Lower intake gasket leak help

[Ugene96rs]

Wow! Lots of posts for coolant leaks on Camaros.

I have the exact same issue with mine!

I have been smelling antifreeze for about the last 2 months or so. Looked for leaks, could not find any, it wasn't even low on fluid. Did a presure test, held pressure for thirty minutes. The only thing I could find was about 20 little tiny specs, like spray of something, on the bottom of the plastic air intake duct that mounts the the core support. Not enough there to even tell what it was. So I thought maybe it is the water pump just starting to go out and I ordered one off ebay. Gave 29.00 total for a brand new AC Delco in the box with gasket! Got lucky! This was all about three or four weeks ago.

Today I smell it but it seems to be getting worse with the weather warming up, car running a little warmer and all. Look under the hood again and now the plastic intake piece is wet with antifreeze. Water pump pulley is dry belt is dry. Right above the pump, under the intake, back in a recess is wet. I start the car up and look for leaks. Nothing. I race the enginge a few times and when the motor hits about 3k on the tach it sprays coolant out from this little recess. Deffinitly not the water pump. Of coarse not, that would be way too easy. Oh, and the car is a 96 RS with 117k miles. This is the first trouble I have had with the motor. Ok, ok! I replaced the alternator @ 100k miles. Expensive little bugger! Other than that just regular maintenace.

#$*&@#$%&*!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't want to have to change the ******* gasket on the intake!! Half of the **** motor is under the dash! POS!!!!

Ok, I feel better now.

Any one changed the intake gaskets on the 3.8 while in the car? Any tips or tricks? I have the factory manuals, they don't make it sound too bad but I'm sure all those bolts are going to fun getting to. Hell it took 2 hours to change the plugs and wires 3 years ago! I can just imagine on pulling the intake.

[97camRS]

What Pgriffith said. "Theres a plastic tube that sits inside the lower intake right on the front. They crack really easy. Make sure its not cracked."

I thought mine was leaking from the intake as well, It ended up being this little plastic POS cracked and that was it. I'd double check that first.

[Ugene96rs]

Holy cow!

I wold just like to say "THANKS!" to everyone who participates in this board. I had a coolant leak (see a few posts above) and thought it was for sure my intake manifold gasket. Turns out, after reading posts from others about their leaks I did some research on this elbow I kept hearing about. Thought you guys were crazy cause I could not see any elbow. Looked through the parts cd I have and there it was. It conects the manifold to the tension pulley bracket. I pulled the alternator and the brakcet and there was the little elbow with a hairline crak in it.

WHat a releif. I would have pulled the intake and before looking into the little elbo.

Thanks again! You guys saved me many hours of headache and frustraition.

[Mister DNA]

well, looks like this might be the solution to my problem, too. I'll pull the bracket off while I change s-belts and have a look.

Wonder how much the little pipe is going to cost me? And how fast I can get one.

[fast 3.4]

I've got a leak in my intake manifold, but it will cost $600 to fix =(. Is it even worth it? I was just planning to buy a new exhaust.