If You Own a 1995-2003 3.1-3.4 GM V-6 Read This

[turbofish38]

Also if you notice on the 3.1/3.4 the coolant leaks are on the outside, not internal.

 

[d0n_3d]

We have a 3.4L V6 95 Camaro and a 3.8L N/A V6 00' Buick Regal and haven't had problems with either...granted the Regal only has 12k miles on it and the Camaro has 75k miles...now the tranny just went out in the Camaro (5 speed) thank goodness it was under warranty...but the Chevy dealer put in a used rebuilt unit! weird...

 

[Aztlanahauc]

Now I have been having problems like this with my 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue with a 3.8 L....Intake Gasket went bad after 68,000 miles..car overheated and died...would not start...Now some may say why I was not watching the coolent...but there were no puddle on my floor...and I only had the car for less then 6 months...Dealership that looked at the car wanted almost half what I paid for it to replace the engine...

 

[QuickWE4]

Yep, been there and done that (with respect to the intake gasket leak) with my wife's 1996 Berretta. 3.1 litre

It was replaced TWICE. Car is gone now, but it still pisses me off.

Oh yes, we also had a paint delamination problem on that car - GM knew is was a problem (it was their blue color that presented the most problems) but it was never addressed.

Rich

 

[turbofish38]

Originally posted by QuickWE4
Yep, been there and done that (with respect to the intake gasket leak) with my wife's 1996 Berretta. 3.1 litre

It was replaced TWICE. Car is gone now, but it still pisses me off.

Oh yes, we also had a paint delamination problem on that car - GM knew is was a problem (it was their blue color that presented the most problems) but it was never addressed.

Rich

In all due respect Ford and Chrysler had delamination problems with their blue and silver vehicles too. Why didn't the dealer do a repaint under one of the so called secret warranties? I wish I worked in the body shop back than, my dealership must have repainted every blue and silver car in town. Even under warranty time I could have cleared 6 figures for a paycheck. Sorry if it sounds like I'm praying on the misfortunes of others.

 

[chevyII]

I cant belive how every one likes to cry wolf when THEY blow up there engines! First off thats the same gasket thats been around since about 86 when the engine was conceived as the 2.8l. Yes they do tend to leak but name one engine with aluminum heads and intake that dont go out at 60-90K. Second if you lose coolant and the red light on the dashboard comes on and you keep driving- enough said there. I am a ASE mechanic and there is no major problems with these gaskets. And think about it if there was gasket trouble you would think everyone would have heard about it since 86! Go get a tissue and cry all you want.

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by Chris McDade
I have a 99 Chevy Malibu with a 3.1 and guess what the intake gasket is leaking on it. I was just at the GM dealership this past weekend talking about this same problem. I will be fixing mine this weekend. The dealer wants $350.00 to fix it. It calls for 5-1/2 hour of labor. This sucks.

FUN>>>>>FUN!!!!!!!!!!

I just did mine - it's not so bad if you don't snap a rocker stud off in the head and then have to take the head off to have a machine shop remove said broken stud. If you want to do it yourself shoot me an e-mail. I have the shop manual and there's some gotchyas to watch out for.

It's just a really tedious job - lots of stuff needs unhooked and taken off to get to the lower intake. And in the process I did something to my A/C clutch (A/C compressor needs taken off to get the head off) and it's making noise.

The lower intake design is pretty crappy. Mine was leaking outside the engine at the front and back - right side. If you look at it there's no reason the same leak couldn't occur inside the engine. That same water jacket could leak in a slightly different spot. I believe the guy that said all fluid levels were normal and he snapped his cam in half on a long road trip. It wouldn't take very long for antifreeze leaking into the crankcase to cause big problems.

Jim

 

[Regal-luvr]

turbofish38,
We dont have a pass word to see your service bulletins.

chevyII,
I beg to differ with you that are no major problems with these gaskets.Why has Victor built a different replacement gasket?A friend thats a good mechanic was over this morning and he works part time at a local private repair shop and said they have had quite a few customers in for leaky intake gaskets on 3.1's,3.4's,and a few 3.8's in the past year.Most are late 90's vehicles.The bigger share are external leaks but they get ones with internal leaks too.They just did a Pontiac Montana for the 2nd time on an internal leak.He and his boss both say the 3.1-3.4 GM V-6 is a very poor engine.

