LIM gems among junk

[Jrs3800]

When all of this work was done, were the coolant elbows replaced?
If you put the dabs of High Temp RTV at the corners the engine should be bone dry... No leaks at all...

The GM aluminum gaskets are very good quality...

[tblake]

Originally Posted by Jrs3800

....If you put the dabs of High Temp RTV at the corners the engine should be bone dry... No leaks at all...

The GM aluminum gaskets are very good quality...

HaHa, yeah! Good one! I globbed up the silicone on mine and the one corner on the drivers side towards the firewall is slowly leaking. Not a lot, but enough to feel the oil if you stick your hand back there and touch the side of the block.

I have heard of others having issues with the OEM GM metal framed gaskets also.

Looking back, I wish I'd have used fel-pro. But right now I'm definatly not going to rip back into it when the amount of oil loss doesn't even show up on the dipstick after 3000 miles.

[Jrs3800]

Not sure why you are having problems...

Here is how I start.. The regular dabs at the corners..


Then I run a a bit on the bottom of the gasket...


I always do the dabs at the corners, run a small bit on the bottom of the manifold end seal.. set them in place and do the 4 small dabs again.. Set the intake gaskets in place and add the small dabs again, I then run a small bead across the top of the end seals... The gaskets are install dry but I have always used a bit of sealer to keep them sealed.. All of my 3800's are bone dry.. I use the new gaskets with location pins on the old motor and still have no leaks.. I understand not going back in for the gaskets when the oil loss you have amounts to a seep that takes for ever to amount to a drop.. I would not go back in for that either..

Sorry to hear you are having a problem with the gaskets...