Question : 3100 LIM Question

[Century7667]

I'm in the middle of a LIM repair. It's a '96 3100 with 155k on it. It's under the hood of my '96 Buick Century.

The thing started showing black deposits on the radiator cap and in the coolant recovery tank. I was getting an odor after the engine got warm, that I believe is roasted DexCool. I saw the distinct orange color at the rear of the engine where the transmission is mated. I think the leaking coolant was getting cooked on the exhaust manifolds. However, never once got the milkshake in the crankcase....none that I could tell anyway.

So, I purchased the Fel-Pro metal LIM gaskets for the small port 3100, and after some stop/starts (I get to it when I can), I am close to pulling the instake manifold.

The question I have is should I pull the heads? I've owned this car since it was new, so I know it's been meticously maintained, and I know what kind of service it's seen. I also know that pulling the heads is a lot more work?

What's have you guys seen with this motor? Do the head gaskets do pretty well?

Thanks,
Ken T.

[Guest]

If there's no evidence of a head gasket problem, I would leave them alone.

[robertisaar]

i've learned to quit touching things that don't need touched.... you have a lot less unexpected parts store runs that way.

[Century7667]

Thanks for the quick replies. I really don't want to pull the heads. And I agree with Robert, the trips for parts really can kill your day, not to mention runs for tools and the occasional junk yard run.

I really like the motor, despite the LIM history. It had one LIM repair under warranty back in '02, but I am pretty sure they just put the plastic gaskets in. Hopefully I can get the manifold pulled this week, and then I'll get a look at the coolant ports and see the whole story.

Ken T.