GM intake manifolds

[The General]

I'm interested in finding out how many people have had the intake manifold gaskets replaced on their vehicles:

The engines mostly concerned are:

V6 3.1L
V6 3.4L
V6 3.8L (to a lesser extent)

Please reply with model, engine and milleage.

[rivsy]

i suspect you'll find that LOADS of people with the 3.4 ie pontiac montanas, chevy ventures, have had this one....i've seen as low as 70 000 kms. it was so common in fact that i heard gmac was overlooking the problem on lease returns...in fact i'd be surprised if anyone has one older han an 03 that doesn't or won't need it. 3.1 really not that common and 3.8 even less so...i'm not in the service biz though- this is just heresay. :roll:

[The General]

It sounds very like what I have been hearing.

Thanks.

[wingnut]

last week my fathers 94 Olds 88 3.8 with 250000 km blew his gasket and my brothers 2000 Grand Am with 200000km blew his intake manifold gasket also . Sounds like a common problem with these GM Models.

[The General]

At 250 000 km, anything can happen, I guess. Even at 200 000 km, it's not so unusual that something breaks.

If I recall correctly, I think I've heard a story about someone having to replace it at 50 000 km.

But, yes, it is a common problem.

[snoproblem]

They have been known to crack prematurely in some models and engines. A redesign of this part seems long overdue - surely a small price to pay to increase the rep of your vehicles?

[The General]

Well, now that the 3.1L and 3.4L (except Equinox) have been replaced, I think those with the problem will have to deal with it.

[ccaddy]

For 97 & up Grand Prix's , it is not only the int. gasket that goes , it 's the whole plastic intake phlenum that at about 100,000klm's ,cracks/warps and let's coolant leak into the cylinders .
Fortuneatly in most (my) cases , it causes hydro lock before too much get trouble happens and the engine quits running My total repair bill was $1200 .
This does'nt happen on the GTP's as they have an aluminum manifold .

[gibsonguy]

I've heard of a lot of Quad 4 (early 2.3's and the last en Cav 2.4) with head gasket problems. My parents have had 2 Chevy Celebrity with 3.1's and both never a problem (1 with over 300,000k)

[rivsy]

i heard that in the case of the older u-vans ( transport, venture etc.) that the problem was with the gasket being too thick at the front, not allowing for proper torquing of the front bolts, or after torquing they could somehow back themselves off. The new gaskets have for a few years now had some sort of a sleeve that allows tightening down of the bolts. In the meantime a guy told me yesterday that he tightened his down, waited overnight, and tightened down again, and they never backed out...i obviously am not a mechanic so don't jump on me if this is far fetched - just what i was told. if its true , i guess the backyard mechanic's could do some preventative by torquing down the bolts periodicallly. The crummy thig about these things is that as with any manufacturer, parts are outsourced, and it isn't for a few years that we see problems...by then there are millions of vehicles affected ( obviously its pronounced with big volume manufacturers and main stream models) - who knows maybe nissan has the same prob on one of its models? Unfortunately what we commonly see is consumers staying away from a product or saying the engines are bad because of a $500 repair which probably was origiinally a few dollar part. if you're looking for a used van just make sure it was done, or pay to have it done for peace of mind, if the product is otherwise a good fit for you.

[hardywang]

97 Grand Prix GTP, 16,7xxx KM, no gasket problem so far.

[The General]

97 Grand Prix GTP, 16,7xxx KM, no gasket problem so far.

That's 167,XXX km yes?

With the 3.1L?

[F1mania]

97 Grand Prix GTP, 16,7xxx KM, no gasket problem so far.

That's 167,XXX km yes?

With the 3.1L?
The 1997 Grand Prix GTP came with the super charged 3.8 liter engine

[The General]

DOOH!!

I did not notice the GTP portion of the post. Sorry.

The 3.8L is not as bad as the other engines.

hardywang, no problems with the charger?

[Icecube]

I'm interested in finding out how many people have had the intake manifold gaskets replaced on their vehicles:

The engines mostly concerned are:

V6 3.1L
V6 3.4L
V6 3.8L (to a lesser extent)

Please reply with model, engine and milleage.

2000 venture, family car, I do not tow anything. With the V6 3.4l. Head gasket changed @ 75,000 km - in 2004 (6 month/15000km out of warranty). GM was NOT helpful at all. Agreed to pay half and half, thinking it was an acceptabled solution. Total invoice was $1,100. Paid 550 +tx and learned later that the Dealer increase cost accordingly as this is more or less a 800$ job (and less at an independant). Complained to GM and Dealer. I even gathered 6 invoices from others owners (same car) for same job @ much less. Got a dealer in other city to also quote job (at worst case scenario). To no avail. No more GMs for me for the rest of my life. They pissed me off, I walked. I bloody hope they go under. Acura/Toyota are my other cars now (along with the damn Venture).

[The General]

Icecube,

Your story is so common. I'm saying this to let you know that you are only one of thousands of owners of these Minivans that got taken for a ride. Dealers, being well aware of the problem, are simply taking advantage by offering the 50/50 deal and inflating the price to cover the real cost of the job. In any event, I would strongly suggest that you no longer take your van to the dealer. As you well know, independent garages charge less and are at least as qualified to do the work.

[SouldenD]

My girlfriend '96 Grand Pri just started leaking the dex cool like crazy.I'm not the kind of guy the knows a lot about cars, but her son keep an eye on auto news and told us he read somewhere about her problem wasn't just "hers"(regardless of the over 115k miles on it). I started a search on GM recalls for Grand Pri call and I found this: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060330/whistleblower_gm_060406/20060406/
Hope it might be helpful for those in the same situation we are, and for those who haven't gone through this problem yet, I really recomend just replacing the manifold intake gasket a.s.a.p for your own sake.

[The General]

Great stuff! Thanks for the link.

[ASQ]

I am not suprised to hear that G.M is still having problem with their intake manifold, i had a 1984 century and at 40,000 K.M. intake leaked. rest is a story we all know.

Now i own 1996 accord, never had problem with such things as Manifold, wonder why?

Torque, gasket thickness are simple matters, if G.M. can't figure that out, than they should go back to drawing board and re-do its engineering. if intakes manifold gaskets are still leaking than G.M. should realy look into it seriously.

Todays market is very compatative, and G.M. has no choice but to compete and come up with better assembly, desaigns and torque it right.

I hope that G.M. being the biggest car manufecturer will pass through this phase and do whatever it takes to fix the problems and become # 1 again.
good luck G.M.

:idea:

[carltburgess2@msn.com]

I'm interested in finding out how many people have had the intake manifold gaskets replaced on their vehicles:

The engines mostly concerned are:

V6 3.1L
V6 3.4L
V6 3.8L (to a lesser extent)

Please reply with model, engine and milleage.
my 2001 pontiac montana 3.4 has 80000 km and leaking intake

[wingnut]

For more info on this subject and what you can do about it, go to www.gmclassaction.ca

[ASQ]

What about 1984 century{buick}, I owned it,and in 1996 got rid of it, it was a problem with its intake manifold, besides other troubles.

[The General]

I think that the 1984 has a different model intake, an older one...

Although, sometimes I wonder about GM and their new products...

[ASQ]

Doesn't GM has any R/R to assure the quality goes in before the name goes on.

[valrub]

My Chevy Lumina 99, 3.1L, repair gasket at 120K
My friend Buick Century 99, 3.1L repair gasket at 130K
My friend Pontiac Montana 2003, 3.4L repair gasket at 80K

... and GM did nothing, if you out of warranty, you going to pay in some way