GM 3100 intake gaskets replaced, same problem

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Woody71

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1998 Buick Century, 26K mi. Took to shop in Jul due to temp gauge climbing past half. Was told that the intake manifold gaskets were bad and needed to be replaced. They replaced the gaskets along with the thermostat. Flushed/filled coolant as well as changed oil.

On Thursday, the low coolant light came on on the way to and home from work. Nothing in coolant bottle, can't see coolant in radiator and it looks like there's 2-3 quarts of coolant in the oil (based on the dipstick reading).

Work is under warranty, I'm taking it up today. Assuming they replaced the gaskets and thermostat, what are your thoughts on what else may cause this?
 
Before I authorized the repair, I asked about the head gasket and he said the mechanic didn't see any problem. Sounds like there may be a problem. Thanks for the reply.
 
Originally Posted By: Woody71
Before I authorized the repair, I asked about the head gasket and he said the mechanic didn't see any problem. Sounds like there may be a problem. Thanks for the reply.


Sorry for the bad news. I see it happen all the time around here due to the huge issues these engines had with bad gaskets. It is not a dexcool issue, but so many here will tell you it is.

Many mechanics simply assume it is, due to the tendencies "everyone" knows about.

All quality repairs begin with knowing what needs fixing, aka diagnosis...
 
Could always be a bad installation. The way the GM 3100s are designed, it's kind of hard to get the gaskets in there straight with the old design, and lay the intake on perfectly without disturbing the gasket. Did they use the new metal framed gaskets?
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Originally Posted By: Woody71
Before I authorized the repair, I asked about the head gasket and he said the mechanic didn't see any problem. Sounds like there may be a problem. Thanks for the reply.


Sorry for the bad news. I see it happen all the time around here due to the huge issues these engines had with bad gaskets. It is not a dexcool issue, but so many here will tell you it is.

Many mechanics simply assume it is, due to the tendencies "everyone" knows about.

All quality repairs begin with knowing what needs fixing, aka diagnosis...


I see similar happen with Jeeps all the time. People assume automatically that because there is coolant in the oil, the head gasket is bad. They pull off the head, replace the gasket and still have the problem. By the 2nd or 3rd head gasket replacement they either scrap the vehicle, have ruined the engine or realize that the head cracked.
 
Originally Posted By: SteveSRT8
Sorry for the bad news. I see it happen all the time around here due to the huge issues these engines had with bad gaskets. It is not a dexcool issue, but so many here will tell you it is.

Many mechanics simply assume it is, due to the tendencies "everyone" knows about.

All quality repairs begin with knowing what needs fixing, aka diagnosis...
I just dropped it off back at the shop. When I say 2-3 quarts, that's not measured. The oil measured a couple inches above the full mark on the dipstick so I assume that equates to 2-3 quarts.

We'll see what they say w hen they call. My take is that it should be under warranty based on their warranty policy. They told me the leak was fixed and clearly it was not.
 
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Originally Posted By: Miller88
I see similar happen with Jeeps all the time. People assume automatically that because there is coolant in the oil, the head gasket is bad. They pull off the head, replace the gasket and still have the problem. By the 2nd or 3rd head gasket replacement they either scrap the vehicle, have ruined the engine or realize that the head cracked.

When I first took it in, they replaced the intake manifold gaskets and not the head gaskets. I realize head gaskets are replaceable. If it's cracked, its done. What sucks is that the car otherwise is in great shape.

We didn't pay anything for the car, we just have the $ for this repair invested.
 
Sounds like the shop did a bad installtion. That reads like too much leakage for a HG in that amount of time unless they hydrolocked it and blew it all the way out. They are on the hook for a rebuilt motor if they killed it.
 
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It could be a head gasket, but I'm betting intake (again).

Of course, the level of overheating the first time could cause a problem with the head gasket(s).

My bet is they checked for combustion gases, none were present, which suggests coolant through intake gaskets (at least on this engine)
 
What does an idiot mechanic (at least 70 %?) ruining the engine (a well documented IM leak issue) have to do with it being a free car ? And Most likely from an incapacitated family member?
IIRC the jimmy 2.8 revised had the same issue - but that was understrained oversized intake bolts loosening in time allowing the IM coolant crossover to dump into the pushrod valley. I did one of those jobs before I "retired" from dong heavy mechanical jobs for "friends".
 
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Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
What does an idiot mechanic (at least 70 %?) ruining the engine (a well documented IM leak issue) have to do with it being a free car ? And Most likely from an incapacitated family member?
IIRC the jimmy 2.8 revised had the same issue - but that was understrained oversized intake bolts loosening in time allowing the IM coolant crossover to dump into the pushrod valley. I did one of those jobs before I "retired" from dong heavy mechanical jobs for "friends".
ARCO, you're right on the money. My wife's grandmother bought the car new and barely used it. She then gave it to her daughter (wife's aunt) who drove it only a handful of times over the past year and a half. Aunt is no longer able to drive and car was given to us.

Body is in great shape and everything else seems good.

Don't know if this is good news, but the temp gauge has never gone above 2/3 and its never stalled out. From what I'm hearing there could still be engine damage and most likely contamination from the coolant leak. If this gets resolved, hoping to get 2-3 years out of it. I drive it about 40mi per week.
 
Originally Posted By: ARCOgraphite
Sounds like the shop did a bad installtion.


I agree. Its been, what, a couple months? They may have skipped some small step like applying the small bead of sealer that goes at each end.

Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Death-cool strikes again.


The SFI 3100 engine had intake gasket issues even way back in ancient history with regular green antifreeze. Before Dexcool.
 
Originally Posted By: rshaw125
Death-cool strikes again.


These engines were noted for issues LONG BEFORE dex even was used. Gawd, when will the dex garbage end? It was BAD GASKETS, not bad coolant.

Another Internet Cowboy shot down!

Oooops, I see somebody else shot first. Thank God someone else gets it...
 
From what I've read, the Dex-cool eroded the gaskets because of how they were engineered. Thus the recommendation to use Fel-Pro gaskets for replacements.

Shop just called. Mechanic said no coolant in the oil and that the oil was a little high so he drained some out. I'm not a mechanic, but 2" over the full mark on the dipstick seems to be more than "a little" high.

Said that there was air in the radiator because it wasn't burped properly. I could have burped it properly but won't in this case because I paid them to do it.

Said to drive it for a week or 2 and come back in to have it checked.

This is why I do everything I can myself, because I know it's done right.

I'll post pics of the oil on the dipstick to get your opinions.

Before I leave the shop, I'm going to make it clear that if after a week or 2 the oil level is increasing, I'm asking for an engine rebuild. Want to see how sure they are.
 
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