant before removal, as antifreeze may enter the cylinders during the process. The sequence of actions for cars with an injector is as follows:
- Disconnect the battery, release the throttle cable from the throttle valve.
- Disconnect the fuel line pipes.
- Disconnect the wires from the TPS and idle speed control.
- Release the crankcase ventilation, vacuum, and brake booster hoses.
- Remove the receiver, remove the injector block wires and remove the injector fuel rail.
- Remove the bracket and thermal shield.
- After this, you can disconnect the exhaust pipe, exhaust and intake manifolds from the manifold.
After disassembly, all gaskets are replaced with new ones. Please note when purchasing that the exhaust manifold gaskets for 8-valve and 16-valve VAZ 2114 are different. Select the parts carefully and you can avoid wasting time and money.
Replacing the exhaust manifold gasket on a VAZ-2114 with your own hands
- Preparation stages
- Dismantling of collectors
The exhaust manifold is a component of the exhaust system that carries out the process of removing exhaust gases from the cylinders of the power unit into the exhaust pipe.
If the collector malfunctions, the culprit may be either the element itself or its gasket. Replacing the exhaust manifold (exhaust manifold) gasket is a common procedure when repairing a VAZ 2109.
Appearance of the unit
Causes of malfunctions
The key factor that causes 90% of exhaust manifold malfunctions on VAZ 2114 cars is high temperature and poor quality materials from which the parts are made. During operation, the steel repeatedly heats up and cools down, which leads to the appearance of cracks in the body. This is a common occurrence for VAZ cars older than 7-8 years.
Auto repair shops offer crack welding services using argon welding. However, for a number of reasons, this activity is useless for cars older than 7 years.
1) Just removing and installing the exhaust manifold will cost about 2.5 thousand rubles. Taking into account the work of the welder and other actions, the cost of repairs can be 4-5 thousand rubles. If you do the work yourself, buying a new part will cost less.
2) Welding, even argon welding, disrupts the structure of “tired” metal. A boiled part rarely lasts longer than a year, after which new holes appear. The older the car, the faster the problem returns, and the collector has to be removed again.
If the car is older than 8 years and there are problems with cracks in the manifold, it is better to remove the part and replace it with a new one.
Preparation stages
To replace the manifold or its gasket, in any case you will have to dismantle the VK. But before you get to the element you are looking for, you will first need to go through some preparatory steps. Namely, tighten the fasteners, and then remove the air filter and carburetor if the first stage does not help.
Stage of work
Your actions
Often, loose manifold fastenings caused the entry of contaminants, which disrupted the performance of the exhaust system. If the tightening did not give any result, then the gasket is definitely burned out or the collector itself is damaged, which is less likely
Removing the air filter
Removing the carburetor is carried out in the following sequence:
- Disconnect the coolant supply hose to the engine starting device from the fitting. To do this, unscrew the clamps;
- Be sure to drain the coolant into a prepared container;
- Disconnect the exhaust pipe that comes from the exhaust manifold and the BC bracket;
- Disconnect the throttle cable bracket. To do this, you need to remove one end of the spring from the damper control rod, and then remove the entire spring. Now loosen the nut on the bracket, which will allow you to remove the cable from the engagement;
- Disconnect the EPH sensor from the power plug;
- Disconnect the vacuum tube and a pair of hoses from the carburetor heating unit;
- Remove the engine crankcase ventilation hose;
- Remove the four mounting nuts holding the carburetor and intake manifold;
- Remove the carburetor carefully without yanking. It must be gradually removed from the studs.
All dismantling work must be carried out only on a cold engine. To make it easy to unscrew all fasteners, you can pre-treat them with WD40, several hours or even a day before the repair begins.
Dismantling of collectors
Now comes the turn to remove the intake and exhaust manifolds. Having dismantled them, you can understand whether it is possible to get by with replacing the gasket, or whether the collectors themselves will need to be completely replaced.
The gasket is a consumable item, the purchase of which will literally cost you 50-250 rubles, depending on the manufacturer and region. Services for replacing the gasket at a service station cost more than 1,500 rubles. Add to this the cost of a high-quality gasket and you will get quite a lot of money. Such costs can be avoided if you do everything yourself.
Dismantled unit
Intake manifold
By removing the air filter and carburetor, you will gain access to the intake manifold.
To dismantle it you will need a certain set of tools:
- Ratchet with 10mm head;
- Collar;
- Ratchet;
- Deep head 13;
- Regular head 13;
- Open-end wrench 13.
When everything is ready, you can start working.
- Unscrew a couple of mounting nuts to bend back the platform located under the carburetor.
- Disconnect the hoses that are connected to the intake manifold.
- Remove the six mounting nuts located on the intake manifold.
- Remove the manifold itself from the studs. To do this, simply rock the knot to the sides. It often sticks to the gasket, which causes problems with removal.
- Inspect the condition of the unit. If there is damage, the collector must be replaced.
- If the problem is only with the gasket, put the intake manifold aside for now and start removing the outlet.
Exhaust manifold removal procedure
Before removing the exhaust manifold yourself, think 7 times. Having this work done by a service center is not cheap, but the inaccessibility and difficulty of unscrewing some nuts can be a serious problem.
Unscrew the bolt securing the intake pipe
It is important to drain the coolant before removal, as antifreeze may enter the cylinders during the process. The sequence of actions for cars with an injector is as follows:
- Disconnect the battery, release the throttle cable from the throttle valve.
- Disconnect the fuel line pipes.
- Disconnect the wires from the TPS and idle speed control.
- Release the crankcase ventilation, vacuum, and brake booster hoses.
- Remove the receiver, remove the injector block wires and remove the injector fuel rail.
- Remove the bracket and thermal shield.
- After this, you can disconnect the exhaust pipe, exhaust and intake manifolds from the manifold.
After disassembly, all gaskets are replaced with new ones. Please note when purchasing that the exhaust manifold for 8-valve and 16-valve VAZ 2114 are different. Select the parts carefully and you can avoid wasting time and money.
