98 olds intrigue intake manifold

there was a loud boom from under the hood on start up. when looked under the hood the intake manifold had exploded from an apparent backfire. has anyone heard of this problem before? i have worked on foriegn cars for 20 years and have never seen an intake explode like that. the intake is plastic and that is most likely why it broke but this seems odd to me.

LittleHoov is gonna enjoy this. Be patient.

EDITED 5/2/2007: The exploding intake is not caused by failed gaskets. I apologize for providing this information concerning this problem, as it is not the cause. The actual cause is:

The Exploding intake is another story and is caused by An intake valve being open while fuel is being sprayed and all of the sudden a spark and BOOM we have ignition.. Most all of the cars were recalled and reflashed to prevent that issue..

The Other issue was a leaky fuel pressure Regulator, If there was a Backfire of any kind BOOM... Most were also recalled for this and usually these too were reflashed...




Haha panzer I laughed out loud when I read that, do I have that bad of a reputation? I dont have much time to be typing, but I for one have heard of this problem. The upper and lower intake gaskets as well as the upper intake itself are prone to failure on the 3800 series II.

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/kb.php?mode=article&k=38

Thats still one of the best compilations of information for it Ive seen, everything in that article applies to your engine as well, even if it is a Bonneville forum. The backfiring is somewhat rare, but I have heard of it. The engine should be fine, and since it looks like you know how to turn a wrench, you should be able to do the work yourself, spend maybe a couple hundred bucks, and have an engine that is good to go. I cant remember if that article recommends flushing the Dex Cool coolant out, but I for one do, and heres one of the reasons why:
http://bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68420

I think Ive had enough fun for now, hope this helps you out, if you want more specific info just post back here, but for now I have to be going. Good luck!

What is the exact name of the antifreeze that is recommended by those that don't like Dex-cool?

I used "Prestone GM Dex-Cool Approved" on my last flush. Is this still the bad stuff?

Thanks

Why is Dex-Cool bad stuff? Says who? Because there are class action lawsuits in which no one has prevailed. :rolleyes: The major class action lawsuits have been dismissed. Mainly two state court actions. One in California and one in Michigan. Recently (Feb 2007) a Federal judge dismissed a class action suit in U.S. Federal District Court. The one coming up in Missouri will most likely end in failure. There is no direct proof Dex-Cool causes or caused the UIM/LIM gasket problems to include plenum EGR stovepipe meltdown on 95-98 GM cars with the SII 3800 or alleged Dex-Cool issues in other GM cars from 1995 up to 2004. That issue was defective gaskets and the poor design of the plenum.

I have no problems using Dex-Cool in any of my SII 3800 equipped GM cars. Even the new coolant by Prestone EL and Peak Extended Life (5/150) are Dex-Cool compatible and based on the same Organic Acid Technology (OAT) just like Dex-Cool. None of that including Dex-Cool has been pulled off the market.

The important thing to remember using Dex-Cool is changing it at the proper service interval which is 5 years or 150K miles, whichever comes first. If you have a GM car that is 5 years old with the original Dex-Cool and well under 150K miles it should be replaced. Don't wait to 150K miles like alot of the Dex-Cool litigants. :screwy: Some people replace it sooner at either 2 yrs or 3 yrs which is about the same interval of the old green coolant.

Right now the score on Dex-Cool litigation is:

GM = 3
'95-'04 GM car owners = 0


BTW - Visit our Buick forum Tips & Maintenance forum if you plan on doing the UIM work DIY.

Click here (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=2144)


Thats still one of the best compilations of information for it Ive seen, everything in that article applies to your engine as well, even if it is a Bonneville forum.

http://bonnevilleclub.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68420

It is not bad but we have just as good info here on AF without referring someone to the Bonneville forum mentioned. Just do a search or visit the various GM "W" and "H" body forums. LeSabre, Park Avenue and Grand Prix are just a few.

