Head or intake gasket?

[jeffescortlx]

I have a 95 Grand AM GT 3.1 V6 with coolent in the oil, is there a easy way to tell with out ripping it apart if it's coming from a blown head head gasket or a bad lower intake manifold gasket?
Thanks

more than likely its the lower intake. try this thread for some info http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showt...+intake+gasket

[jeffescortlx]

Yeh, I saw that. But I would like to know if there is a way to easly tell if it's the manifold gasket or head gasket.

The car is sitting in a parking lot with the foamy oil, If it's the intake gasket I'll get it towed to my house and I'll change it, If its the head gasket I'll tow it to a shop.

What more common?

[95-GT]

lower intake. all 3100 and 3400's have this problem.

[jeffescortlx]

10 months ago I had the same problem, water in the oil. It got driven a lot that way so I just had a 97 with 70k installed to replace the 95 w/ 120k, it was only $1000 bucks with install. Any ways, I'm staring to wonder if it was really the manifold gasket that blew and not the head gasket, I just assumed it was the head gasket, but the old motor was pretty shot at that point anyways.

So is it rare for the head gaskets to blow in the 3.1 ?
The cooling system was allways in good working order, the problems seem to just pop out of no where.

[Irate]

Have you noticed any vacuum leaks?

[jeffescortlx]

Originally posted by IrateGT
Have you noticed any vacuum leaks?

My wife was the last person to drive it, all she said was the temp was going up and down, and the heater was blowing cold than warm. So I saw the oil cap was all foamy and now it's sitting in a parking lot.

So if it's the intake gasket it should have a vac leak and it would idel bad right? any other way to tell of a vac leak with out a vacuum gauge?

If it's the head gasket, should it bouble and pulsate the cooolent in the resivor?

[AaronGAGT]

Originally posted by jeffescortlx
was only $1000 bucks with install.

Only?????

[pfofit]

Depends where the head gasket is blown.

If there is crossover just between the coolant an oil passages, then you will have coolant going into the oil or vice versa. If the break is between the cylinder and coolant, then intake/exhaust gases get into the coolant and the temp gauge should get pretty hot, and yes bubbles if it is bad.

If you get a bad leak from the combustion chamber then unburnt fuel can get into the crankcase and with you start her up then boom, secondary combustion in the crankcse and out flies the dipstick like a rocket and may pop a few other gaskets.

Normally the problem is the intake gaskets, however, they can do a test which can detect combustion gases in the coolant. Very quick, screw a gizmo on in lieu of the rad cap and see if the thing goes blue or some other colour. If your concerned, then ask them to perform this combustion test before they tear down the intake.

Good luck

[jeffescortlx]

Originally posted by AaronGAGT
Only?????

I called a few shop to get a quote on repairing the old motor, most were around $1200 for a tear down and new head gaskets with machine work to resureface the heads. So 1000 bucks for a newer motor with less miles with out problems sounded like the way to go.

[jeffescortlx]

Originally posted by pfofit
Depends where the head gasket is blown.

If there is crossover just between the coolant an oil passages, then you will have coolant going into the oil or vice versa. If the break is between the cylinder and coolant, then intake/exhaust gases get into the coolant and the temp gauge should get pretty hot, and yes bubbles if it is bad.

If you get a bad leak from the combustion chamber then unburnt fuel can get into the crankcase and with you start her up then boom, secondary combustion in the crankcse and out flies the dipstick like a rocket and may pop a few other gaskets.

Normally the problem is the intake gaskets, however, they can do a test which can detect combustion gases in the coolant. Very quick, screw a gizmo on in lieu of the rad cap and see if the thing goes blue or some other colour. If your concerned, then ask them to perform this combustion test before they tear down the intake.

Good luck

Thanks you very much for the info.
I had the car towed to my house, I'm just gonna asume it's the intake gasket since I dont have the proper tools to find out for sure. I'm gonna make my way to the lower gasket and see what I find.
Will the bad spot in the gasket be visable once I get to it?

[95-GT]

Just throw a 3400 in there.

[pfofit]

Will the bad spot in the gasket be visable once I get to it?

Yes, normally toward the ends of the head/intake. Let us know how you make out.

You should check out this thread below and the great pics buddy put up. remember that GM has put out a new torque specs for this job, Try and find the TSB if you can.

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showt...threadid=25253
I believe that the guy has a link in his first post for his pics.

Also, 'Blackrider' had put up a link in there somewhere for the pics that he has.

A very good thread to see and hear what your in for.

Good luck

Hey. Sorry I'm late. I made the coolant FAQ. You might as well do the head gaskets. It's something you can do yourself. Once you've taken off the lower intake, all you pretty much have to do is unbolt the exhuast manifolds (tiny bit more, but not much) and you've got the heads off. That way it's all brand new and you're fine.

Do a couple binge oil changes when you're done. Like first after a little driving and then another after so many miles. If there is coolant in your oil, the new stuff will pick up remnants so it's best to get it out.

[jeffescortlx]

Thanks every one for your help, I have found a couple of walk through's pages with pic's on the gasket change.

I'm gonna start to rip it apart this week. If it is just the intake gasket I'm gonna leave the head gaskets alone, I'm afraid I'll just make it worse if I try to fix something that ant broke.

If it's not just the intake gasket I'm gonna consider a 3400 swap. There are a few junk yards around here that sell low milage motors for cheap.

Ok for the 3.1 to 3.4 swap:
Reuse 3.1 injectors, sensors, touq converter, posibly exsuahst manifolds if I dont want to use the 3.4 manifolds? And make a cut in the front timing cover.
I'm I missing any thing?

[speak03]

I have a problem, it just started today. I heard a popping sound, and my oil cap was foamy and gunky. I also have a slow coolant leak. Do u think i have the same problem?

[jeffescortlx]

Originally posted by speak03
I have a problem, it just started today. I heard a popping sound, and my oil cap was foamy and gunky. I also have a slow coolant leak. Do u think i have the same problem?

If you have foamy oil dont dive the car!!
Sounds like the same problem I got, but nobody heard a "pop".

[jeffescortlx]

Look every body, newbies are good for somthing:
http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showt...threadid=26951

[speak03]

do you have a slow leak? If so I think it can only be the head gasket, because where would coolant come in from the lower intake monifoild?

Everywhere