Yes, many of the 3.8 engines have leaking intake gaskets. But sometimes it's not the intake gasket but the coolant bypass tubes instead. It's very easy to overlook this. Here's what to look for and how to do it.
Jeep mysterious coolant leak
You don't want to recommend replacing the cyl head without evidence that it's bad. After repeated attempts failed to locate the source, this one found it.
Code P0171
Code P0171 means the vehicle computer is showing the air fuel mixture is lean, either too much air, or not enough fuel. So, it is adding fuel to try and correct it. There are many things that can cause this code and some of them can be difficult to diagnose and expensive to repair. However, sometimes it can be a simply problem, with a simple repair. If your a do-it-yourselfer, try this first. It's a common problem and you might just be able to save yourself some money.
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.
Bad head gasket symptoms, Head gasget bad? Easy way to check- 200 Chevy 3.8L
This is an Easy way to check for bad head gasket(s) and or warped, possibly cracked heads.
This video shows Co gases (Exhaust gases) entering a vehicles cooling system. this is a simple anti spill funnel placed on your coolant tank and or radiator. simply fill with water and run your vehicle. sometimes it may take a few minutes and other time it will start to bubble right away. I have seen with steel layered head gaskets the cylinder head looses it seal to the engine block over time and starts leaking between the layers.
I have seen some vehicles with as low as 32,000 miles a lot of vehicles around 80-100,000.
Some symptoms can be thermostat codes, misfire codes and 02 sensor codes, bubbles in cooling system, heating problems, oil slime in coolant tank and or radiator, low coolant levels, leaking, split or blown out radiators, leaking water pumps, intake gaskets leaking oil and or antifreeze, catalytic converters that are inefficient or clogged, oxygen sensors that quit working properly and spark plugs that are coolant fouled. If the problem has gone on for long period of time and the gasket(s) is deteriorated enough and the antifreeze is now entering the combustion chamber, then you might have other symptoms of white smoke out the Exhaust and antifreeze mixed in with your oil.
Dealers used to say Maintenance Free, Change your Antifreeze every 5 years or 150,000 miles. Now they say 30,000 miles, which for most of us is about 2 years. Huge difference.
Be mindful of these symptoms and remember to Find and fix the cause not just the symptom.
GM 3.8 Intake Manifold Removal
GM 3.8 Intake Manifold Removal. GM series 2 intake manifold gasket removal. This is a quick how to remove the Intake Manifold from a GM 3.8 series 2
Coolant Leak Answer
A few people asked me about a video i commented on about a coolant leak and what the cause was well he is a vid to explain the cause and a fix.
Ford Escape fuel filter
If your a do-it- yourselfer and you want to save some money buy changing your own fuel filter, this video should help. Most fuel injected vehicles will have a fuel filter arrangement similar to this one. The actual filter & the actual retainer clips can very greatly so be sure to get the info you need for your specific application.
How to test a coil on the vehicle
If you suspect a possible bad coil, here is a quick and easy way to test the coil without expensive labscopes and equipment.
Fixing Tough Head Gasket Leaks
Scotty Kilmer, mechanic for the last 42 years, shows how you can fix tough head gasket leaks using a liquid sealer. Visit Scottykilmer.com for free answers to all your car questions.
1995 Buick Lesabre Intake Manifold Part 6: Gasket Installation
http://www.apdty.com/3800_Intake-Repair.wws
Click the above link to find the Intake Manifold Gasket for your vehicle. In this video we'll show you how to install new gaskets on your Intake Manifold.
2003 Chevrolet Malibu coolant leak.MPG
My 2003 Chevrolet Malibu leaking like a sieve on Tuesday, June 8, 2010. I know it's a coolant issue -- the question is, how bad is it? The video quality isn't the best because I was laying on my back on the ground trying to get the best angle possible while trying to both look through the LCD and at the leak itself.
Fix It Right! - Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement
Fix It Right! - Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement (S1E4)
Demonstrated on a 2004 Buick Century 3.1L V6 FWD.
In this video, we demonstrate how to perform an intake manifold gasket replacement on a front-wheel-drive 3.1L V6 engine, in this case in a 2004 Buick Century. This is a common point of failure on General Motors' 3.1L, 3.4L, and 3.8L V6 engines, which are used in a large number of passenger cars across most of GM's model lines.
*** DIY POSSIBLE, BUT TOUGH ***
This repair task should only be attempted by advanced DIYers.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please read the disclaimer text at the start of the video before attempting anything shown therein. Take your time, take care, and be safe!
About the "Fix It Right!" video series:
"Fix It Right!" is a series of how-to videos intended to give do-it-yourselfers basic instructions on proper vehicle repair and maintenance. All of our videos show real repairs being performed on real vehicles by real technicians in a real auto shop. (Repairs are filmed and shown with the permission of the vehicles' owners.) Although there may be more than one way to perform any particular repair (and in many cases there are lots of ways!) we try to focus on the methods that will be safest and most expedient for DIYers with limited access to tooling and equipment.
We will also occasionally be showing repair processes that are too complex or dangerous for DIY, or require specialized tooling, expertise, equipment, and/or certifications. Those episodes will highlight the importance of hiring a professional auto technician for tasks that are not DIY-friendly, and demonstrate why such tasks are best left to professionals.
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