It looks like my '03 Buick with the non-supercharged 3800 (72K miles) might be due for surgery.
Thanks to info here, I've kept an eye on the Dex-Cool coolant since I bought the car in late '07. Two UOAs have shown a hint here and here of higher sodium, but no indicator of a leak, and the oil has always looked fine. Last month I noted the coolant recovery tank was a little low when the engine was cold, so I filled to the FULL COLD line with distilled water. Today, after a swift 10-mile drive, the tank level was a good quarter-inch below the FULL HOT mark.
I don't see any leaks, but I'm not sure I would anyway. So it looks like I have to get this investigated, and maybe repaired, pretty soon. If it's just a minor leak, great, but maybe I might as well defuse this time bomb now. My questions:
1) When I mentioned this to my regular mechanic, he said they've had success in the past using sealant tablets (?) combined with a coolant change. Now I like to save money as much as the next guy -- probably more -- but posts here suggest that this is only a temporary fix, and one which might make things worse in the long run. True?
2) What exactly is the procedure, and what are the names of the parts? I've seen references here to both the lower intake manifold (LIM) gasket, and to the upper manifold and EGR pipe. Which parts should he be planning to replace? Is there a TSB he can reference?
3) I suppose he'll need to change the oil as well as the coolant, and so there's no point in my changing to the Castrol Edge right now. Should I do a couple of short OCIs with inexpensive dino, to make sure any coolant residue is out?
4) How long does the procedure usually take, and about what should it cost?
TIA!
Thanks to info here, I've kept an eye on the Dex-Cool coolant since I bought the car in late '07. Two UOAs have shown a hint here and here of higher sodium, but no indicator of a leak, and the oil has always looked fine. Last month I noted the coolant recovery tank was a little low when the engine was cold, so I filled to the FULL COLD line with distilled water. Today, after a swift 10-mile drive, the tank level was a good quarter-inch below the FULL HOT mark.
I don't see any leaks, but I'm not sure I would anyway. So it looks like I have to get this investigated, and maybe repaired, pretty soon. If it's just a minor leak, great, but maybe I might as well defuse this time bomb now. My questions:
1) When I mentioned this to my regular mechanic, he said they've had success in the past using sealant tablets (?) combined with a coolant change. Now I like to save money as much as the next guy -- probably more -- but posts here suggest that this is only a temporary fix, and one which might make things worse in the long run. True?
2) What exactly is the procedure, and what are the names of the parts? I've seen references here to both the lower intake manifold (LIM) gasket, and to the upper manifold and EGR pipe. Which parts should he be planning to replace? Is there a TSB he can reference?
3) I suppose he'll need to change the oil as well as the coolant, and so there's no point in my changing to the Castrol Edge right now. Should I do a couple of short OCIs with inexpensive dino, to make sure any coolant residue is out?
4) How long does the procedure usually take, and about what should it cost?
TIA!