Can a leaking intake gasket cause coolant to get inside the engine?
Many US and foriegn car makers use engine coolant to heat the intake manifold for a smoother running and leaner burning engine. Without knowing the exact make and model, AND the size of the engine, it’s impossible to say whether you have one of these water heated intake systems. I am assuming that you are talking about the intake manifold when you say “leaking intake gasket.” The system is very popular, and normally reliable. It’s not very often that the gasket will just simply begin leaking; but, if it does, then intake vacuum will work together with cooling system pressure (up to 17 pounds) to syphon coolant into the combustion chambers. You can sometimes prove this is the problem by removing and checking the spark plugs. IF I remember correctly, they will have a built up residue, but I don’t remember off-hand what color it would be. Sometimes, if the leak is bad enough, soon after starting the engine you can smell ethelyn glycol (coolant) at the end of the tail pipe. DON”T take more
