Can You Drive With A Broken Charge Pipe? Problems And Consequences

The turbocharger is one of the most sophisticated innovations in the automotive industry. A turbocharged engine improves a vehicle’s power and increases fuel efficiency. However, one common issue with this type of engine is the breaking or cracking of the charge pipe (CP).

You’re reading this post probably because you’ve experienced this issue. So, you’re wondering if it’s possible to drive with a broken charge pipe. If that’s true, then we’ve got the answer for you. We’ll also tell you about the problems you’re likely to encounter when your CP breaks and recommend the next course of action when that happens.

How Does A Charge Pipe Work?

A CP plays a significant role in a turbo engine. But, ensure you don’t confuse a charge with a downpipe as they are different. Here’s a post we did earlier on charge pipe vs. downpipe if you’d like to know the difference and the functions of each pipe. 

A charge pipe provides enhanced engine performance. It ensures that the turbocharged air doesn’t lose pressure. Also, the CP increases the airflow considerably from the turbo and to the intercooler. With that in mind, let’s find out if you can drive your car when this critical component breaks or cracks. 

Can You Drive With A Broken Charge Pipe?

It’s possible to drive your car with a broken charge pipe. But, the driving experience won’t be the same. The vehicle will feel like it’s struggling to move.

If you still have to drive it, ensure you keep away any plastic shrapnel from the throttle body before starting the car. You should also steer clear of boost and keep away from road areas where you’re likely to kick up a mess. 

Problems and Consequences of a Broken Charge Pipe

When your CP breaks, you’ll hear a "pop" sound (pipe failure while under pressure), and then feel reduced power. You’ll probably not see the engine management light on, and the car may automatically go into limp mode. 

You’ll also notice that the car suddenly sounds a bit louder. It may also be very confusing, and you might think you’ve hit something. When you pull over and check the engine, you’ll notice everything is running fine. Mostly, a charge pipe is the last thing that most people check, especially when one is in a hurry to reach somewhere. Here are the symptoms and problems you’re likely to see and experience in detail. 

Note: The symptoms of a broken charge pipe are generally the same as any other significant boost leak. 

1. Slow Turbo Spool 

First, it’s good to understand how a turbo works to get a general idea of how slow the turbo spool happens. The turbo increases the amount of fuel and air going into a cylinder. In return, that increases horsepower and general engine performance. 

But, the turbine has to spin fast for the turbo to kick in and play its role (turbo lag). You’ll experience a boost leak if the spinning is slower than usual because it will take more time for the turbo to fill the boost pipes. 

2. Power Loss

Loss of power is another problem or consequence of a broken charge pipe. How does that happen? While accelerating, the turbo accumulates pressure inside the boost pipes to enhance the engine’s performance. The CP failure causes the pressure from the turbo to escape to the atmosphere rather than to move into the engine. That causes a boost leak as the pressure lowers, and it takes longer for these pipes to fill up, resulting in significant power loss.

3. Active Check Engine Light

When your charge pipe breaks, your car will have a boost leak. The check engine, drivetrain malfunction, or service engine light displays to inform you that the engine is having an issue. 

4. Black Smoke from Exhaust 

The Mass Air Flow (MAF) sensor meters the amount of air moving into the engine. In case of a leak, the MAF will notice any air loss. Insufficient airflow will cause a too rich mixture of air and fuel. That’s when you’ll see black smoke from your car’s exhaust pipe. That mostly happens while accelerating. If you notice this black smoke, then your charge pipe is probably broken and causing a boost leak. 

5. Fuel Inefficiency

By now, you know that a broken charge pipe causes a boost leak. Without the proper boost, your car’s oil consumption will be very high. Hopefully, you won’t have to drive the vehicle for long distances before replacing the CP. Remember that you risk damaging the engine as it absorbs unfiltered air. 

6. Poor Idling

Poor idling is only applicable if your car has a mass airflow sensor (MAS/MAF). As mentioned, the MAF measures the amount of air from the turbo to the engine. When the charge pipe is broken, your engine is experiencing a considerable boost leak. In that case, your car will struggle to idle properly. When this problem becomes severe, the engine might stall and shut down due to the leak. 

What To Do When Your Charge Pipe Breaks?

Towing a car can be very expensive, especially for long distances. You should find a quick fix for the problem if you’re not prepared to pay the price. Try fitting the charge pipe back and using something like duct tape. It will hold the pipe in place temporarily. 

If you have a 4-inch exhaust clamp, shut it completely so it won’t pop out again. Drive slowly in ECO mode to reduce the chance of enhancing kicking in if you can’t find a clamp. We recommend you be carrying clamps and silicone couplers in the car just in case. That’s especially important if you have a stock charge pipe. It’s one of the small preparations that can save you a lot of trouble. You should also drive at low speed and take your vehicle to a specialist as soon as you can.  

Take your car to the dealer for repair if the warranty is still on. Don’t hurry to buy an aftermarket charge pipe as that would be wasting money and voiding your warranty. Allow the dealer to fix everything for you. 

Note: There are mainly two consequences of driving with a broken charge pipe. The engine takes in non-filtered air that may contain debris that can damage it. And the other problem is lost boost. 

Why Do Charge Pipes Break?

There’s no one particular reason for charge pipe breaking. But, many factors could make your CP break or crack.

Too Much Heat 

Big power creates a lot of heat. That combined with the additional boost from the turbo can make the CP break on full throttle. Broken charge pipe is common, especially with stock charge pipes since they are usually made of plastic. 

Brittleness Issue

Some regions of the world are very hot, particularly during summer. Under the bonnet, it sometimes gets quite hot. The components are heated and then cooled very quickly. If your charge pipe is made of plastic, then that causes brittleness and eventually the unit breaks. 

Lifespan Problem

Everything has a lifespan, including the car itself. Your vehicle dealer will replace any factory part that malfunctions before the end of the warranty. After that, you’ll have to pay for a part replacement from your pocket. Your stock charge pipe will likely break if its lifespan has come to an end. A Standard charge pipe will last 3 to 6 years. 

How Much For Charge Pipe Replacement? 

Your charge pipe replacement can be done free if your warranty is still in tack. You only need to take the car to the dealer. They will inspect the pipe and replace it as per their warranty terms and conditions. 

Without a warranty, you’ll have to pay for the replacement yourself. So, how much is it for the part and labor? First, charge pipes aren’t some of the most expensive parts. You can find a good CP kit from as low as $30 on reputable local stores or online.

The labor might be quite expensive because changing the pipe can take up to 3 hours. We talked to many people who have replaced their charge pipes, and the labor cost ranged anywhere from $180 to $300. In general, CP replacement cost should be less than $400 (part plus labor). 

Conclusion

You can still drive your car with a broken charge pipe. However, you’ll have to deal with reduced performance and other problems that come with it leaking boost. Driving with a broken charge pipe is also risky as the engine will be taking in unfiltered air, which might contain debris that can harm it. 

Your CP may break due to old age, too much heat, or brittleness problems. Try fitting it back with duct tape or an exhaust clamp when that happens. Drive at a slow speed and take the vehicle for charge pipe replacement as soon as possible. The best option would be to tow the vehicle to prevent further damages.