Intake Manifold Leak 2000 Impala

[rtebeau]

Thank you for the great information.! I just had to get my 02 intake gaskets replaced. Some talk about dexcool and gaskets causing some of the problems too.

Originally Posted by Master Tech Dude

Having recently spoken about this topic to a long time certified GM tech I was told that GM 2.8, 3.1, & 3.4 V6 equipped car owners could expect to have to replace the lower intake manifold gaskets on a regular maintenance schedule of somewhere between every 50 to 125 thousand miles.
The problem is one of different expansion rate characteristics between the cast iron cylinder block and the aluminum cylinder heads and intake manifold sections. As the individual components heat up and cool down over many driving cycles this literally wears out the gaskets between the surfaces even if the very best silicone sealers and loc-tite products are used on the sealing surfaces and corresponding mounting hardware.
If the engine coolant on your car suddenly seems to be going somewhere but there are no signs of external leaks, check the oil level on the engine oil dip stick for a higher than usual level or an unusual muddy or foamy look to the oil itself. If any of these symptoms are suspect do not continue to drive the car until it is properly tested and diagnosed. There are many reports of catastrophic engine failure due to coolant being picked up by the engine oil pump causing severe bearing damage and in some cases even causing camshafts to break. This is possible because the antifreeze and water mixture is actually heavier than motor oil and will settle to the very bottom of an oil pan completely displacing the motor oil that would normally be circulated to all of the engine bearing surfaces, especially during a cold engine start up.
Check out the following links...

http://www.autosafety.org/uploads/SB-10001282-8175.pdf

[rtebeau]

GM sort of pulled through on my Intake problem. After a few letters, faxes and a couple phone calls. I received a telephone call the other day from the GM customer assistance center and they are willing to reimburse 50% of the repair (or about $400), which is better than nothing and puts some form of renewed faith in me. The rep I talked to was very calm and polite, she explained even though the vehicle was out of warranty (50k) they were going to help out in the interest of providing customer service. I am sure this forgoes my claim for any class action lawsuit but at least GM is doing something for me.

2002 Impala, 3.4L
3/18/05 @ 56k miles
9 registered trips to 4 dealers in Central PA - still looking for a good one!!

1. Intake gasket @ 52k - thanks Dexcool, $800+
2. Brakes @ ~10k, 15k, 25k, 40k, 50k - warping rotors - $250-350/each time. - had problems all the time, finally the rears were done this last time seems to have fixed the shimmy/vibration when braking lightly at high speeds, I am sure it will return. Front rotors have been turned 3 times now, replacement next.
3. Rear Doors hard to open - still an issue, someone suggested lubing the door seals. Seems the handles are hard to grab.
4. Intermediate Steering Shaft (ISS) - $220 (twice)
5. I had to replace some steering boots - had clunking in wheel when turning at low speed (driveways, stop and turns). Felt like loose brake caliper or popping cv joint.
6. Ignition switch @ 11k
7. And other parts I am sure I missed.

I have not had the “transmission” issues yet and the car seems to have enough power for me, which will be about the time I start looking for a new car. I don’t think it will be a GM.

Pros
- I do like the ride, very comfortable
- Cool styling

Cons
- Repairs, Repairs and more repairs.