Dodge Journey Hissing Points to Critical Air Leak

I had a very similar issue with my 2013 Dodge Caravan diesel about 6 months ago. As someone with moderate car repair experience, I initially tried checking the obvious points myself after noticing similar symptoms, high fuel usage and that distinct hissing noise. The check engine light in my case was pointing to an air flow issue. After a basic inspection showed the air filter was fine, I took it to my regular workshop. They found a cracked intake hose near where it connects to the throttle body. The rubber had deteriorated over time, causing an air leak that was affecting engine performance. The total repair came to 100€, which included replacing the damaged hose and checking all other intake manifold connections. After the fix, both the hissing noise and high fuel consumption issues were completely resolved. To help diagnose your specific case better, could you share: Has the check engine code been read? Does the hissing noise change with engine RPM? Have you noticed any drop in power during acceleration? When was the last time your intake system components were inspected? These details would help determine if your Journey is experiencing the same issue my Caravan had or if its something else in the air intake system that needs attention.

Thanks for the detailed help. Had my car serviced last week at 116241KM but they didnt mention any intake issues. The engine misfire is definitely worse during acceleration and the check engine light keeps flashing. The hissing actually changes with RPM which matches what you described. Will have the throttle body and surrounding hoses checked since the fuel economy has gotten terrible lately. Did you notice if the engine ran rough before finding your leak?

Thanks for those extra details. Yes, my engine definitely ran rough before we found the vacuum hose leak, especially when accelerating. The flashing check engine light you mentioned is actually more concerning than what I experienced, it typically indicates a serious misfire that could damage your catalytic converter. In my case, the turbocharger was also affected by the air leak, which explains why the fuel economy dropped so significantly. The intake manifold pressure couldn't build properly due to the leak, forcing the engine to compensate by using more fuel. Given your symptoms are more severe than mine were, I would suggest getting it checked soon. When they found my cracked hose, they also discovered the intake manifold gasket was starting to fail, something that wasnt obvious during regular service. The complete fix included: Replacing the damaged vacuum hose, New intake manifold gasket, Pressure testing the entire intake system, Checking turbocharger connections After these repairs, the engine ran smoothly again and fuel economy returned to normal. The total repair ended up around 350€, but preventing potential turbocharger damage made it worthwhile.

Thanks for sharing your repair experience. After reading about your similar case, I decided to have the car checked right away. You were right, they found a significant crack in the main air intake hose and some damaged vacuum lines. The mechanic also noticed the intake manifold gasket was leaking slightly, which explained the inconsistent engine performance. The total repair came to 400€, covering new hoses, gasket replacement, and a full system pressure test. The check engine light is now off and the hissing noise is completely gone. Best of all, my fuel economy has improved dramatically, back to what it was before these issues started. Really glad I caught this before it caused damage to other components like the turbocharger. For anyone else reading this with similar symptoms, dont wait to get it checked like I almost did. The combined symptoms of poor fuel economy, hissing sounds, and a flashing check engine light definitely pointed to the air intake system problems you described.