FYI - The date stamp info concerning the UIM in that article/thread is incorrect. The date stamp shown is not the date the UIM/Plenum was manufactured but the actual build date of the car at the respective GM plant.

Nothing wrong with the new Dex-Cool approved or Universal stuff (same thing). Dexcool and oxygen bad = all the more reason to change out your 5yr+ year old DexCool.

Dexcool degrades in the presense of (excess oxygen).

For what it's worth, the Autoblog staff has found that Dexcool works just fine in a cooling system that is free of contaminants and leaks, but indeed the stuff will turn into a gooey mess if mixed with anything but distilled water or if exposed to air. Also, those drivers who do not get their vehicles up to normal operating temperatures every trip may want to consider an accelerated coolant maintenance schedule.

I took the Dex out of my Intrigue and it looked very good. Did run a little cooler with the Universal.

my brother has a 2000 Impala with the 3.4 and it had the leaky intake gaskets. Coolant leaked into the engine/oil also. His Dex-Cool was going bad fast (clumpy) from that bad gasket. I am wondering if this blown 3.8L intake has to do with coolant getting into the engine (I hope not).

Not really a Dex-Cool problem. The new gaskets are much better than the old ones. Should last for life now.

my brother has a 2000 Impala with the 3.4 and it had the leaky intake gaskets. Coolant leaked into the engine/oil also. His Dex-Cool was going bad fast (clumpy) from that bad gasket. I am wondering if this blown 3.8L intake has to do with coolant getting into the engine (I hope not).

Not really a Dex-Cool problem. The new gaskets are much better than the old ones. Should last for life now.

I agree Dex-Cool and air do not get along. That is why the coolant reservoir looks so bad versus what is physically in the radiator and remainder of the cooling system. It is not sealed. I clean mine out every year just to be safe.

Here is the Dex-Cool I replaced out of my '01 Regal GS last year. I went the full 5 years. It looked just as good as the new stuff out of the bottle. I ran a conductivity test with a DMM before draining and there was no reading worth worrying about showing there was high acidic levels to possibly damage gaskets or aluminum.

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y186/lizzywiz/dexcool.jpg

On the 3400 SFI VIN "E" engine GM revised the LIM gaskets around 2003 and issued a TSB on the matter along with a new torque pattern and torque specs. The Olds dealer (rip) replaced the ones in our '02 Alero GL2 under warranty so we never experienced the gasket failure and any Dex-Cool sludge. Runs like a champ and the Dex-Cool looks good to me. It is not a matter of "if" without the improved gaskets on 3100/3400 engines it is "when".

On the OP's issue I would pull all spark plugs and do a close inspection. Coolant in the cylinders may cause the engine hydro lock.

On the 3400 SFI VIN "E" engine GM revised the LIM gaskets around 2003 and issued a TSB on the matter along with a new torque pattern and torque specs. The Olds dealer (rip) replaced the ones in our '02 Alero GL2 under warranty so we never experienced the gasket failure and any Dex-Cool sludge. Runs like a champ and the Dex-Cool looks good to me. It is not a matter of "if" without the improved gaskets on 3100/3400 engines it is "when".

On the OP's issue I would pull all spark plugs and do a close inspection. Coolant in the cylinders may cause the engine hydro lock.

Its basically the same not "if" but "when" with the 3800 Series II as well. So as said, check the spark plugs and look/smell for coolant. I would change out both sets of gaskets as well as the UIM. There are aluminum framed gaskets available, but anything is better than busted ones.

As for the whole Dex-Cool situation, I guess im just biased after having seen my LIM gaskets trashed and eaten away, and having to chip away at hardened orange chunks in my LIM coolant ports. Not too mention having seen the tons of pictures of highly abnormal gasket wear, which can just about only be attributed to Dex-Cool. But, I guess theres nothing wrong with it though, so its cool

http://www.geocities.com/seriesii3800guide/

PDFs to replace the 3800 intake manifold

http://www.geocities.com/seriesii3800guide/tsb_01-06-01-007a.pdf