Need your help to verify LIM leak

[howley71489]

First off 02 grand am gt, 3.4l (LA1), 103,xxx miles, I would just like someone to veirify that this is a lower intake manifold leak. These are the best pictures i could take of it to trry and show where its leaking and pooling up
,
,

This is on left side of motor behond/next to power steering pump

[bszopi]

Welcome to the site!

Its hard to tell... But looking at your pictures, you have it pooling up on both sides of the engine? Have you looked at your oil yet? Typically, when the LIM gaskets go back, they leak internally, although I have seem some that leak externally like you are showing. But to be on both sides of the engine, either you are going to be really lucky if it didn't leak into the engine, or you are going to be in significant danger of having internal issues soon. I can't think of anything else besides the LIM that would cause coolant to pool up on both sides of the engine.

Can you see any traces of coolant having run down the side of the heads around where it is pooling? That middle picture looks like there might be some... I would definitely look inside the oil fill cap ASAP, and if it looks like a milkshake, stop driving the car until you can get it fixed. By that point, though, it may already be too late.

[howley71489]

Ok so its mostly on under the throttle body with little spots on the otherside next to power steering pump. My oil is fine as i check everytime i have to drive the car (try not to drive it) as there is not oil and coolant mixing(ive seen pictures of some coolant and oil mixing and it looks nasty). and it weird cuz it doesnt leak fast my low coolant light only has came on twice(recently) over two years. Im going to try and soak up as much as the coolant i can and run the car for while and try to see if any is coming from the heads

[Azrael]

Have someone pressure check the cooling system. By pressurizing the system without the engine running you can sometimes hear where it's leaking externally.

[bob442]

well if it wasnt the LIMG, then you would 110% identify the problem when you tear it apart to do them anyways. but it looks like thats the problem as you took pictures from both sides of the intake

[howley71489]

Have someone pressure check the cooling system. By pressurizing the system without the engine running you can sometimes hear where it's leaking externally.

we already pressure tested it at "15 psi"

well if it wasnt the LIMG, then you would 110% identify the problem when you tear it apart to do them anyways. but it looks like thats the problem as you took pictures from both sides of the intake

i already got started tearing it down but i am stuck on one nut (silver nut ) that hold black pipe into lim next to thermostat???? and i can't get it with any wrench, socket, or anything so hopefully one of you guys can help me out

[bszopi]

Probably need a crows foot wrench to loosen that.

Brad via Tapatalk

[howley71489]

Probably need a crows foot wrench to loosen that.

Brad via Tapatalk

i was getting extremely frusterated so i walked away from if till step dad got home and he acutally got it lose enough to slide the pipe back literally 5 minutes after i posted the question. so now all i gotta do is wait for tomorrow to get the gasket and but i think im going to be order the lisle push rod remover (lis48500) so i dont have to mess with the rockers.

[bszopi]

The rollers rockers are easy, not sure its worth the $$, IMO. All you do is loosen them up enough to remove the pushrods (make sure you keep them in order when you remove them!). When you are putting it back together, just tighten the rockers to spec. Its not like you have to adjust them or anything...

[bob442]

A 20$ tool is worth it to not have rocker threads strip out after the engines all together, don't forget to do your t stat, and change your oil/flush incase of contamination

[howley71489]

The rollers rockers are easy, not sure its worth the $$, IMO. All you do is loosen them up enough to remove the pushrods (make sure you keep them in order when you remove them!). When you are putting it back together, just tighten the rockers to spec. Its not like you have to adjust them or anything...

yea but for 25 bucks i think ill just buy it. i just dont want to risk stripping the bolt holes in the heads and having to heli coil the hole. as for the keepin the push rods in order i already got my pizza box filled with holes and labels ready to put the pushrod in

A 20$ tool is worth it to not have rocker threads strip out after the engines all together, don't forget to do your t stat, and change your oil/flush incase of contamination

thats wat im saying for 25 bucks (thats having it shipped to my door) and not take a chance of havin the rockers strip out and puttin even more time and frustration into it. yea im going to get new thermostat/oring gasket thing

[howley71489]

ok so i went and bought the gasket, manifold bolts, throttle body gasket. the intake gasket kit aslo came with valley gasket which i know on the 3500 there are holes drilled in the valley to accept the gasket. my question is would it be ok to cut off the two little points on the bottom and put a this layer of rtv sealant on the bottom and top(only reason i ask is cuz i really dont want to be drilling into my block)

by the way anyone know what the little blue circle thing is in first pic




PS: im sry for the crappy quality on pictures im using my phone and don't have a camera

[3400-95-Modified]

I never thought the 3400 sets came with those valley gaskets... Sure you got a 3400 set and not a 3500 set? What was the part number of the gaskets.

The blue circle gasket is probably for the tube that goes from the purge valve to the intake and the over to the PCV, there is a black rubber grommet where it goes into the intake.

[howley71489]

I never thought the 3400 sets came with those valley gaskets... Sure you got a 3400 set and not a 3500 set? What was the part number of the gaskets.

The blue circle gasket is probably for the tube that goes from the purge valve to the intake and the over to the PCV, there is a black rubber grommet where it goes into the intake.

ms 98003
207 (3.4l) Eng OHV

[howley71489]

Just wanted to update saying my car is officially up and running. did run into a problem through. when i went to pressurize the fuel system gas came flying out of the fpr as i couldnt get it to seat correctly into the fuel rail but my dad came over and we got it!!! other than that she started up fine a lil smokey from my dumba$$ spilling oil all over, no leaks that i can see and the idle took a while to drop down was at 1500 then slowly went down to 750 and stays there now. temp is just under 200

as for the gasket my buddy gave me the gaskets for 3400 equinox/torrent thats why it came with valley gasket
so for a final cost it was 450 bucks but i got a 300 piece tool set and 2 more torque wrenches out of it. so you guys just saved me 500 bucks (was quoted 950!)

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP GUYS!! I TRUELY APPRECIATE IT.