Coolant leakage???Intake Mainfold gasket???

Ok we just noticed this the other day. I will try and explain this and post pics later. Ok so there is no coolant on the ground. I just wanna stated that up front and there is also no coolant in the oil. Now to explain where I noticed it pooling at. If you have the hood up and looking into the engine compartment it is pooling to the immediate right of the engine block and appears to be slightly under it. Though neither of us can be sure of that because we can not see it to well. Is this a intake gasket leak? And should just changing that gasket fix the issue.

I also wanna not the coolant light came on for a brief moment a few weeks back. Topped it off and that has been fine. No more light coming on and no check engine light.


eta pictures:
Here are the pictures...if you need better pictures I will try to get them:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/Rebel24/car2.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/Rebel24/coolant2.jpg

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b51/Rebel24/leak2.jpg

Yes.

That's it. Exactly.

If you have a Chevy dealer fix it (probably the only surefire way to know you're getting the new&improved gasket), plan on a nationwide average of $1200 for repair. Also, time is of the essence here. Unless you want coolant in your oil.

Also, why is your coolant green? It's supposed to be orange, as in the DexCool that's supposed to be in GM vehicles. Unless you have a similar product in there that's green, which I'm not aware of....

Its not Dex-Cool. That is the color of the coolant the dealer bought and put in the car (topped all fluids off before we drove it home). According to the hubby many coolants are the color green. Also I won't pay 1200 to have that fixed I married a mechanic. He fixes all car issues besides any tranny issues. Those go to the shop.

LIM gasket leak for sure.
Get some green coolant and mix it 50/50 with water in a sealed container that you can keep in the car. Check coolant level in recovery once a day with engine cold and fill to 'full cold' mark if necessary.. Untill you get it fixed.
Go to your car RIGHT NOW!!! and pull the oil fill cap and pcv valve to check the oil for coolant contamination. If oil looks frothy or milky, DON'T drive it! Get it to a repair shop and get the gasket changed. Or let your husband do it. 4-12 hour job depending on experience. It's a pain in the bum, but for ~$500 savings it's worth every minute of every hour.

-Mark T.

LIM gasket leak for sure.
Get some green coolant and mix it 50/50 with water in a sealed container that you can keep in the car. Check coolant level in recovery once a day with engine cold and fill to 'full cold' mark if necessary.. Untill you get it fixed.
Go to your car RIGHT NOW!!! and pull the oil fill cap and pcv valve to check the oil for coolant contamination. If oil looks frothy or milky, DON'T drive it! Get it to a repair shop and get the gasket changed. Or let your husband do it. 4-12 hour job depending on experience. It's a pain in the bum, but for ~$500 savings it's worth every minute of every hour.

-Mark T.

WE checked that yesterday that is why I said the coolant is not mixed with the oil. At least not yet. Second when I get the part hubby will fix the issue and save the money a mechanic would have gotten from me.

Both times that gasket went out on me it started as an external leak. Coolant ran into the oil on me last night. Got it all torn apart this evening, and I'll button it up tomorrow. It's gonna take me about 5 hours this time. I cut my time in half. :D

-Mark T.

Both times that gasket went out on me it started as an external leak. Coolant ran into the oil on me last night. Got it all torn apart this evening, and I'll button it up tomorrow. It's gonna take me about 5 hours this time. I cut my time in half. :D

-Mark T.

Mark,

Im bummed I just noticed my gasket started leaking on me (Second time in 4 years). First time, my warranty took care of that, but now that warranty went bye bye. I noticed that you did this yourself and was just curious on how difficult this process really is. Im not an ACE certified professional at these things, but I have basic mechanical knowledge and have ran numerous projects underneath my hood by myself that involved taking apart and putting back together. So any good news for me??

It's not a bad job.. The worst part is havin' an aching back from leaning over the motor so much.

Label connectors as you go, take pictures as necessary to help re-assembly.
Make sure you clean all gasket surfaces, take your time an do a thorough job of it.
You'll need a torque wrench that reads inch pounds.

Have a chilton manual handy.

Read this. (http://d-tips.com/General/Articles/Content/Article10.aspx)

It's a decent step-by-step article written for the repair of GM 3400sfi LIM gasket, but the 3100 is nearly identical.

First time it could take you 6-12 hours.
If you do the job let me know when and I'll be sure to check the forum frequently incase you have questions, I'll try to help you through it.

-Mark T.

Thanks a lot....ill start this project in about 2-3 weeks when the weather clears up. However, do they have anything better than the stock gasket?

Call your parts stores and see who has the ~$85 FelPro kit. I don't have the P/N handy, it'll come with upper and lower intake gaskets, valve cover gaskets, oil drive shaft o-ring, t-stat seal.

-Mark T.

This identical problem has just occured with my car. It seems this is a common thing. Does anyone know if the old gaskets are part of any recall? If it is, your local Chevy dealer would have to do it for free.

No recal. I've seen a few TSBs about this matter and GM has stated that gasket failure is at least partially due to a 'design flaw.' No recall.

-Mark T.

The new Fel-pro numbers are as follows:

MS98003T fits 3100 vin-J and 3400 vin-E
MS98004T fits 3100 vin-M (95 with roller rocker arms, all 96-newer)

Also replace the oil pump drive o-ring (Fel-pro 70800), as it is a common oil leak issue and very easy to do while the intake is off.

WTG Rich, thanks.

98003T is the one I gotfor my '01 VIN-M
It included the oil pump drive o-ring and t-stat seal. Don't forget to pick up a new 'stat [also easier to replace with LIM removed].

That FelPro kit sets you back ~$85.

Parts:
FelPro gasket kit
Thermostat
More permatex ultra black RTV gasket maker [The FelPro kit comes with a dinky tube -- buy more]
Spark plugs and wires [not a bad idea while you have better access]
5 quarts/gallon of coolant [should be DexCool -- this should be enough to top off at 50-50 mix]
4.5 quarts oil and filter

Tools:
crowsfoot/crazy swivels [there are two hidden diagonal bolts on LIM]
inch pound torque wrench

Okay, I quit typing for now.

Blah blah blah blah..

-Mark T.