96 Cutlass Supreme 3.1L Coolant Leak w/Pic

[kschweiz]

I've got what I'm afraid is a major issue, I noticed a heckuva coolant leak all the sudden coming from somewhere near the drivers side of the engine. I couldn't make out exactly where the source was, so I took the air intake and throttle body off to get a better look, hoping it was just a leaky hose or small gasket. It appears (see photos) that it's leaking just behind the thermostat, coming from the engine. Can someone tell me if I'm looking at big trouble here? She's got 200,000+ miles, but still ran like a champ until this happened. If fixing it is going to be complicated enough that I need a mechanic, then it's probably going to be more expensive than the car itself. I'm somewhat mechanically inclined, as well as patient, but would like to know if I should just cut my losses before getting in over my head. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks.


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[gmtech1]

Looks like it's the lower intake manifold gasket. Pretty common and would run around 700.00 in a shop for reapirs. Can be done yourself for alot less, if you're comfortable with the repair. Reserch the repair in a manual. They're not bad, but can be intimidating if you have not done it before.

[kschweiz]

Yep that was it. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. After doing some more research I didn't realize how incredibly common it is with those GM motors. Even found a nice youtube video with a step-by-step on the repair.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUlBJNK-80s

I'm planning on knocking it out this weekend for around $100 and a few borrowed tools. Thanks again.

[gmtech1]

I haven't watched the video, but in case they don't mention it, pay attention to the pushrods, they are different lengths. Good luck!

[tharrison57]

You'll do fine ...... just take your time. The folks here helped me out a ton when I did mine !