Quick connect fittings/Intake gaskets
slothman6
01-26-2006, 01:31 PM
Hi all! First post! :)
I recently purchased a 1997 Chevy Suburban with 110K on the clock. I traded in a 1997 Phord F150 w/133K and $1000 cash. I thought it was a good deal and jumped on it...was sick of freezing in the Phord!
Anyways, doing more research on it, finding out about the quick connects and the intake gaskets being problematic on these vehicles. I did some checking on mine and found what I believe is the quick connect on the front of the engine. Magnet test showed the fitting coming out of the engine is steel and it does have some teflon tape on the threads. Might have dodged a bullet there. :)
Then I pulled the oil cap off. Orange residue inside of cap...oh crap! I wiped the residue off and put it back on. Kept an eye on the coolant level. After 600 miles, coolant level remaining rock solid and no further orange coating/condensation on the inside of the oil cap.
Do you think I should have any worries in regards these 2 items? I'm thinking I might have got lucky and got one with these repaired already!
BTW..getting 15MPG mostly highway with it. Runs excellent and smooth ride!
Tell me what you think.
I recently purchased a 1997 Chevy Suburban with 110K on the clock. I traded in a 1997 Phord F150 w/133K and $1000 cash. I thought it was a good deal and jumped on it...was sick of freezing in the Phord!
Anyways, doing more research on it, finding out about the quick connects and the intake gaskets being problematic on these vehicles. I did some checking on mine and found what I believe is the quick connect on the front of the engine. Magnet test showed the fitting coming out of the engine is steel and it does have some teflon tape on the threads. Might have dodged a bullet there. :)
Then I pulled the oil cap off. Orange residue inside of cap...oh crap! I wiped the residue off and put it back on. Kept an eye on the coolant level. After 600 miles, coolant level remaining rock solid and no further orange coating/condensation on the inside of the oil cap.
Do you think I should have any worries in regards these 2 items? I'm thinking I might have got lucky and got one with these repaired already!
BTW..getting 15MPG mostly highway with it. Runs excellent and smooth ride!
Tell me what you think.
Pats1999
01-27-2006, 02:19 PM
Congrats on the purchase.
Yes, you see the two problem areas. My 1999 with 37K miles has a small leak. I won't let my wife just start the truck, pull it out of the garage and then turn it off without it completely warming up. As for the Quick disconnect, my factory one looks fine, but I am replacing it. It's made of a cheap pot metal. Went to Advance Auto and bought a Dorman replacment quick disconnect for $12.. Cheap insurance on that. Otherwise, you could rig it to use a regular clamp type fitting.. Easier to just replace the quick disconnect.
The orange reside take a look at. It's not uncommon to have a milky type residue from short trip driving on your oil cap. I don't know if that is what you saw or what.
Back on the intake, I have done a couple intake gasket replacements on the old TBI trucks, but not on the Vortec. From what I hear FelPro and GM both have a very good redesign that fixes the problem if your does leak.
I can get about 18.1 with solid highway miles.. So if your 15 has some city in it, that's about right! Suburban's are the kind of vehicle that you buy once, then can't live without them. Tons of room to say the least.
Pat
Yes, you see the two problem areas. My 1999 with 37K miles has a small leak. I won't let my wife just start the truck, pull it out of the garage and then turn it off without it completely warming up. As for the Quick disconnect, my factory one looks fine, but I am replacing it. It's made of a cheap pot metal. Went to Advance Auto and bought a Dorman replacment quick disconnect for $12.. Cheap insurance on that. Otherwise, you could rig it to use a regular clamp type fitting.. Easier to just replace the quick disconnect.
The orange reside take a look at. It's not uncommon to have a milky type residue from short trip driving on your oil cap. I don't know if that is what you saw or what.
Back on the intake, I have done a couple intake gasket replacements on the old TBI trucks, but not on the Vortec. From what I hear FelPro and GM both have a very good redesign that fixes the problem if your does leak.
I can get about 18.1 with solid highway miles.. So if your 15 has some city in it, that's about right! Suburban's are the kind of vehicle that you buy once, then can't live without them. Tons of room to say the least.
Pat
slothman6
01-28-2006, 10:06 AM
Thanks Pat! The 15mpg was a combination of city/hwy driving (mostly highway).
As far as the orange residue...it was a harder deposit...not sludgy at all. What I did was wiped the residue off with a paper towel...had to actually scrub a little...and cleaned it up. Has not been any orange deposits on it since...there was some clear condensation but that I would contribute to around town driving.
I was considering a SUV and it would have to have the 3rd row seating and tow package. Choices were narrowed down to the Expedition, Durango, and Suburban. Doing research it seemed like all had comparable gas mileage. The dealership also had a Dodge Durango which I looked at. Absolutely NO room behind the third seat.
As far as the mpg, towing, and overall room, the Suburban is hard to beat!
As far as the orange residue...it was a harder deposit...not sludgy at all. What I did was wiped the residue off with a paper towel...had to actually scrub a little...and cleaned it up. Has not been any orange deposits on it since...there was some clear condensation but that I would contribute to around town driving.
I was considering a SUV and it would have to have the 3rd row seating and tow package. Choices were narrowed down to the Expedition, Durango, and Suburban. Doing research it seemed like all had comparable gas mileage. The dealership also had a Dodge Durango which I looked at. Absolutely NO room behind the third seat.
As far as the mpg, towing, and overall room, the Suburban is hard to beat!
wafrederick
01-28-2006, 11:36 AM
If the intake gaskets are bad,get it fixed asap.Fel pro came out with updated intake gaskets for the vortec 350.The updated ones are made out of metal with rubber sealing area instead of plastic.Fel pro has the better updated ones.Mark the distribitor BEFORE pulling out,the timing is not adjustable.Do not tip the distribitor cap upside down,you will lose the screws really easy.Replce the fitting,the factory one is made out of pot metal and the new ones are made out of steel.
DESERTCOX
02-02-2006, 12:04 PM
you did good on the quick disconnect
mine went bad but thought it was the head gasket at first judging from where the leak was coming but finially found the the real source
of course upon removal the orginal potmetal P.O.S. broke off flush AAARGH
FINIALLY GOT THOUGH NO OTHER LEAKS
the burb got wrecked last month and we got a durango for a rental way to small for my family NO SPACE BEHIND THE 3RD SEAT but it ran like a scalded dog
mine went bad but thought it was the head gasket at first judging from where the leak was coming but finially found the the real source
of course upon removal the orginal potmetal P.O.S. broke off flush AAARGH
FINIALLY GOT THOUGH NO OTHER LEAKS
the burb got wrecked last month and we got a durango for a rental way to small for my family NO SPACE BEHIND THE 3RD SEAT but it ran like a scalded dog
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