Head gasket or Intake manifold Please Help Coolant in oil

[Capt.torres]

I have a 2000 Malibu and here is my situation. The low coolant light was coming on but temp and fluid were OK. While driving the other day just before I got to where I was going car started running rough. When I started the car again to leave it started smoking a lot. I had the car towed home and the coolant is in the oil. I read the sticky post about the manifold gasket but was wondering how do I know if it was the intake manifold gasket or one of the head gaskets. I already began taking taking some things apart and I am at the point to remove the lower intake manifold. Is there a way to check if the head gaskets are bad (compression test maybe). According to the temp. gauge the car was not over heating. Thanks in advance.

[dpalomaki]

Most like a bad lower intake manifold gasket, and it will be obvious when you remove the manifold. The plastic framed gasket will be deformed, and you will likely see coolant mixed with oil pooled all around the upper engine, and maybe even under the valve covers, and you may see what looks like orange (Dexcool colored) rock sugar in some of the exposed coolant passages.

Doing a compression test would not hurt.

[Capt.torres]

Thanks for the reply. I took off the lower intake today and there was a port that was bad deformed. I bought the felpro kit and was wondering if you put any rtv on the gaskets or anywhere else besides the two ends. Thanks

[dpalomaki]

As I recall, only on the ends. Followed directions posted several places, including the FSB. I used the Dorman kit. Also new seals/0-rings on the injectors and fuel rail inlet/outlet.

[wagslick]

Sorry to butt in but I have a similar problem. So far no overheating but I've got oil in my coolant reserve tank. I have no idea if there is any coolant in the oil (my wife just took it in for an oil change and reported nothing). I figured it's either the head gasket or the intake manifold. Anyone have any idea? How can I better diagnose the problem?

[Jimmynorton]

Hey, same problem with oil in coolant. Also wondering how much damage will get done if the cars driven 10-15k per day with minimal (actually difficult to notice symptoms)

[manicmechanix]

Originally Posted by Jimmynorton

Hey, same problem with oil in coolant. Also wondering how much damage will get done if the cars driven 10-15k per day with minimal (actually difficult to notice symptoms)

It's very risky to the engine driving with coolant in your oil. Depends on how much. if you must drive it, try to change the oil as often as possible maybe every 2,000 miles.

[dpalomaki]

Difficult to say how much damage will be done or how quickly. It depends on how much coolant is in the oil, and how much oil is in the coolant, and how quickly it is cross leaking and getting worse. I believe our '02 Malibu car went about 100 or so miles after first symptoms were noticed but not isolated to the actual problem.

However, once enough coolant leaks in to the oil to cause the oil pump to start to suck coolant rather thatn oil you will likely be doing damage and be in trouble before long, so if you have the problem, best to fix it now rather than rely on the car as a daily driver.

An engine failure is not cheap, and not a welcome event if you live in a real winter region.

[rhandwor]

http://www.rxauto.com/demo.htm
I never used the head gasket product but the kit to check for combustible gas in the anti freeze is what you asked.
If you get a pressure tester loaner from Auto Zone or Advanced if the gage pulses with pressure on the system I would say the head gasket is blown.
The intake is a common problem on Chevy's.

[manicmechanix]

Along the lines of a coolant tester, places like NAPA have a coolant tester kit for around $30-40. Also you can do an oil analysis for around $18-25. The oil analysis among other things can tell you if you have traces for coolant in the oil in the first place and then you can come from there and determine if it's just an LIMG (very likely) or a LIMG and headgasket, less likely. Google Oil Analyzers or Blackstone. I personally think Oil analyzers is better. I would do an inspection and rent a coolant pressure tester, then maybe an oil analysis etc.