1997 Oldmobile 3800 series 2. How would i determine if the head gasket is blown or if it is an upper intake manifold leak? I have coolant in spark plug holes. Thank You
2007-03-26 16:56:00 · 9 answers · asked by Iceprincess747 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
intake intake intake!!!! you will see the broken gasket. going further to the head gaskets will disturb a good seal that is not a common failure like the intake. a shop can do a simple test for combustion gasses in the cooling syst. to confirm this.
2007-03-26 17:22:41 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
These vehicles are good for having the intake manifold leak coolant all over the top of the engine. I always replace the intake manifold when I do it with a Dorman replacement.
As far as testing, I would recommend taking it to a shop that can test the cooling system for HCs. If there is a HC count then you know it is the head gaskets. I personally have never seen the head gaskets go out on one of these but I am sure they do.
2007-03-26 17:06:17 · answer #2 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree with the other intake suggestions. 3.8l from '94 on up, the head gaskets are bullet-proof, and the intake gaskets are junk. If the car was overheated go down to the block, but if it just leaks and you can see the culprit failure in the intake gaskets, don't do the head gaskets. If you get the all too common speedy hack doing the head gaskets, you will get your car back with engine damage that wasn't there before; grinding with the wrong type of disk will destroy your engine----just after the warranty runs out.
2007-03-26 21:39:50 · answer #3 · answered by Eliana R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a Buick, but no difference. Mine was the intake manifold, but I went ahead and pulled the heads and had a valve job done on it and replaced the head gasket when I put it back together.
2007-03-26 17:01:20 · answer #4 · answered by Fordman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i own a shop and on those i just pull the intake and the heads and do everything ,the one thing you don't want to do is have to do it over again,and they wont always run hot either if the head gasket id blown on them, i seen one go for over two years ,with a blown head gasket and never act up the owner just had to keep adding anti freeze to it all the time,finally after two years he brought it in to be fixed,but id pull everything on this one just to make sure,if its high ,miles do the valves also,this will save lot of head aches later on,good luck i hope this helps.
2007-03-26 17:08:58 · answer #5 · answered by dodge man 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A lot of GMs aroudn that time had plastic manifolds that broke and leaked coolant, check around on google, yours may be one.
2007-03-26 17:01:54 · answer #6 · answered by Jake 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
when head gasket is gone ,You gonna have overheating and coolant(in this specific case) in the oil.
2007-03-26 17:01:08 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it sounds like the gaskets.... look at the color of your oil.... if it looks like chocolate milk its definatley the head gasket.
2007-03-26 17:32:59 · answer #8 · answered by anthony conant 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
look at your oil dipstick, if its white and foamy instead of looking like oil, its your head gasket
2007-03-26 17:00:37 · answer #9 · answered by jim 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