3.4L camero engine leaking under pressure?

Question

If anyone saw the other post, this is the same camero. I just bought it, and understood when i bought it that it leaked coolant. However, what I don;t understand is she said the shop said that it only leaked under pressure, and that to replace the $12 seal (I don't know what seal they are talking about) would cost $600 because they would have to pull the engine to get at it. so they say.

This sound familiar to anyone? only leaking under pressure, hard to get to 'seal' Doesn't sounds like a freeze plug, because wouldn't that drip all the time, no matter what? My granfather spoke of a water jacket seal, but none of the shops I talked to had ever heard of that.

If it was a head gasket, I should see other signs. IE power loss, blue smoke, white smoke, missing, knocking, or any one of the above.

Answer 1

I am assuming you are talking about a mid 90's Camaro? (I am a service technician for Ford but I owned one of these 3.8L models and several other Chevy's in those year models with virtually the same design.) What was very common on these engines with coolant leaks was usually caused by people adding conventional "green" coolant to the new "Dexcool" orange coolant that Chevy started using around 1994 and up. Doing this wreaks havoc on the cooling system of those engines. What probably happened to your cooling system is the erosion and failure of the lower intake manifold gaskets around the coolant jackets. I had to replace these gaskets on at least 3 of my Chevy vehicles... maybe more. The reason it is so expensive is because of the extensive labor it takes to get TO those gaskets. And on those Camaros the engine is virtually "under" the bulkhead or firewall. Therfore it is almost impossible to pull the lower intake manifold gaskets without pulling the engine (although in some cases it CAN be done.... took me 4 days in my home garage without a lift on my 3.8L) I doubt they are taking you for a ride but I would take it to the dealer if I were you and have the repairs made, then have them flush the entire cooling system as it is probably sludged up. This tends to happen with Dexcool even if the coolant types were NOT mixed but the Dexcool isn't changed every 2-3 years but max 5 yrs. And lets face it, who actually flushes their cooling system every 5 years? They really should tell folks about this when they sell these cars. The general public really does not seem to know. Or maybe they just don't care. In any case, yes it is probably legitimate on that model and engine. Don't mix coolants and get the recommended maintainance done that is written in your owner's manuals. I cannot stress that enough people.

Answer 2

i own a repair shop,and the only thing i can think of that they might be talking about is a back freeze plug,for coolant,you have to pull the engine to get to the ones in the back of the engine or the head,if it has them or to put a rear main engine seal in it,but there's no seal in the back that they could be talking about that would leak coolant in the back of the engine,and i been at this for a long time and i cant think of what they might be talking about,they might have been telling her wrong on it to get more money from her,you never know,a head gasket with a bad water jacket wouldn't be it either because the head gaskets would cost more than 12.00 bucks,so i dunno,on this one,try and find out if you can what she was talking about,good luck,i hope this help,s.

Answer 3

They are talking about more than likely the lower intake manifold gasket, a huge problem with 3.1 and 3.4 liter GM products, they actually extended the warranty on them to 70k on certain makes. I agree, the part is pretty cheap( more than 12 dollars, about 100$ for a intke gasket complete set), but the labor is quite a bit, 5.9 hours in the labor guide) But not, the engine doesnt need to be removed, just the upeer and lower intake , valve covers and pushrods. The total cost is usually around 6-700 dollars. Good luck

Answer 4

Likely it is the Lower Intake Manifold Gasket they are referring too. These leak on ever 3.4L engine ever built. Also, if its coolant related and not in the bottom of the radiator, it can only leak under pressure (while the engine is on). The price you were quoted is pretty cheap for a lower intake job.

Answer 5

i owned an 84 camaro and i have the repair book.
from what it says it could be the cylinder bore or head gasket.
have a second estimate done at another garage before doing the work.
also check around the engine head to see if you have any coolant, if you do its your engine head gasket that needs to be replaced and yes they have to remove the top part of the engine.

Answer 6

head gasket. $$$$$$$