This is very un-3800SC like. I have cooling leaking heavily from both sides of my intake. The coolant tank was low when I had the oil changed last week but we couldn't see anything obvious. On Wednesday when filling up my washer fluid I could smell coolant. Today we rolled it into the shop and both the front and back of the motor is soaked! We checked that plastic coolant pipe and it is fine. I ordered an intake gasket set which should be in tomorrow morning. Hopefully if it isn't nuts at work I can get it swapped over. I've never seen a 3800 leak so bad. Tomorrow we'll look really close to see if there is another cause- maybe the TB gasket. Last week it was $225 for a furnace motor, it looks like about $300 for this..
I did some searching and it seems the supercharger is located where the plastic upper intake manifold is located on the standard 3800. I also found out there are updated gaskets from GM so I hope the local dealer had the sense to order them for me.
Well the rod bearing failure in my Vortec can be traced to a leaking intake manifold. I suppose the only thing you can do is change the oil right away as well then short change it between next interval.
-- Edited by 73SC on Friday 8th of January 2010 11:38:10 PM
She just turned 10 and only 138k. That's low for an intake to go on an L67 3800. There doesn't appear to be any coolant in the oil at this point. Hopefully we aren't too busy today and I can get one of the guys to do it in a spare bay..
Coolant leak: Coolant loss via plastic intake manifold is corrected by installing upgraded manifold and gaskets plus new PCV kit. (1995-99)
Coolant leak: The 3.8-liter V6 may leak coolant into the engine from the intake manifold. A new gasket kit, revised throttle body nuts, and sealing compound is available. Redesigned manifolds are also available in the aftermarket. (1993-99)
Damn customers! We couldn't get to the Buick today so I limped her home. She'll sit all weekend and hopefully we'll get her fixed Tuesday. Wow, the revised intake gaskets are really something- aluminum! "Only" $140 for the intake, supercharger and TB gaskets (my cost!). I have one of our techs with GM experience who is going to do it. 2ner-I didn't ask you since I tortured you with the valve cover gaskets last year!
I forgot to remind you to get a coolant flush!!! apply for a Capital 1 cc amd hold off expenses til Dodge sells...