At another website a private shop owner said hes recently been over run with leaky GM V-6 intake gaskets both external and a few internal.He said it keeps him busy and business is good.


For the nonbelievers go here.

http://townhall.edmunds.com/TH/townhall?tid=edmunds.g.home.header.townhall.6.*

Pull up any GM vehicle with a 3.1-3.4 V-6 and at the top do a search for intake gasket.The Chevy Malibu alone has 5 pages full.For every person that posts on Edmunds there are 1000's that dont so this is a wide spread problem.
A friends brother works at a near by GM dealer and late last year a customer lost a 3.4 in a Pontiac Montana due to an internal leak.He said they get quite a few leakers in,mostly external.

If only 5-10% of the GM V-6's leak thats 5-10% too many.We are paying far too much money for these vehicles to put up with crap like this.Its a poor design and theres far too much aluminum and plastic being used.Its funny that GM recalled all 2000-2003 3800 V-6's for possible intake leaks but ignores the 1995-2003 3.1's and 3.4's that have far more problems.

I've posted this problem at quite a few places and this is the only one where people come on and say that there are no problems or that its all the owners fault.Strange isnt it.

 

[turbofish38]

Dear Mr.Regal, I think you are really getting a little carried away with your little crusade here. Personally, I think you just came over here to stir up a little **** because this is a V-6 board and you have a Buick with a V-6. I see by your lack of a signature you dont own a TR,have never owned a TR, and never will own a TR. BTW would you like to tell all of us your name or do you want the rest of us to continue mocking you behind our screens. According to your narrow minded view of the world, we as responsable consumers should have to right to buy a perfect car,drive the wheels off it, and reguardless of whatever the cause to have it fixed for free for the rest of the cars life. Gee, in that case I want GM to reimburse me for all the head gaskets and not to mention every turbo, transmission,tire, and oh, since an eight bolt cylinder head is obviously responsable for the blown head gasket why dont you just buy me a full prep Stage 2 motor. Face reality it aint going to happen in your lifetime. Normally I would have kept my opinion to myself( just do a search on my 900 plus replies) but you sir with a mere 14 posts to you credit deserve no such courtesy from me.

 

[chevyII]

If there should have been a recall on that engine which some still haven't fiqured out they started as 2.8L, they should have been recalled for the blocked cracking at the head bolts on the rear bank! Yes as I said they do go bad often but so do all aluminum headed,intake motors. As a mater of fact I can also remember alot of water pumps freezing up on the 3.4 and smoking the cam belt and bending the valves. If YOU are a consumer and buy a vehicle that costs 25,000 without researce on the different engines and the problems that each one has then thats YOUR MISTAKE. Like I said before this engine in 86 was a 2.8 then a 3.1 a few years later, then a overhead cam per bank made this a 3.4,my point being this engine which uses the same BAD GASKETS has been around for 15 years. So I wouldn't expect to a recall any time soon. People these days think general matinance is oil changes every 3000. Id like to know how many gasket failures were before 50,000 miles?

 

[chevyII]

Oh and by the way 2.8,3.1,3.4 are a total different engine than the 3800 so are you saying all GM engines are crap why not just put some LS1 or other V8 on the list too.

 

[Regal-luvr]

Hi Eric,
I hate to tell you this but I was probably on here long before you were.This is the 3rd time I've had to register.When the big crash happened several years ago I had over 500 posts on here. I registered again and had like 70 posts and then didnt post for awhile,so had to register again.I made the first post ever on the Hot Air board when it first started a few years back.

I hate to burst your bubble but I do own a non runing 82 Turbo Regal that may get a 455,1985 T-Type Regal,1986 T-Type Regal and if you'd like I can get the digital camera out and take pictures of them side by side.My 85 T-Type is my daily driver and I just came home from work in it.Several years ago I bought a vacuum brake set up for my 86 T-type from RedRegalT(John Dicarlo) thats been on here for years.Over the holidays I won an ebay auction for an 85 T-Type part from Bryan Wanner(Quick6nKC) that posts frequently on here.I used to trade barbs with Zap that was once on here but got banned.I ran in to Will at another forum.He used to post here alot.Lots of the old names are gone.I dont get on here nearly as often as I used too.

