97 transport water in oil

[threephase23]

I have a 97 pontiac trans sport that is leaking water into the oil there is also black sludge in the radiator.

I have been searching the internet about this problem and came across this web site.

Has any one had this problem that they repaired themselves if so
how did it go for you?
what all was involved?
any other advise you can give me?

I never had any major repairs on this vehicle so i am a little nervous to tear in to it.

I really don't want to fix it but i don't trust anyone else to touch my cars.

I put a new engine in my truck last year and last weekend i lost the brakes in the truck and had to replace most of the brake system.

I am trying to find the motivation to fix the van now.
I appreciate any help you can give me.
John

[LMP]

...too bad your van seems to suffer the common "gasket syndrome". THere are a large number of threads on this forum and others about that....and some boast the enormous amounts spoiled by trying to solve it differently by changing unrelated parts.

It can be the lower intake manifold gasket.....hopefully...and this is not too difficult...and this might solve the problem there on the way to a potentially more serious job: head gasket.

THIs would obviously be a serious and unwanted job and the 3.1/3.4 is plagued with this problem. Search for "head gasket" and you will have a lot of information. Modified replacement head gaskets by GM are said to correct this problem . Most usually, this problem ends up with overheating engine, and heater not delivering heat because of exhaust intrusion in the cooling system. CHeck for bubbles popping out from the radiator cap when radiator full with engine running.

ANother reference to oil in the radiator has been linked to blown transmission oil cooler..the one that is in the radiator bottom tank. But this would not let oil to go in the engine oil pan...

[james kremer]

Thank you L.M.P. I was wondering why I had oil in my rad, but no water in my oil. I will have my rad checked. I also thought it was a head gasket but never thought of the oil cooler.

[threephase23]

I finaly got around to changing the intake gaskets it wasn't too bad. I read some of the posts here about the job so that helped quite a bit.
When I was ready to start putting it all back together I debated whether or not to pull the heads and change the head gaskets while I was there. I didn't.
It started right up, I let it run for an hour with the bleed screw at the thermostat open and all I got was air (steam), never any antifreeze. The temp got to about 220 deg. and no heat out the heater vents.
Now I think i've got a blown head gasket so i'm going to tear it apart again and replace them.
We'll call the first time a trial run so I could get familiar with the engine.
Thats what I get for trying to take the easy way out.