Burning Coolant. LIM?

[mrl390]

Recently I started burning coolant in my 97 Z34. I can smell coolant while the car is running and I dongt see any dripping onto the ground so it has to be consuming it. I dont see any coolant in the oil or vise versa. I am going through the entire coolant resevour a day. Does this sound like a LIM to you guys? I dont really see any leaking on the top of the engine either so thats why Im not sure. Any help is appreciated.

[pocket-rocket]

It has no way to mix coolant with the oil unless you have a cracked block, heads or bad head gaskets. The first thing I think of since yours looks to be a 95 or so is the threaded nipple that goes into the LIM. It has a quick connect on the back of it that connects a tube to the LIM. The quick connect parts go bad in those and you develope a leak there. That or the o ring between the UIM and LIM for the TB coolant passage. You probably don't see any coolant because it would be dripping onto the exhaust and be getting burned off, so check under your TB since both things I mentioned are right there.

[mrl390]

Well like I stated I have a 97 Z34. Do the suggestions you gave still apply? Im not sure about the differences between the 95 and the 96/97 design. On another note, I looked more in depth down into the valley and I am in fact leaking coolant. I can see it puddled in the valley and I can see a few crusty spots around the gasket. I can even see one spot where the coolant left a trail down the side of the block. I had to get a good bright light in there to see everything. I ordered a Felpro gasket set. Thats the only set any of the auto parts stores had. My local chevy dealer didnt even have any in stock. I will be changing the gasket monday. Hopefully that is the only problem. Anyone have any helpful tips to make the job go easier or the repair last longer?

[pocket-rocket]

I overlooked the year, lol. Good catch on the leak. You should have no problems with the Felpro set- I use them all the time. If you haven't pulled your engine apart before, take your time, label what goes where, use baggies to group nuts/bolts together and use a digicam to take pics as you go to help you remember where stuff goes. It makes it much easier if you aren't familiar with your engine when it comes time to reassemble it. You will want to pick up some coolant since draining some out will make less of a mess on disassembly.

[mrl390]

Thanks for the help. I have had the plenum off many times but I have never gotten into the LIM. Should be lots of fun, lol. I will be tearing into it within the next few days. Wish me luck.