Question : LIM went well, but still have a leak

[Jesster]

I just finished up the LIM project on a 1998 Lumina with a 3.1L "M" engine. Before starting this project, I couldn't actually find the leak, but could see it dripping on the rear bottom of the engine (passenger side). It is still leaking. Could this be a head gasket or is there something I'm missing? Could there be a freeze plug in the area? See photos. The last 4 photos are with the camera down in the area of the leak.

[Jesuscookies]

That looks like it is pretty close, or under, your crankshaft pulley, correct? If so it could be your front main seal that is behind that pulley.

[pocket-rocket]

It could also be a timing chain cover since there are coolant passages and the water pump housing are built into it. Getting to the rear main cross bolts in the side of the pan with the tranny in there will be a pain on a 3x00 since the pan technically should come down to get the cover off. Also, you would want an engine brace that straddles the engine bay, or an engine hoist to hold the engine while you pull the sub-frame to get the oil pan off in a W body. Besides, a front seal would be leaking oil, not coolant. I would add some dye to it, take it to the car wash and blast the engine clean and get the leak light out to try to narrow it down.

[alacran]

any updates to this leak. have a malibu with a similar leak.

[Heartbeat1991]

any updates to this leak. have a malibu with a similar leak.

it's been 4 years . . .I assume any updates would have been done a long time ago. :-)

[Jesster]

It was the timing chain cover seal on the 3100 V6

any updates to this leak. have a malibu with a similar leak.

I had previously replaced the LIM gasket with a good Fel-Pro Perma-Dry and had no problems for about a year and a half. Then coolant started leaking on the engine right side towards the front, basically towards the passenger firewall side of the engine. After several discussions online, it was determined that it was the timing chain cover gasket because there is a coolant passage that intersects with the timing chain cover on the 3100 V6 for the water pump. I actually had the local community college do the work to replace the timing chain cover gasket as a previous poster said that you had to lift the engine and brace it (I don't have a brace). They charged $56 for the gasket and shop supplies and NO labor cost, sweet deal I thought.

Less than a year later, it started leaking again in the same area. I couldn't think of what could be leaking as everything gasket-wise had been replaced as far as coolant in that area, but it was coming out exactly where the timing chain cover was leaking before. So I decided that maybe the community college kids didn't do something correctly (I assumed maybe they hadn't cleaned down to bare metal on the block and/or the cover)??? I bought a new gasket and some good gasket sealer (Permatex 98H High Tack) and proceeded to do the repair. The gasket that the community college kids put on did not have sealer and apparently had moved and slightly crinkled/overlapped when they put the cover back on. I finished the job and have not had a problem since (approximately 3 years). BTW,a previous poster was wrong, the engine does NOT have to be raised or braced for the timing chain cover to be removed, at least not on a 98 Lumina. Note: when removing the PS pump, I did not have to remove the hoses, I just drained the PS pump reservoir with a cheap turkey baster and set the pump aside. Also I didn't have to remove the water pump, just disconnected the lower hose and the top metal fitting. Overall, it was a reasonably straight-forward repair and I wish I had done it myself to begin with.