Hole in intake manifold

My 2000 SL2 has been losing coolant lately so I took it into the shop and they said there was a hole in the intake manifold. So it will need to be replaced. The cost was going to be around $600.00 parts and labor. Now I really do not have the money for this. So I have two questions. Is there a way to patch it? If not, how long can this go if I keep the coolant topped off?

There is no way of patching a intake gasket, the longer you wait the worse it's going to get.

There is no way of patching a intake gasket, the longer you wait the worse it's going to get.
sorry I was assuming that it was the gasket, never seen a hole in the actual intake before???

Well it is more of a crack. Someone said I could use epoxy but I am not sure.

don't think that would work, I wouldn't recommend it.you should price out a intake at the scrap yard, I have never seen a crack in those intakes before so I would have to say that you would be safe to get 1 at a scrap yard.

I found one at a scrap yard for $45 but I think it is for SOHC and mine is DOHC. Can a sohc intake be used on a dohc engine?

No they are diff, it wont fit, you need one for a DOHC.

My 2000 SL2 has been losing coolant lately so I took it into the shop and they said there was a hole in the intake manifold. So it will need to be replaced. The cost was going to be around $600.00 parts and labor. Now I really do not have the money for this. So I have two questions. Is there a way to patch it? If not, how long can this go if I keep the coolant topped off?

I'd ask them to point out the hole in the intake.

The 2000-2002 DOHCs do have a TSB out because of a faulty IM gasket desgin and a revised gasket has since been released. In the manner that the IM gasket fails, you will lose alot more coolant in colder (< 40*F) weather and this is metioned in the TSB as well. I will be replacing my IM gasket this spring. The intake itself doesn't break very often. I have seen one case where the heater hose fitting broke off but that's it.