3.4 engine

can someone tell me about the 1999 3.4 engine in a grand am gt.?? has this one been refured to as a quad. ?? is it a good engine with a lot of miles on it ?? 67,000

Welcome to the forum, howard. The 3.4 is a pretty decent engine (it is not the "quad" - that is the "quad four" that you are thinking of. - the 3.4 does have some issues you should be aware of, however. The main one is the LIM (lower intake manifold) gasket leak issue. This happens in about 1/2 of all 3.4 engines. It is when the plastic gasket on the lower intake manifold melts and leaks, allowing coolant and oil to mix = eats away at engine bearings = toast engine. GM never made a recall issue of it, when they should've. But your best bet is to find out if the engine you're looking at buying has the leak - some leaks are internal (check the oil for milkyness, and coolant cap for sludge) and some are external (look under throttle body area and around engine for coolant streak marks). If the engine doesn't have a bad LIM gasket @ 67,000 miles, chances are it probably won't get one.

Oh almost forgot - if want actual specs on the motor, here's some.

175 hp (at the crank) - HP peak @ 5,200 rpm
205 ft/pds of torque - torque peak @ 4800 rpm
transversal v6 with 12 valves
9.5:1 compression ratio

Just for your information, The Quad 4 is the 4 cylinder engine rated at 2.4 L. In my opinion it is a strong little engine, I have it in my GAGT with the 5 speed manual tranny. It's a peppy little bugger,

Also, pull the oil fill cap, take a flashlight and a dental-type mirror and look inside the valve cover around the valve-lifters, etc., for evidence of sludge or a creamy whitish substance. That can also be indicator of bad gasket, as Ride states.

Another you that is a common problem with the motor is the mileage is right about the time for the air intake gasket to go bad on it. I had one that was the exact same model and the exact same year and mine went out at around 61000 miles on it, and honestly 67000 miles on a 99 is pretty decent mileage

Welcome to the forum, howard. The 3.4 is a pretty decent engine (it is not the "quad" - that is the "quad four" that you are thinking of. - the 3.4 does have some issues you should be aware of, however. The main one is the LIM (lower intake manifold) gasket leak issue. This happens in about 1/2 of all 3.4 engines. It is when the plastic gasket on the lower intake manifold melts and leaks, allowing coolant and oil to mix = eats away at engine bearings = toast engine. GM never made a recall issue of it, when they should've. But your best bet is to find out if the engine you're looking at buying has the leak - some leaks are internal (check the oil for milkyness, and coolant cap for sludge) and some are external (look under throttle body area and around engine for coolant streak marks). If the engine doesn't have a bad LIM gasket @ 67,000 miles, chances are it probably won't get one.

Does this apply to the 2000 gt as well? Is the replacement gasket plastic as well? Should I replace the gasket just to be on the safe side? Sorry so many questions and to hijack this thread.

Does this apply to the 2000 gt as well? Is the replacement gasket plastic as well? Should I replace the gasket just to be on the safe side? Sorry so many questions and to hijack this thread.


If your Grand Am has the 3.4 litre V6 it applies that year grandam as well. It is a common problem the GM has with this motor inparticular. So anything GM with the 3.4 has this problem