"Sludge" in oil fill cap

[gpgt98]

I have a 2001 GP SE 3.1. It has just over 100 K on the engine. Last time I changed oil I noticed a greasey type substance in the oil fill cap. The car is driven 28 miles each way to work. Any thoughts on why this is showing up?
Thanks in advance.

[richtazz]

Most likely the infamous intake gasket leak your engine is known for. Search the forums and you'll see many posts about this issue.

[nans_grandprix]

Here this might cut your search time down gpgt98, a few months ago i had to replace my lower intake manifold gaskets on my 02' gp se. Here is a link to my posting i did on it. Hope that this helps you.

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=660028

[bmwgolfguy]

the prior posts are right on. If it is a 3800 series II engine, this is a huge problem GM has chosen to ignore. It happens on some cars and others don't have it. It is the 100,000 mile antifreeze GM was using back then. There are class action lawsuits on it both in the US and Canada. Should be easy to find the site.

Another related problem is loss of the antifreeze through the plenum and upper and lower gaskets. If is goes too far without a fix, worse case senario is the engine will seize. It is about an $1,200.00 fix to replace all the above. The parts themselves are cheap. It's the labor that gets you. So if you are handy and want to tackle the project yourself, you can save a lot of $$.

Good luck.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by bmwgolfguy

the prior posts are right on. If it is a 3800 series II engine, this is a huge problem GM has chosen to ignore. It happens on some cars and others don't have it. It is the 100,000 mile antifreeze GM was using back then. There are class action lawsuits on it both in the US and Canada. Should be easy to find the site.

Back then.......when???

Am I missing out on something. Did GM switch to another coolant? Last time I checked Dexcool was still being used on GM cars with the SII 3800 all the way up to 2004.

Dexcool was designed for 5 years or 150K miles whichever comes first. IMO it is not the Dexcool.

[GaryFenza]

Theres Coolent leaking into your Oil from the head gasket. I would deff, get those gaskets changed if its in your oil, or you engine wont last long with coolent circulating around it.

[bmwgolfguy]

You are correct about the 150k. When GM first learned about the gunk problem they tried to enhance their legal position by claiming it really lasted to 150k and not the original 100k. Not a real good novel position to take. It only made things worse from a legal standpoint.

You are also right about GM ditching it after 2004.

Their are actually two issues being litigated over Dex. One is the sludge or grunge or crud buildup. The other is the antifreeze leak into the engine oil system caused by a cheap plastic plenum. Worse case, both can fry your engine over time if not fixed.

I have three LeSabres (my kids) 1996, 2001 and 2002 all with the 3800 series II. (I have also had 2 Riv's supercharged and 2 Parks for my own) I had all three powerflushed and antifreeze changed at a GM dealer who will not put Dex in any car now. The 96 blew a plenum leak and they put in two new gaskets and metal plenum. The car is running fine now.

[BNaylor]

Originally Posted by bmwgolfguy

You are correct about the 150k. When GM first learned about the gunk problem they tried to enhance their legal position by claiming it really lasted to 150k and not the original 100k. Not a real good novel position to take. It only made things worse from a legal standpoint.

I don't know about being correct but I can read and the annotation is contained in the owner's manual as far back as '97 (Grand Prix).

I asked you earlier when GM ever claimed Dexcool was good for 100K miles. What year?

And just what part of 5 years or 150K miles whichever comes first do people not understand?

Originally Posted by bmwgolfguy

Their are actually two issues being litigated over Dex. One is the sludge or grunge or crud buildup. The other is the antifreeze leak into the engine oil system caused by a cheap plastic plenum. Worse case, both can fry your engine over time if not fixed.

The litigation doesn't mean a thing or proof of anything and has anyone received a judgment against GM on the issue(s) in any jurisdiction?

I've never had any issue with Dexcool. Funny how all the new extended life coolants from Prestone, Peak, etc. all are Dexcool compatible and based on the same organic acid technology (OAT).

[richtazz]

Dex-cool gets a lot of bad press. Most if not all problems with Dex-cool are caused by cooling system leaks/neglect. Air getting in the system from a faulty radiator cap, or other leak causes Dex-cool to sludge up. The intake gasket leaks on the 3100 and the plenum leaks on the 3800 are NOT CAUSED BY DEX-COOL. The 3100 leak is caused by a badly designed plastic intake gasket coupled with a low fastener torque value that allows the intake to move around cracking the plastic gasket frame. The plenum issues on the 3800 are caused by the plastic upper intake having too thin of material around the EGR stovepipe. The heat from the EGR tube erodes the plastic causing the leak. I thought Bob (bnaylor) and I had clarified this before, but I guess it bears repeating.

[wlkjr]

Rich, when I replaced my gaskets at 306,000 miles, the plenum still looked good for some reason, not like others I've seen. My problem was the gaskets only, although I did replace the plenum and put in the smaller stovepipe. I still have the old plenun for reference.