99 Lumina unknown mileage Amsoil TSO

[Gary Allan]

This was a customers car that contacted me via the web. She wanted to continue using Amsoil products that her father installed in her car and she had just moved from Wisconsin. She asked if I also offered oil changing services ..and I said that I would do so. After researching it here, I determined that this was an engine still prone to the intake gasket leakage. I recommended a UOA to determine the integrity of the engine. This was a company car that her father had purchased at lease end. She agreed to the UOA.

The oil was in use about 10 months. Based on her current driving profile that would be somewhere around 10-12k.

Miles on unit: 163,219
Miles on oil: 10 months - unknown mileage
Make up oil: 0 quarts
Oil filter: Amsoil EaO

Elements not listed are zero

Al 14
Cr 2
Fe 38
Cu 15
Pb 23
Tin 3
Moly 20
Nic 2
Mang 1
Pot 98

Bor 16
Sil 26
Sod 67
Cal 3471
Mag 140
Phos 788
Zinc 976


Visc 13.79 CST
Flash point 415 (amazing)
Fuel AF .13
Insolubles .4

Blackstone tagged all the right stuff and advised a 2k OCI and recheck. I advised the customer to seek repair of the intake gaskets.

You've got to love the information age.

 

[buster]

Definitely looking like an intake leak. Wear is elevated. Al/Cu/Pb in conjunction is a cause for concern.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan


You've got to love the information age.


And hate GM engineering...

This has got to be a joke. 90% of early 90s to mid 2000 GM V-6 engines have internal coolant leaks.

Just for anyone casually glancing at this: GET YOUR GM V-6 INTO THE SHOP ASAP IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY FOR INTAKE GASKETS.

Other than that, it looks great!

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
Other than that, it looks great!

Well, it does

I would have loved to have a Dyson analysis on this to see the other numbers (ox/nit/TBN/TAN). I just didn't want to add even more cost to a $100 oil change. She got a 6th quart and I basically did the oil change for zilch when the UOA was factored in.

 

[GMFan]

What about the GM Vortec 4200 in my 2003 Chevy Trailblazer EXT? 4.2L Straight 6?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine#4200

Does this have bad gaskets/coolant leak?

 

[Mr Nice]

Gary,

How much would you charge her to change the gasket ?

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Gary,

How much would you charge her to change the gasket ?


I won't do it. It really looks not too complicated the way the engine sits in the Lumina, but I've never done it before and I'll leave it to one of my pro-pals. I should be able to hook her up for a couple of hundred. Usually, with me, it's the hassle factor for most repairs that determines my motivation. Either that or the mega $$ figure.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
What about the GM Vortec 4200 in my 2003 Chevy Trailblazer EXT? 4.2L Straight 6?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine#4200

Does this have bad gaskets/coolant leak?


Nope.

The engines that leak are the 3.1, 3.4, some 3.5s, 4.3, 5.0, 5.7, and 7.4 - for the most part. From early to mid 90s through the early 2000s. Some of these engines obviously went away by then though - all the GM truck LS-series V-8s are non leakers.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
Originally Posted By: GMFan
What about the GM Vortec 4200 in my 2003 Chevy Trailblazer EXT? 4.2L Straight 6?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Vortec_engine#4200

Does this have bad gaskets/coolant leak?


Nope.

The engines that leak are the 3.1, 3.4, some 3.5s, 4.3, 5.0, 5.7, and 7.4 - for the most part. From early to mid 90s through the early 2000s. Some of these engines obviously went away by then though - all the GM truck LS-series V-8s are non leakers.


Don't forget the 3.8L V6 motors. They can leak at the lower intake manifold gaskets (like the others) or around the EGR chimney as well which requires an aftermarket upper intake manifold upgrade to fix permanently (hopefully).

 

[Drew99GT]

Oh yea, total DUH on my part (as there's a 3800 leaker sitting in my parents garage!)

 

[Cutehumor]

drew, most of those intake gasket leakers you pointed out, GM doesn't sell anymore

 

[Pablo]

Heck with the intake leak - let start calling Gary "Mr. Full Service"!!!

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: Cutehumor
drew, most of those intake gasket leakers you pointed out, GM doesn't sell anymore


Thank gawd!

But there's still a bunch of em out there.