Intake coolant leak?

[Brians00Blackbird]

So for some time now I have been losing coolant over the course of a couple months. It's a fairly slow leak, but I have located the drip. When I tackled my exhaust, I noticed the drip was ending where my y pipe converged, burning off the coolant hence the lack of a spot when I parked the car. Further inspection I noticed the drip was coming down the back of the engine in a curvy line as it went through crevices etc. What I'd like to know is this the intake gasket or possibly an issue with the heater core like a hose or something? The fact that it's dripping down the back of the engine makes me believe it's the intake. Currently I've just been refilling the coolant when needed, but is this something I need to address ASAP or will just keeping an eye on the coolant for now be ok? I just don't have time to tear into the engine and I am most def not paying a grand for a simple gasket replacement, I can handle my own labor it's time that I need. Any help would be great thanks guys

[Rob Bell]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

Since you don't have time right now to work on it, I would suggest making a note of your coolant condition and oil condition, and frequently check the oil and coolant for levels and cross-contamination. Whether it's an intake leak or a headgasket leak, it may just be leaking to the outside at this point. But eventually the gasket will degrade to the point where one fluid will contaminate the other. Most likely it will be coolant in the oil, and you'll get start getting that crud on the oil cap or the dipstick. If the leak is big enough, you will see the oil level go up. At that point you'll know it's time to fix it or stop driving it.

If you live in a cold region don't put it off too long. It will blow on the coldest, snowiest day, guaranteed.

[Brians00Blackbird]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

By crud do you mean that yellowish gunk? I have that In the oil neck but it's my understanding that it's just moisture buildup. I don't have an oil contamination issues yet but I'd like to tackle this job soon. Any idea on how long removal of the intake and reinstalling it will take? I have a Haynes manual for the teardown. Would it be worth contacting GM to see if they will foot most of the bill considering their prior lawsuit with dexcool issues?

[Rob Bell]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

If it's just a little bit in the oil neck, I agree, it's probably just natural moisture buildup. But if you start seeing an abnormal amount, or the oil starts looking like chocolate milk, you know you have a problem.

Luckily I'm no expert on teardowns of the 3.8, but I'd budget a couple of days. Others can give you a better idea of what's involved.

As for the Dexcool thing, who knows if it would be covered at this point, your car is 12 years old assuming it's a 2000. At that age a failing gasket could just as easily be due to age as to Dexcool. It doesn't hurt to ask, but don't be surprised if you get refused.

[Brians00Blackbird]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

The oil neck itself is VERY loose, I think if I wiggled it hard enough it'd rip off which probably isn't a good thing. Anyway I checked the oil earlier nothing to be alarmed about. I contacted GM and they are setting up an appointment for me at a dealer nearby to confirm it's the intake. I'm going to fight the issue if they refuse, as ive read a few articles concerning the dreaded gasket problem. My fathers 02 Malibu just blew the head gaskets, he's got about 120,000 but still. I don't know many people who have had to replace engine gaskets unless they pushed their car to its breaking point, and I'm talking well over 200,000 miles. I am a GM guy and always will be, but if they are honestly going to look me in the eye and tell me this is "normal wear and tear" then that is a serious problem. Thats basically saying well our cars are good until 100k after that good luck. I'm not trying to take it out on you haha just my thoughts feel free to disagree.

[enzia35]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

This might be related to my problem. Slow coolant leak, can't find the source, nothing in oil.

[enzia35]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

Don't think of it as a gasket change, throw a cam in there too!:-)

[philbar71]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

When i replaced mine, it took an entire saturday. From 8am till 7pm. But that was with a 3 hr break in the middle where it rained. Its really not that bad. If you do it yourself then you can get the good aluminum gaskets from fel pro. As opposed as to whatever GM might throw in there.

[Rob Bell]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

And that is probably the underlying problem, is that GM's stock gaskets were of inferior quality. I totally agree that under normal use, gaskets of this type should last well over 100K, and probably closer to 200K. Dexcool may or may not contribute to the problem. But I think that the main issue is poor-quality gaskets in an attempt to save a couple of cents per car, multiplied by millions of cars.

[Brians00Blackbird]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

Exactly. I have an appointment Tuesday morning with the dealer so we'll see what happens. Hopefully i'm right and it is the intake, if its a freeze plug or something I'm screwed. Yeah i wanted to do a cam a while back but the process of it and getting dyno'd turned me away from it. College expenses are enough already you know? Anyway if the dealer stiffs me I may consider it. I wanted the ARH cam but id have no choice but to get a dyno in order to get it to run properly. Maybe get a GT1 or GT2.

[Brians00Blackbird]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

So I went to the dealer, I had an appointment "set up" according to GM's customer service. Joke was on me, they had no idea. Told them what was wrong and they wanted $116 to just check to make sure! Really? An hour of labor to poke around!? GO Fu(k yourself! They denied up and down the coolant issue and said they never heard of the dexcool issue and they haven't made that repair in years. I said yeah cuz you goons rip people off like you want to do me. That didn't go over well. All this blah blah that I'm not the original owner and it prob wasn't maintained right. Yeah because the thousands of intake issues with your cars are SOLELY from neglect, uh huh. Don't take shortcuts with your production and maybe we'll consider going back to the dealer for maintenance. Oh wait, that's right, you'll F us anyway with your ridiculous prices. Lol end rant. Any recommendations on a good intake gasket replacement?

[philbar71]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

Felpro aluminum gaskets. Should be like $55 bux from rock auto.

[MegaHertz]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

Have you flushed the coolant and what kind of coolant have you been filling with?

[Brians00Blackbird]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

Have you flushed the coolant and what kind of coolant have you been filling with?

No i have not I didnt see the point until i did the intake first. I use dexcool why thats all our car can take apparantly. At least GM claims. Felpro gaskets it is, should i buy the lower intake gasket as well? just incase

[techsan23]

Re: Intake coolant leak?

No i have not I didnt see the point until i did the intake first. I use dexcool why thats all our car can take apparantly. At least GM claims. Felpro gaskets it is, should i buy the lower intake gasket as well? just incase

If your tearing it down that far, you should definitely re-gasket the lower intake manifold as well. The LIM is more proned to leak than the upper plenum anyways. Use thread sealant on the LIM bolts. There will be a couple of o-rings that sandwich between the UIM and LIM that will come with the UIM gaskets. Replace the infamous coolant elbow on the front of the engine that you will be removing anyways. There is one additional o-ring to replace on the water jacket right next to the plastic coolant elbow. Other than that replacing the t-stat housing gasket and throttle body gasket should more than likely seal up any antifreeze leaks you may have had.