GM 3100 V6 887 miles Trop Artic 5W-30, intake leak

[WishIhadatruck]

Blackstone Report
Engine: GM 3100 V-6
Vehicle: '94 Pontiac Grand Prix SE 4door
Vehicle Mileage: 208,015
Oil Mileage: 887
Interval Dates: for less than a month ending 6/18/07
Oil Type: Trop Artic 5W-30 (3.5 Qts) Castrol Syntec 5W-50 (1 Qt)
No oil additives or fuel additives used
Oil Filter: Supertech
Air Filter: Wix
Driving Style: 2/3 Hwy and 1/3 City, mostly 30 mile 1 way driving to work and back.

See my previous UOA for more info. I've done 1k mile oil changes with oil I wanted to get rid of since my last UOA. It looks like 1k mile changes are perfectly safe and I'll probably try 2k mile changes. The Bars Stop leak probably helped but obviously didn't fix the problem. I only want the car to last until next April, hopefully it makes it. It has Trop Artic 5W-30 in it this time, no mixing. Blackstone said to stick with 1k-1.5k changes and thought I might be able to live with the problem for a while.

1st column: Current
2nd column: Mobil 1 5W-30 (3.5 Qts) Castrol Syntec 5W-50 (1 Qt)6975 miles
2nd column: Mobil 1 5W-30 (3.5 Qts) Castrol Syntec 5W-50 (1 Qt) 6018 miles
3rd column: Mobil 1 5W-30, 6012 miles

Aluminum: 1, 16, 3, 2
Chromium: 0, 1, 0, 0
Iron: 4, 90, 15, 11
Copper: 2, 15, 6, 4
Lead: 2, 213, 8, 21
Tin: 0, 8, 0, 0
Molybdenum: 51, 85, 82, 75
Nickel: 0, 1, 0, 0
Manganese: 0, 2, 0, 0
Silver: 0, 0, 0, 0
Titanium: 0, 0, 0, 0
Potassium: 8, 143, 0, 2
Boron: 129, 32, 41, 45
Silicon: 4, 20, 13, 14
Sodium: 10, 184, 7, 7
Calcium: 1955, 2689, 2210, 2241
Magnesium: 11, 40, 17, 19
Phosphorus: 571, 753, 610, 583
Zinc: 709, 912, 737, 708
Barium: 0, 0, 0, 0

SUS Viscosity @ 210 degrees: 60.90, 61.8 66.0, 59.9
Flashpoint: 410, 375, 380, 395 degrees F
Fuel: < 0.5% same
Antifreeze: ?, .37%, 0, 0
Water: 0.0% same
Insolubles: 0.2%, 0.5%, 0.5%, 0.5%
TNB: n/a, 2.8, 3.5, 2.1

 

[rshaw125]

They do a kit to repair the intake leak, with upgraded parts etc. You might spend less time total as opposed to changing the oil so often. Plus next April you could confidently sell the vehicle for a few bucks knowing the leak has been repaired.

 

[ATS-V]

Looks like your leak has stopped. Is the Bars Stop Leak the same as the GM Seal tabs?

In my car I measure the coolant level in the reservoir with a dipstick type device. This may help you extend you OCI a little further.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

The Bars Stop Leak looks like a GM Seal tab already disolved in liquid. I think it is very similar. I'm not sure it has stopped leaking completely but it is good enough as long as it doesn't get worse.

rshaw125, I'd do the repair myself if I had the time and knew for sure I had the skill. I could probably do it but it would be a learning experience and would take some research on my part to make sure I did it right. With an extractor I can change the oil without going under the car so between now and next spring it won't save me time by my guess. As I stated in my last UOA post linked above, I plan to donate the car to a local charity anyway if they want it. If they don't, I'll give it to a niece that might need a car by then. Mostly I just don't have the time to deal with it and changing the oil is easy and straight forward.

If it gets worse again then I'll have to reconsider my plan. Thanks for the advice.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

rshaw125, you've made me feel guilty. After thinking about what I wrote in my last post I've reconsidered and have done some research on what it would take. I'm sure I can tackle the job if I can find the time, I've got a list of part #'s that I need for sure. I've got 1-2 oil leaks that seem to be coming from the manifold or oil pump drive leaking perhaps. Maybe it would be worth it. I might have time in August and I'll have my extra car out then anyway so I'll wait and see if I come up with the courage to give it a try by then.