http://www.gm-v6lemons.com/ Read this and please dont pass judgment on the people having problems until youve read the entire website.We just so happen to own a 2002 Buick with a 3.4 that has 30,00 miles on it.If GM doesnt want to replace the intake gasket I guess I'll have to pay for it myself. GM has a service bulletin out about this problem but the general public sure doesnt know about it.The service bulletin is shown on the website.I'm sure some people didnt take care of their vehicles but I'll bet lots did.It looks like Chevy Ventures with the 3.4 are having the worst problems. I have a friend that works at a GM dealer so I pretty well know whats going on and the 3.1-3.4's are having problems. GM recalled all 2000-2003 3800 V-6's for the same problem.Our 2000 LS Regal is going in the shop this week.
The 2.8, 3.1, 3.4 have had intake leakage problems since the engines inception. I doubt if GM is going to recall them seeing as how they haven't in the 25 years that engine family has been out.
Lots of links there. Sounds like a nasty problem -- the coolant leaks onto the cam bearings and causes them to fail. I'm going to start keeping a close eye on the Malibu. - Freed
We just had our intake gasket replaced on our 99 Venture. $753 cha-ching! Not to mention all the other money dumped on that stupid thing! Since the summer of 2003, we have accumulated $3500 in repairs. "Just get rid of it" you say. Yes, please explain that to my wife. MARK
These things need redesigned! Not that I mind though........ Car sale have been a little slower this year, so all of the intake I have been doing sure do make up for it! 3.1, 3.4 and the 3800 ...... all plastic gaskets...all failing this year. Dunno if it's the kool-aid coolant in them or if they are just a bad idea. I just finished a 94 Pontiac Transport before lunch. Looks like Victor has a new graphite compression gasket that takes care of the older ones like that. Carquest handles them. I wonder if they will ever redesign the newer ones as well soon. Would sure be nice being able to torque the intake down a little and not worry about the "crush" factor. Mike
You'd think after all these years that GM could build a V-6 engine that could keep its coolant where it belongs.If GM wont stand new intake gaskets for our AWD 2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL with the 3400 I've probably bought my last GM vehicle.Our RDV has been in the shop for 9 days now with electrical problems,bad BCM,etc. I added up and since 1976 I've owned 10 new and 3 used GM vehicles so I've been a loyal GM customer.I've had every thing fom a 1975 Vette to the 2002 Buick RDV.Most were fairly trouble free with a power window motor being the worst problem.We did dump our 79 Malibu Classic just in time before the 267 V-8 wiped out a camshaft. The old 3.8 Buicks did pretty good.I dont worry about internal coolant leaks on my 1985 & 86 T-Type Regals.We have a 91 Regal Limited with the 3800 thats over 150,000 miles with no problems.
my cutlass supreme has the 3.1, and near as i can tell in the 3 years i have owned it am not having any problems with it like this[?!?]. but it is a 90, what are the chances it has been repaired once before for this and no longer has this problem?o No:
The older 2.8 and 3.1s didn't have the coolant leak problem. They leaked oil from the end seals and the oil pump drive. The newer 3.1 and 3.4s are the ones that are leaking coolant thanks to the brilliant rubber and plastic gasket. uzzled: Either way the intakes for the past 25 years have leaked in that engine family. An easy way to tell if your vehicle has had the intake gasket replaced is to look at the front and rear of the block. If it's leaking oil at the end seal you'll see it all over the front of the block and down to the oil pan. Same at the back of the block if the intake and oil pump drive are leaking.
thanks, mike. it has a small amount of oil around the "front" of the motor. but i have never noticed a collection under the car at any point. i am sure with 180,000+ miles it is to be expected from any engine. but this one seems pretty tight. i mean,. it's not like its a small block ford, or anything like that :laugh: ou:
My 2001 3800 had the gasket recalled and replaced in the fall. Just took it to the shop for rough idle and had to have the whole intake plenum replaced ($803.) First time I have had a problem with a 3800 and this is my 5th one. Any advice on getting repaid by GM?
I'm thinking I should add in some of that glowing dye so I can see if coolant is seeping into my oil (or maybe vice versa). Anyone know where I can get some? - Freed
Uh oh. I had the coolant light in my 1999 Grand am GT come on the other day. I checked it, and it seemed to be nearly full... I wonder if I'm in for it. Oh well, what can you do, except fix it.
Thank God for this web site Our 2000 Olds Silhoutte has been losing Dexcool for months now. Thanks to this web site I may be able to do something before the cam bearing gets wiped out!
Brian, I'm glad I got this on here in time to help you and others.Good luck with your Olds.When I recently found the gmv6lemons website I was astounded that GM has let this go on for years and does absolutely nothing about it. I've put this on at several other sites and over at turbobuick.com several said it was basically the owners fault for all the problems with leaking intake gaskets.One guy said that anyone that bought a Pontiac Aztek deserved to have problems.People seem to be alot nicer over here. Everyone,please put the gmv6lemons link on at any place that will help spread the word about this problem.We need to put the pressure on GM to make things right for all the hardship and expense that they have caused people to have.I hate to see anyone lose an engine over an intake gasket.