I go to the Buick-Ford Shootout every year at Noble,OK.

How do I know you own a 86 GN,85 Rivera,84 Rivera,and an 82 Regal with a 455?Signatures are meaningless to me.Besides the cars I already listed I still own or have owned the following Buicks since 1984.

1984 Regal Limited
1988 Regal Limited
1990 Regal GS
1991 Regal Limited going strong at over 150,000 miles
1995 Regal GS
1998 Regal GS
2000 Regal LS
2002 Buick Rendezvous CXL in shop 12 days now for a BCM thats on back order.I wonder when the intake will start leaking on it.Probably 3-24-2004 as its out of warranty 3-23-2004.Some have leaked before being out of factory warranty.

I was perfectly happy with our 98 GS with that great SC3800 but my wife wanted a RDV because she has a bad back and cant get in and out of a low car.So against my better judgment we traded it off for a 2002 RDV which was a huge mistake.I'll admit I didnt do enough research on the 3.4. engine.I wish Buick had used the 3800 in the RDV.I wonder if the new all aluminum OHC 3.6 will be any good thats in the new 2004 Rendezvous Ultras?

I cant believe people are willing to put up with the 2.8,3.1,and 3.4 engines having intake leaks with this problem going on for years and years.Why didnt GM fix this problem years ago?A leaking intake gasket should be the last thing you should have to worry about.On vehicles under 100,000 miles GM should have to stand any leaking intake gasket that comes to them.Thats intake gaskets only.Did I say they should fix anything else?

Are you saying that 100% of the leaking intake gaskets are caused by the owner's?If so what are they doing wrong?Or are you saying that there is no problem and every one is just making it up?Why do you defend GM so much on this?Are you a stockholder and are afraid a recall would run your dividend check.

I still say its funny GM recalled all 2000-2003 3800 powered cars for leaking intake gasket problems when they are few and far between.In searching Edmunds I see hardly any problems.Our 2000 LS Regal is going in for the recall tomorrow.However they remain silent on the 3.1-3.4 's which have far-far more problems.

Why dont they just charge us all $8-1,000 extra on our new vehicles and make the warranty 8 years or 100,000 miles.I'll bet the quality would get better then.No need for extended warrantys then.


chevyII,
I'm well aware that the 2.8,3.1,and 3.4 are a different engine than the Buick designed 3800.I've put 100's of thousands of miles on 3.8's and 3800's with no major problems at all.I'm a big fan of them.I've never had to worry about an intake leak on them.

I never said all GM engines are bad.I've had 6 bangers,283's,327's,350's,396's,454's etc with no major problems.How can someone that can build engines so good build ones that arent so good?Now,I did have a 267 and 307 that werent so great.

Guys,
I'm not scared to sign my name.I'm Blaine Griggs from Nevada,MO and I'm in the phone book.

 

[The Radius Kid]

Interesting takes on this situation.
GM has trouble designing an intake gasket that holds up for any length of time and the cusyomers should foot the bill.
However Ford has head gasket problems[on their 3.8's] and will replace them NO CHARGE.
They've even done it on vehicles as old as the early 90's versions[Taurus,Sables,etc.].
From the looks of the pics on the website,GM has ugraded the rubber embossing on the gasket from Buna to Viton.
Good old GM,it's cheaper to repair the comebacks than to design it right in the first place.
It's all in the laws of averages.

 

[Regal-luvr]

Radius Kid,
Well said.Both my brother and a good friend of mine had their 1990's Windstars head gaskets replaced free long after they were out of warranty.They both had a ton of miles on them too.

If poor little GM cant afford a recall then they sure ought to have to pay for any leaking 3.1-3.4 intake gasket that comes to their shop.It wont ruin them and will create alot of customer goodwill.After all its their poor design thats caused all this.They had years and years to fix it and chose not too.Us idiots that buy the 3.1 and 3.4's get to foot the bill.

