GM 3800 Series II Leak

Removed upper intake manifold and was surprised to see...update: Lower intake manifold had previously been replaced with aluminum gasket. This was found with 102,000 miles on engine :(. Upper intake plenum was damaged around EGR.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• 3800 Series II
• Intake Manifold
• leak
• Buick lesabre
• gasket
• aluminum gasket

[klosnoski]

the famous upper intake EGR/plastic intake

 failure. Massive URP-age. Dorman kit will make it all better

[weelgunny]

You don't need to replace the lower manifold if it's not cracked. The dealer was right. Just pull it off, clean it, replace the gaskets with better aftermarkets. Also replace that short aluminum EGR tube (a must) near the throttle body that comes with the Dorman UPPER manifold kit (about $80).

[luckyc970]

I changed the upper intake manifold on my 96 Park Avenue 2 years ago. I really thought the thing was dead. Since then I've put on 10,000 miles and its running strong at 228,000 miles. Passe emissions last year and is due again in March. I'm confident it's going to pass.

[everbanker110]

If you take off the plastic upper intake, you can use a straight edge to check for warping. It's likely that your upper intake gasket's rubber seal is flattened as well and the lower intake gaskets are more than destroyed. Replacing the upper intake is very important, it's only a $250 job to do it yourself(Felpro gaskets+upper plenum). I would also recommend cleaning your throttle body and sensors(especially the idol air control valve), the burning coolant causes a lot of buildup.

[racedriver52]

How do you check if the intake manifold is damaged? I have a Buick Lesabre with a 3800 and I have smoke coming from the exhaust and very little anti freeze in my expansion tank and radiator. I am fairly certain I have the intake leak but I don't want to take it apart and not know what to look for. I know theres usually cracking and damage around the EGR port, but is there anything else?

[Bonsse88]

@bnessman1 >>If you filed a timely claim in the Dex-Cool litigation and/or you were contacted by the claims administrator to correct, cure or clarify any portion of your claim form or backup documentation, your claim may be affected by the Chapter 11 filing.

Visit girardgibbs(dot)com/dexcool.ht­ml and dexcoolsettlement(dot)com for more information. Apologies for any confusion.

[Bonsse88]

@bnessman1 I was going to suggest talking to a dealer about filing a claim, but unfortunately:

UPDATE: IMPORTANT MESSAGE ABOUT GM BANKRUPTCY AND OUTSTANDING CLAIMS

On June 1, 2009, General Motors filed a Chapter 11 Voluntary Petition in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Since that time, all matters relating to the GM bankruptcy filing, including the wrap-up of the Dex-Cool class action settlement, have proceeded before the bankruptcy court in New York.>>

[bnessman1]

@Bonsse88 how do you take advantage of this?

[Bonsse88]

In March 2008, GM announced that these engines and other GM engines supplied with Dexcool antifreeze coolant might be prone to intake manifold failure and other problems with the cooling system if proper regular maintenance is not correctly performed. After settlement of a class-action lawsuit, GM agreed to compensate owners of many vehicles that suffered damage, regardless of negligence on the part of the consumer, if the consumer can prove damages.

[freak777power]

GM really make crappy car. How the fuck is even possible for these things to happen. I bet Chevy Corvette if someone was driving shit out of it would start leaking after 60,000 miles.