Are inlet manifold gasket and intake manifold gasket the same thing?

Yes. "Inlet Manifold Gasket" and "Intake manifold gasket" refer to the same car part. Other common names include Intake manifold gasket, Intake Manifold Gasket, Inlet Gasket. The part is the same regardless of which name is used.

Can I use exhaust paste to seal an inlet manifold gasket?

No — exhaust paste is not fuel-resistant and will deteriorate quickly in the intake tract, potentially blocking injectors or valves. Always use a purpose-made inlet manifold gasket.

Will a leaking inlet manifold gasket cause overheating?

On engines with a coolant crossover in the lower manifold, a failed gasket can cause coolant loss, which will lead to overheating. On air-only manifolds, overheating is not a direct symptom.

How long does an inlet manifold gasket last?

Most last the life of the vehicle. Gasket failure is usually caused by overheating, incorrect torque during a previous removal, or using a low-quality replacement gasket.

Can I replace the inlet manifold gasket myself?

On many four-cylinder engines, yes. Allow two to four hours and ensure you have photographs of all hose and wiring routing before disassembly. V-configuration engines are more complex and are better done by a workshop.

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Inlet Manifold Gasket buying guide — what to know before you buy

The inlet manifold gasket seals the joint between the intake manifold and the cylinder head, ensuring all intake air passes through the throttle body and is metered correctly by the MAF sensor before entering the combustion chamber. A blown or leaking inlet gasket — also called the intake manifold gasket or inlet gasket — allows unmetered air into the engine, causing a rough idle, lean misfire codes, and increased fuel consumption. On water-cooled manifolds a failed gasket can also allow coolant ingress into the intake tract. CarParts247 stocks inlet manifold gaskets from Elring, Victor Reinz, Mahle, and Ajusa for an extensive range of petrol and diesel engines.

Symptoms of a failing inlet manifold gasket

An air leak at the intake manifold is detected by the engine management system as an abnormally lean air-fuel mixture. The ECU compensates to a degree but cannot fully mask the fault.

Rough or lumpy idle that may smooth out at higher rpm
Lean mixture fault codes (P0171, P0174) despite a good MAF sensor
Hissing or whistling sound from the engine bay under load
Increased fuel consumption as the ECU adds fuel to compensate
Coolant loss without external leaks (on water-cooled manifolds)

Replacing the inlet manifold gasket

Access to the manifold varies considerably by engine layout. On inline four-cylinder engines the manifold is generally accessible from the top of the engine; on V6 and V8 configurations the lower manifold may require significant ancillary removal. Take photographs before disconnecting wiring and vacuum hoses.

Clean the mating surfaces on both the manifold and cylinder head with a suitable gasket scraper and solvent — residual old gasket material causes the new seal to fail prematurely. Fit the new gasket dry unless the manufacturer specifies sealant at corner locations.