99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Got an 99 Oldsmobile alero my gf has and I have had to deal with but I'm trying to fix her up to unload it on someone haha. It runs ok but the head gaskets are seeping coolant. Got the oil changed once and the guy said its a common problem. Said it used stretch bolts like the Vw I had and also leaked fluids. From my previous deal with the Vw I took the head sent it to the machine shop thinking it had been overheated and warped but this wasn't the case at all. The head gasket didn't even have any problems with it either. So I'm thinking I could buy new stupid stretch bolts and torq them and be just fine. Anyone have any input or experience with the 3.4l v6 in this alero
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Have you had the intake gaskets done yet? I worked for GM and rarely saw head gaskets unless it had been badly overheated or never changed the coolant. The intake gaskets are far more common.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Same engine as the 2.8 V6 from over the years, nothing special about it and IIRC, bolts aren't TTY either. Its a common problem due to the aluminum head and iron block, and alot of people overheat them all the time, especially because the intakes leak like a sieve. Some heads crack but mostly new gaskets, resurface and done.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
turbovanman
Same engine as the 2.8 V6 from over the years, nothing special about it and IIRC, bolts are TTY either. Its a common problem due to the aluminum head and iron block, and alot of people overheat them all the time, especially because the intakes leak like a sieve. Some heads crack but mostly new gaskets, resurface and done.
Exactly why I asked if the intake gaskets are leaking.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
black86glhs
Have you had the intake gaskets done yet? I worked for GM and rarely saw head gaskets unless it had been badly overheated or never changed the coolant. The intake gaskets are far more common.
Since we have had the car no they have not. And the way the car was kept. Before we got it I highly doubt it. It was overheated once due to the previous owner not putting bolts back on one of the coolant tubes but didn't start leaking till many thousand miles after that. I honestly cannot tell if it's the intake. Will have to pressure wash it and see from there. Trying not to put much time or money into it. Wasn't there to look at the car when they bought it was the first problem.
Bolts arnt tty?
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Torque to yield he means.
Its a 3400 so 10-1 its the intake gaskets. Ive done enough of them God knows. Look on either side of the engine down in the galley, thats a pretty common spot
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Orangetona
Torque to yield he means.
Its a 3400 so 10-1 its the intake gaskets. Ive done enough of them God knows. Look on either side of the engine down in the galley, thats a pretty common spot
I thought they were a stretch bolt setup. Forget where I heard that from tho. Could be wrong. Have been before. I'll take a look at it after work tomorrow. I'll be workin on my cars all night it seems. It needs a ac compressor also. Leaking out the front seal. Yay
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
I don't recall them being TTY. I've never replaced them doing head gaskets.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Honestly, idk how much merit it carries, but our system says its strongly recommended that they are changed. If you've done it without replacing them then i'd say its pretty safe.
If this is your first go around with the 3400, you'll be there longer than tonight. Make sure you keep the pushrods in order. They are different lengths.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
They are torque to yeild... They also came out with revised torque specs after +03 (along with metal gaskets) to stop the LIM gasket issue on the 3.4's
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Orangetona
Honestly, idk how much merit it carries, but our system says its strongly recommended that they are changed. If you've done it without replacing them then i'd say its pretty safe.
If this is your first go around with the 3400, you'll be there longer than tonight. Make sure you keep the pushrods in order. They are different lengths.
Definitely good to know. I am unsure how into this I want to get honestly. If its the intake gasket I'll do it but I'm not sure if i want to go thru all the trouble of pulling the heads
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
I'd call it an opportunity to see if later heads and intake make it faster :D
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
bgbmxer
Definitely good to know. I am unsure how into this I want to get honestly. If its the intake gasket I'll do it but I'm not sure if i want to go thru all the trouble of pulling the heads
Its not that bad.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Young Gun
They are torque to yeild... They also came out with revised torque specs after +03 (along with metal gaskets) to stop the LIM gasket issue on the 3.4's
Which still didn't help that much. Just a crap design mainly.
---------- Post added at 07:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:59 PM ----------
Quote:
Originally Posted by
turbovanman
Its not that bad.
Depends on how mechanically inclined you are.
bgbmxer, let me put it this way. Essentially to do the head gaskets, all it requires over doing the LIM is taking the crossover pipe off, and unbolting the heads. You're literally RIGHT there. Simon is right though, its not bad, other than the power steering pump being a pita.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Orangetona
Which still didn't help that much. Just a crap design mainly.
Exactly, they still leak.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Orangetona
Depends on how mechanically inclined you are.
bgbmxer, let me put it this way. Essentially to do the head gaskets, all it requires over doing the LIM is taking the crossover pipe off, and unbolting the heads. You're literally RIGHT there. Simon is right though, its not bad, other than the power steering pump being a pita.
If you can fix a turbo mopar, you can fix the 3.4, :p
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
turbovanman
If you can fix a turbo mopar, you can fix the 3.4, :p
True true. Id rather work on an 8v TM all day though haha. Im kind of worn out from fixing 60* V6s lmao. I know I could say the same about TMs but they are way more fun.
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Orangetona
True true. Id rather work on an 8v TM all day though haha. Im kind of worn out from fixing 60* V6s lmao. I know I could say the same about TMs but they are way more fun.
3.4's pay more, hehehe but agreed, the TURBO 2.2's and 2.5's are more fun to drive, :p
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Orangetona
True true. Id rather work on an 8v TM all day though haha. Im kind of worn out from fixing 60* V6s lmao.
What I hate about them is there only ever seems to be an inch clear space on 4 sides of whatever they put them in :mad:
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RoadWarrior222
I'd call it an opportunity to see if later heads and intake make it faster :D
It does. The 3500 heads flow a bit better. I remember reading the intake takes a bit of modification to fit. Also if you have a 99 3400 its quite a bit better. The 99 intake runners are a bit smaller than the 00+
I vote boost though :)
Re: 99 Oldsmobile alero head gaskets leaking help
Quote:
Originally Posted by
RoadWarrior222
What I hate about them is there only ever seems to be an inch clear space on 4 sides of whatever they put them in :mad:
Not true, in the minivans, you drop the whole thing onto a dolly and voila, all the room you need, :p