Where Is the Intake Manifold Located?

Q: Where Is the Intake Manifold Typically Located?

A: The intake manifold is pretty easy to spot on most vehicles. You can typically find it high up in the engine bay on the cylinder head. On V-engines, it’s usually installed in between the cylinder heads.

Its exact location can vary depending on the vehicle’s make and model, but you’ll almost always find it near the cylinders because of its key role in the internal combustion process. On 2011 to 2015 Chevy Cruze models, you can find the intake manifold beside the fuel rail, which you’ll have to remove to access the intake manifold.

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: Intake manifolds on modern engines are usually plastic but can be aluminum.

Also known as the inlet manifold, the intake manifold is one of the most important parts of an internal combustion engine. It helps the engine breathe by making sure that the air coming into the engine is evenly distributed to all the cylinders.

Tips on How to Access the Intake Manifold

Before everything else, you might have to take off a plastic cover sitting on top of the engine to see what you’re working with. Accessing the intake manifold can be a long and complicated process, mostly because you usually have to remove a lot of parts before you can even access the intake manifold.

On some General Motors (GM) trucks, you’ll have to remove the air horn hose, alternator, wiring harness, and other parts first before you can even get to the intake manifold. To save yourself some trouble, go ahead and prepare all of your tools in advance, such as a flat-blade screwdriver, a 10mm wrench, and a 10mm socket.