One of the key parts of the engine is the intake manifold, whose main role is to ensure that the right air-fuel mix arrives on time at each of the engine’s cylinders. This small part has a big boost to the car’s overall performance and a blown intake manifold gasket can make the entire system less efficient as the air-fuel mixture will be inaccurate, and some of the gases will escape.

The intake manifold gasket works to seal the gaps between the air intake manifold, the engine block and the various cylinder heads. Gaskets can be made of a variety of different materials including cork paper, soft metal, rubber, and asbestos. The makeup of the gasket will determine whether or not it will be long-lasting or prone to wearing out quickly. Nearly all gaskets wear out over time due to the constant exposure to toxic engine fluids, gases and the pressure and extreme heat of the environment.