I've been a loyal GM customer since 1976 but that soon may be coming to an end.I grew up Ford and may be going back.I'll still keep my Turbo Regals.

 

[The Radius Kid]

Originally posted by Regal-luvr
Radius Kid,
Well said.Both my brother and a good friend of mine had their 1990's Windstars head gaskets replaced free long after they were out of warranty.They both had a ton of miles on them too.

If poor little GM cant afford a recall then they sure ought to have to pay for any leaking 3.1-3.4 intake gasket that comes to their shop.It wont ruin them and will create alot of customer goodwill.After all its their poor design thats caused all this.They had years and years to fix it and chose not too.Us idiots that buy the 3.1 and 3.4's get to foot the bill.

I've been a loyal GM customer since 1976 but that soon may be coming to an end.I grew up Ford and may be going back.I'll still keep my Turbo Regals.

Yup,the T/R is one of the things GM sent to the market right,from the get go.

 

[Regal-luvr]

http://redpowermagazine.com/uploads/upload.cgi/Buicklineup0004.jpg

Eric,
I believe heres proof that I have the right to talk about GM.Left to right 85 T-Type,86 T-Type,91 Limited,98 GS,00 LS.We should have cleaned them up a little for the picture but it was cold and the sun was going down.Our country roads were pretty bad then.This picture was taken in 2001.

Since then the 98 GS was traded for the 2002 Rendezvous which was a bad mistake.No more 3.4's for me.Make mine a 3.8 or 3800.Probably one of the best engines ever built.Lots of them have gone over 200,000 miles.

Eric,back to you.Any pictures of your cars?

 

[BJM]

I have a 97 Bonneville 3.8 I had the intake manifold gaskets changed under warranty. So far so good with it.

I have a 2001 Montana with the 3.4. At the end of my warranty I took it in for an oil leak (I didn't try to hard to find it) It turned out to be the intake gaskets which were then changed, since then the heat output seems down but otherwise running all right. I am scared off owning another GM now. I think I will try getting an Odyssey next, 245 hp, 5 speed auto, hmmm.....

Someone mentioned the Windstars, I had a 95, the head gaskets went twice, the second time took out the main and cam bearings as well as the crank itself, a strut broke, the A/C failed twice, the radiator was replace twice, the brake proportioning valve cracked open (ever heard of that before)?

 

[Regal-luvr]

http://redpowermagazine.com/uploads/upload.cgi/Rendezvous1.jpg

Heres whats fastly souring me on newer GM's.Just got home from picking it up at the local GM dealer.Had been there 13 days waiting on a new BCM.Went to start it and it wouldnt even turn over.Took 5 trys before she cranked.Its a fully loaded AWD CXL and listed new for $35,000.I have lots more confidence in my 85 T-Type than I do the RDV.

BJM,we too are scared of owning a GM with a 3.4.Sorry to hear about the Montana.Lots in this area have had external intake leaks with one having an internal leak.All we ask of GM is to make things right with the intake gasket problems on the 3.1's and 3.4's.Several on here are willing to accept GM's mediocrity but I'm not.I just left our 2000 LS Regal at our dealer for the intake gasket recall.It has no leaks at 55,000 miles.I still have faith in the good old Series II 3800.

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by BJM
I am scared off owning another GM now. I think I will try getting an Odyssey next, 245 hp, 5 speed auto, hmmm.....

Me too. I've only strayed from GM a couple of times in my life. My entire extended family is GM faithful. But my sister got hosed on her '03 Montana and I got bent over numerous times on my Century. Just bought a 2004 Toyota Sienna with everything. It's an awesome van and seems to be screwed together decently. It's a new engine (same 3.3 as in the Lexus 330) so we'll see if I'll need to eat my hat.

Jim

 

[BJM]

My biggest complaint is that the 185 hp 3.4 is just too small. The Odyssey can cope with varying octane levels and trims its timing and fueling accordingly, some GM stuff does but as far as I can tell the 3.4 does not.

The 3.4 in the Montana is continually shifting into an RPM range with no torque at light throttle, it shifts violently if tromped but why do I have to put up with that? My Windstar, when working, drove better, had more power, was smoother.

The Odyssey is so smooth and much more powerful than any GM offering.