What does the leaking intake manifold do for performance? I wasn't sure if it caused issues with vacuum or boost with a supercharger. There is some oil on the back but not enough to worry about. If the cars performace is effected much i would want to fix it right away.

 

It's pretty common with these cars after they get some age on them. I'd mainly be concerned with blow by. If you don't have any blow by coming from worn rings or a busted piston like my case was then I'd just say that you have a typical LT1 with some age on it. It's not really gonna hurt performance but if it leaks bad enough I guess it could catch fire on the exhaust. It doesn't sound like you are too alarmed so I get the feeling that you don't have a situation like that.

I had a leak for quite a while and never really sweated over it, it's not a huge deal, just makes a mess.

 

its a easy one day fix just use a day off and fix it up.

 

The intake can be cleaned, pulled, and new gaskets put down in about an hour.

I just wouldn't want it leaking all over my opti.

 

The common leak is the back of the intake manifold so it's not going to affect the opti. M6 guys need to pay more attention as a bad leak can make it's way down inside the bell housing and possibly get the clutch wet with oil.

 

Actually my opti messed up cuz of a intake leak had oil down to it .. I just bought a oem opti and havent fixed the leak... It looks hard taking off the intake.. is it?

 

Are you sure the front of the intake is leaking? A common place for front oil leaks is the waterpump drive gear seal.

 

Yeah i took it to a mechanic shop to get the opti replaced. He said the intake had a leak.. I looked under the TB and there was alot of oil buildup.

 

Anyone tried to use a gasket on the rear of the block to stop the manifold leak?? Something thin like a rubber Fel-Pro trans pan gasket material???

 

GM used RTV from the factory and it lasted for what, 10+ years? I wouldn't bother with "trying out a gasket" when properly used RTV lasts that long but to each his own. Pulling the intake will cost you 20 bucks or so for new gaskets, 5 bucks for a tube of RTV, and an afternoons worth of work if you've never done it before. There should be no performance loss since the leak is actually occurring in the seal between the block and the intake manifold. If you had a leak between the intake manifold and the heads you'd have a vacuum leak that would also be sucking in oil.

-Pete-

 

Before I had the intake manifold leak,I would have black smoke at cold startup.Also,my #8 plug was filled with heavy black gunk,and oil.Both issues went away after the fix.Hope this helps.

 

Removing and replacing the intake on an LTX is an easy and relatively painless process. Unlike the other Small block Chevys the LTX has a dry intake. So fix your leak and don't look back.
However, instead of regular RTV try a tube of "THE RIGHT STUFF" and you won't have to worry about it until you have to remove the intake. The stuff sticks tenaciously.

Mike

 

The way to insure the intake doesn't leak at the back again is to replace the gaskets and then insulate the EGR tube that runs from the exhaust manifold to the back of the manifold. It is the heat from the tube where it runs directly over the rear manifold sealing area that causes the RTV sealant to fail.

 

Nice the rear end will be all bolted up by tomorrow morning after that is done ill move on to removing the intake

Thanks for the respones ill keep you all posted