UIM replacement Question?

Been tracking my coolant level drop off for several months along with other little things that are going wrong. Has seem to have become progressively worser. Seem that I'm loosing 1qt every 3,500 miles now was more like 5,000+ miles at first.

Today I got a better look at my lower manifold gaskets. They're defiantly shot. Sun was out and the front of the engine is wet from coolant leakage and the wire harness shield near the front lim has coolant residue on it. Checked the oil, it's still golden brown with 3700 miles on it and under short trip abuse and cold weather. Oil usage is around 1qt per 2600miles which I think is attributed to bad LIM gaskets.

On top off that, what I thought was power steering fluid on my sub frame looks more like coolant now. I fixed the leaking power steering line a couple of weeks ago that was creating a mess. So now I'm pretty sure my water pump is leaking also.

But the area around my UIM fold is dry. No leaks around the throttle body. It was replaced in 2003 according to the stamp date. I wonder if the lower manifold was changed out with a smaller stove pipe but I won't know until I do the lower manifold.

My question do you think I should replace the UIM when I do the LIM gaskets? As I read that some say don't replace the UIM if not necessary and some say replace it a preventive maintenance. I venture on the side of replacing if only necessary.

Leak areas: LIM gaskets, Water pump, Upper heater hose has slight coolant residue, Lower radiator hose was seeping but I tightened up the clamp a few days ago. All this and I only lost around 8oz of fluid over a nearly 1,000 mile period.

I'm on a budget and have a host of other problems that need to be addressed with the car. CPS sensor is in early stages of failure, My master cylinder is leaking, trans cooler lines are leaking, and I'm on the original radiator which scares me but has no signs of leaking. So if the UIM will last another 40k that's fine by me. It has at least 63,000 miles on it for sure, but I think it's more like 80,000 total miles on this UIM.

Current mileage: 163,400 Sorry about long post :uhoh:

I would probably do the same as long as the UIM was not burned or cracked. I would only replace the UIM if it needed it. I would probably replace the UIM gasket though unless it looked to be in fairly good shape. It doesn't seem like it really takes that long to pull off the UIM. Last time I did one, it was less than an hour to pull of the fuel rail, the throttle body and the UIM. Goes fairly quick.

Simth I don't exactly agree... I'd say replace it... We have seen too many with the reduced diameter stove pipes from GM fail before they ever hit 60k...


But being that he is in a tight $$$ crunch, he can inspect the Upper intake.. Inspect the EGR port, hit it with a Pic of sorts, if its easy to peel away material, replace it... If the EGR port is still as hard as a rock( or as hard as plastic can be then you may get away with upper for some time to come )...


Make sure you do get that replacement upper to lower gasket as stated, as well replace the lowers with the GM aluminum frame gaskets, do not use Plastic...

Would be cool to have you here, we could take care of these issues and do a little friendly free modding while we are in there...LOL...

Take care of this very soon.....