97 Olds 3.4 Head gasket or Intake gasket which?

[d0man]

Hi !

How can i determine which one of the gaskets is bad ...mikly oil ... but how do i know if its one of the head gaskets or an intake gasket? Is there a way to tell ? I hate to change head gaskets if the problem is just an intake

any help is really appreciated

dom

[maxwedge]

Usually the lim gaskets are the issue here but there is always the chance it could be hd's also. There are several test kits than can test for exhaust gases in the coolant that may confirm a hd gasket problem, only if the exh gases enter the cooling system thru a hd gasket, the gasket could leak without that happening. Using a leak down tester you could pressurize each cylinder and see if the rad hoses stiffen from pressure leaking into the cooling system.

[rockwood84]

if your going in get to the intakes if you don't see any cracks or broken places then its going to be the head gaskets if one is blown go ahead and put both in . an intake is the easiest to crack because they are made of plastic any backfiring or missing on a cylinder will crack one. intake usually will create slow coolant leak with a hot exhaust[you can't hold your hand 6'' from tail pipe] because of the steam in it.another thing your temp gauge will be erratic 1/4 to 1/2 up then 3/4 up then down to 1/4. a head gasket blown will be a miss on one or more cylinders also it will try to run hot the more it is cranked and run.