Nicety

Does anyone recommend using stop leak for a tiny intake manifold gasket leak? I was told by a co worker to use a vegetable based stop leak to see if that will fix the problem before i have the gasket replaced. Thanks

BC2002SS

I wouldn't use stop leak for something like that, if the intake leaks into the lifter valley the coolant can wipe out the cam bearings. I don't think it's worth the risk. shouldn't be that bad of a job to change them.

ed2552

Replace your intake gaskets. Should be easier than on my Bonneville, and get the aluminum framed units from GM. I'm assuming Camaro's don't have the UIM issues the FWD cars did?

Nicety

I'm kinda noticing oil in the coolant not coolant in the oil.. is that weird?

tom2

I think there was a TSB on Blazers for the tranny cooler in the radiator that was common to leak fluid into the coolant. If you have oil/foam in the radiator that might be something to check. The stop leak you're hearing about is the GM Cooling System Sealer tabs that you can get at any dealer. They use them all the time so it would have to be decent stuff.

Nicety

Thanks Tom I'll check that out !

rsm93z28

That's not weird... That means that either one or both of your head gaskets is failing (best case scenario) or... if you have a lot of oil present in the coolant, then a crack inside the engine block has occurred (probably from overheating) that is allowing oil to escape from an oil gallery into the water column.... (worst case scenario). If the former... then it means the temporary aggravation of tearing the top off the engine to replace both head gaskets... But if the latter is the case... then its time to shop for a low mileage "Drop-In" motor....

Nicety

Well it was the intake gasket. The sludge in the radiator was from what the GM mechanic told me.. when they made the 3.8 in the years from 99-02 their was sand left in the block i guess from sand blasting the cylinders or whatever. The coolant system flushed the sand out into the rad. He says a lot of problems were that this was affecting the heating and ac systems and that i got luckey i only had the sediment problem.. so everything is fixed now. for $220 bucks including the gasket !