98 GTP oil pan gasket

[LC-x]

I was wondering what kind of job this is and how long it would take ?

And also are these motors prone to any other common engine oil leaks i should be looking into, i'm noticing spots on the driveway

[tblake]

have you checked valve cover gaskets?

also possibly rear main seal.

Best thing to do is climb under and have a look.

[UKtech]

I always start with the highest leak first, oil works its way down. (Gravity is great like that). unless pulleys,driveshafts etc throw it around. But as stated above check the rocker covers.

To do both i believe book time pays me around 4hrs ,but take your time and its a fairly easy job to undertake.

Go from there

[tblake]

4 hours for both valve covers seems a little high. I did my rear in about 1.5 hours and my front in 45 minutes.

The longest part of the rear was bleeding the coolant system since you have to remove the coolant elbows between the tensoner and the LIM. Might as well replace these while your there.

or did you mean 4 hours for the oil pan gasket?

[UKtech]

Originally Posted by tblake

4 hours for both valve covers seems a little high. I did my rear in about 1.5 hours and my front in 45 minutes.

The longest part of the rear was bleeding the coolant system since you have to remove the coolant elbows between the tensoner and the LIM. Might as well replace these while your there.

or did you mean 4 hours for the oil pan gasket?

I get paid 3.7hrs not 4 (my mistake) for Valve covers on a 3800 and your right it does not take anywhere near that long, the point i was making is take your time and do it right.

For instance the correct procedure includes removing all of the bracketry for the rear cover. It's easily done without doing so.
The rear does not require coolant line removal.
Hence the labour time being so high.

I get paid 4.6hrs for an Oil pan on a SC 3800 ...

[tblake]

rear doesn't require coolant line removal? weird... are the L36's and L67's different? I had to remove the alternator and belt tensioner bracket (coolant pass through to heater core) to properly remove my rear valve cover. Is the 3800NA different?

4.6 for the oil pan gasket huh? how much for the rear main in addition to the oil pan?

[UKtech]

I get 8.7 hrs for the rear main seal

I don't ever remember having to remove a coolant line for valve covers on a 3800, but i do see alot of different vehicles every day so i could be wrong.

But the 98 in this thread definately does not require cracking into the cooling system.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by tblake

rear doesn't require coolant line removal? weird... are the L36's and L67's different? I had to remove the alternator and belt tensioner bracket (coolant pass through to heater core) to properly remove my rear valve cover. Is the 3800NA different?

On a L36 3800 VIN "K" circa 1999 I didn't have to remove the tensioner assembly when I did the rear valve cover gasket and bolt grommets. Of course removing the alternator and any crossbar or brackets is a must. After removing the bolts just pulled the valve cover up to break the seal and slid it a few inches towards the driver's side and then up and out.

However probably not a bad idea to do it and replace the bypass elbows. Here is whats left from an LIM job I did this week. As long as I can remember the elbows never came out serviceable so that should always be considered when removing the tensioner. Digging the broken plastic pieces out of the water pump and LIM to include the tensioner really isn't too fun.






GM/Delco Bypass Elbows

Top of pic - Elbow to lower intake manifold (LIM) - GM Part # 24503423
Bottom of pic - Elbow to water pump - GM Part # 12565082

[CrazyHorst]

The exhaust manifolds heat up and harden the gaskets right above the ports...likely the cause of the leaking.

An OHV pushrod engine has a minimum number of leak paths, oil to the cylinder heads is splash lube as opposed to OHC engines which I've never seen one that didn't have oil pressure to the cylinder head.

A "hot tip" so to speak is to get the rocker covers from a ~1998 "F" car with the base 3800 engine. The rocker covers are die-cast aluminum in response to the even higher heat from the high-rise "ram's horn" exhaust manifolds which was melting the gaskets completely out of the composite (grey) covers. A 2000 "F" car (Camaro) with the base V6 has a much better "header" style cast manifold.

It is also possible to have oil leaks from the front cover....on a 3800 series 2 the oil pump is a "gerotor" design driven off the front end of the crankshaft rather than the "in pan" spur-gear pump found on GM truck V6 and V8 engines.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by CrazyHorst

The exhaust manifolds heat up and harden the gaskets right above the ports...likely the cause of the leaking.

Possible but IMO just crappy GM gaskets. As many as I have replaced on SII 3800 engines never had any hardened gaskets or bolt grommets. Most of them are simply flattened out and/or lose form for sealing even with proper torque values. Of course heat is always a factor but that is always a factor with engines. Also, the front valve cover gaskets to include rear are susceptible to leaking more than usual due to poor oil drain back related to the cylinder head design. Oil pools at the forward part of the cylinder heads. The front valve cover gasket was a recent issue we discussed and a GM recall this year on L67s but same is applicable to the L36 engines. Caused engine fires.