'94 lesabre custom problems

[schofell84]

hey guys, i have a few issues that are throwin me for a loop. i have a slow coolant leak so i suspected the UIM. i took it off and found that there was coolant in the large cavity between the coolant passages to the MAF or TB. i dont suspect it to be normal so im gonna go with the dorman manifold anyways, but i have a few more problems. the engine is also mighty messy right below the intake manifold.

chocolate milkshake antifreeze! the car doesnt smoke so im suspecting the radiator? oil is also dissapearing and there are no leaks to be found. i have been told there are ways for fuel / oil to work its way into the coolant via a cracked UIM. are the UIM's prone to hairline or major cracks? i didnt see anything on my first inspection, and i dont believe oil travels to the UIM. could it be mixing in the LIM?

i dont want to blow 200 bucks on manifolds and gaskets if it has a bad headgasket / cracked heads, or a bad radiator.

thanks for any help!

[schofell84]

how do you get the hose to the heater core out of the LIM?!?!?!

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by schofell84

how do you get the hose to the heater core out of the LIM?!?!?!

Click Here

Since you have a 1994, I would not suspect the UIM as the source of the leak! That problem started with the Series II engine in introduced in 95-96. You must have a lower intake gasket (LIM) leak around the water jacket and leaking into the lifter valley. Be sure to inspect everything during disassembly. BTW, the Dorman UIM replacement will not work on your engine!

[schofell84]

thanks, does the bypass get rid of the metal tubing? it has a bracket that is mounted on the last stud holding the belt tensioner assembly on (ohh the irony). im thinking its going to be a hack job with a shorter tube and some splicing, mwuahahaha.


on a serious note, i dont see any plastic elbows, in fact i wish i saw a broken one. its a metal tube coming from the water pump to the heater core, then a return line goes into the LIM. ... and now its loose because ive been goofing around with it....



part 2: theres a dorman UIM replacement listed for my application, but no gaskets available. wtf?

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by schofell84

part 2: theres a dorman UIM replacement listed for my application, but no gaskets available. wtf?

Well it does appear that DORMAN is now offering a UIM replacement Part # 615179 for the 94 L27 listed as {OE Solutions} and it includes all gaskets and seals (as required) when you buy the manifold. I assume this is a replacement for warping or cracking of the plastic, not the age-old problem of EGR stove-pipe burn-out as so popular on the L36 Series II.

[schofell84]

thanks for the help tons man.

i just checked the elbow you were talking about on my way out through the garage and it looks fine ... my problem is the stuff underneath it.

[schofell84]

an update - the LIM went on fine, as did the gaskets although they dont line up as nicely as i would like. the alternator / power steering bracket is giving me pure hell. i tried to take it off to make the LIM removal easier but the nuts are hidden behind brackets and all sorts of crap. now i cant get the accessory bracket bolts to thread back in! am i missing something?

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by schofell84

am i missing something?

Yes, alignment.

[schofell84]

haha, ya got me. UIM tomorrow! speaking of which, has anyone removed the baffles in it? does it hurt the low end power at all? i would imagine the increased volume and shorter intake tract would boost high end a bit.