This posting saved me $$$$ Wow, Thanks! I called GM and explained how I had a 3.4 in my Olds Silhoutte and that the engine had the symptoms of a lower intake manifold gasket leak. They were immediately open to the suggestion of "Goodwill Assistance". We set up a visit with Joseph Oldsmobile and they replaced the gasket with the new hardware and sealant GM now calls for. The best part was the money involved. Even though I was out of warranty the whole thing cost us only $300.00. According to people's testimony on the Lemon site, this job was going for $800-$950 dollars. Not only did it save us money for the gasket replacement, hopefully, this improved gasket will last for many years and we won't have to worry about the cam bearings getting wiped out. Thanks again! If any of you live in the Northern Kentucky area, Joseph Oldsmobile has been exceptional in their work. It has been a real positive experience working with them. Plus, there is Krispy Kreme donuts in the waiting area! :beer :TU:
Reminds me of the transmission behind the v6 in my dad's truck, it's on it's fourth one already and he's only had it a few years. It's a v6 for gods sake, not like it's pushing 900 ft/lbs of torque to shred a tranny.
I don't think the plastic intakes help either. I did a little research and notbody seems to be having trouble with the supercharged 3800's(aluminum manifold)
Rant! Sorry, it is long but I feel better now, you could skip to the end if you just want to answer some of my questions. Just spent 7 hours at the "Mr. Goodwrench" shop to have the intake gasket replaced on our 2001 Impala that has the 3400 v6 (62500 miles). It was a strange visit. I went in for a "check engine" light that I could not fix following the owner's manual suggestions. I also wanted a Tans oil drain and transmission filter replacement as preventative maintenance that is not called for in the manual (unless used for "severe duty" which it is not). The first thing they tried to sell me was the dealer recommended 60,000 mile service that includes almost every possible preventative service choice they have on their handy dandy brochure - for $439. I said "no thank you, I didn't come here to spend that kind of money". I am into preventative maintenance but I though the plugs and electronics on these things were now supposed to be good for 100,000 miles?!? I follow the recommended service in the owner's manual religiously and none of this stuff is recommended at 60,000 miles. Even my plan for the trans drain and filter was my own request (and that of a trusted mechanic). The next thing thing they tried to sell me was the trans flush instead of the drain and filter replacement telling me that at 60,000 miles the filter usually doesn't need to be replaced. So I asked why the flush would cost me $100 and the filter and fluid was $70. Response was the extra fluid in the flush, as it replaces all fluid (14 qts.) where as the drain does not (6 qts.). I may be old school - I opted for my original plan of drain and filter replacement. Next suggestion is the fuel filter - again, no mention anywhere in the manual for a fuel filter change. The "service consultant's" reasoning - "the extended warranty company will like to see you have been maintaining the car well - if the fuel pump burns up and they see you have changed the fuel filter every 30,000 miles, they will like that." That was not needed to convince me - having changed a many fuel filters myself and the fact that there is greater possibility for contaminants in fuel than in trans (I have never added any fluid to the trans), I decide to go with the fuel filter. So the next thing "Mr Goodwrench" has to say is the check engine light produced two codes - oil pressure sender faulty and evaporator vent solenoid faulty. Extended warranty will cover these. Next comment - "Brakes are down to the metal" - I know they were not down to the metal but a previous tech at 53, 000 miles had recommended they be checked at 67,000 miles. Since it is getting close to that, I agree to the $170 they charge for a single axle brake job. "And we found an oil leak - oil is leaking down onto the transmission and it is the intake gasket that is leaking. The warranty covers it so you won't have to pay the $760 we are charging to the warranty company." I ask about the 3400 and problems I have heard about the intake gaskets and I tell the guy I have looked it over and noticed that the intake on my car is aluminum instead of plastic, I didn't think there would be a problem. He gives me a song and dance about all the aluminum parts on cars these days and the expansion and contraction and the eventual wear and tear on the gaskets. Since this isn't going to cost me more than 5 hours of my time waiting, I agree to let them fix it knowing about bigger problems related to this problem I have read here. It was more like 6 hours which gave me time to do some more thinking - probably the thinking I should have done before I agreed to it. Why didn't I ask them to show me? Why did I take their word for this? They are going to get $439 they wanted at the beginning and then some. Is it slow in here today? I had an appointment at 8:15 a.m. and they have an extra 5 hours for this today????! I have never had to add oil to this car. I just checked it the other day and it was right on the full mark - 3000 miles since last oil change. I did the last oil change and checked all over the car and underneath - no signs of any oil leaks. It sleeps in a garage with a cement floor - no drips. I am beginning to wonder about the work being charged to the warranty company??? and then I am wondering what the cost of the next extended warranty will be (if I ever buy a new car again) if this service is being so "freely" used by this dealer. And this is not the first time I have had these thoughts about this dealer as I watched them charge rotors and brake parts earlier in this car's life that turned out to be just what I told them it was at 5000 miles - bad tires. They tried to tell me warped rotors were causing the problem - another $350 charged to warranty. Okay here are my questions: Would an intake gasket on this motor leak oil - does it cover the cam and lifter valley like the v-8s? Is the 3400 with the aluminum intake included in the problems described on this thread? Is the dealer making money on the warranty company for unnecessary repairs? or are they really looking out for my best interests by being so thorough to catch a small leak that may have recently developed and fixing a known problem they have with these motors? Is there a connection to the "check engine" light and the intake repair? Could they replace the intake without taking off the back valve cover gasket? - it does not look like it was touched. The front gasket looks new with a gray silicon like sealer around the edges. Save me from myself as I have half a mind to call the warranty company and tell them my suspicions. I would not be going back to this dealer if the $50 deductible on warranty work was not waived for going to the original dealer. I can easily say that I would not have paid for the intake gasket replacement at $760 out of my pocket today if I did not have the extended warranty(yeah, I know, I probably already paid for it with the premium added into the purchase...). Maybe I would have had bigger problems down the road Thanks for your thoughts.
