Is my 3100 dead meat???

[ToroToro]

Okay, as many of you know, my 3100 uses a lot of oil. At least 2 quarts in 3K miles, but it doesn't smoke at all. I was told that the intake gaskets are shit, which sounds right to me. So I figure to drive it through the winter, and do the gaskets in the summer.

 

Anyway, today, I checked the oil, and it was low as always ( looked maybe a little contaminated/watery ), so I go to add some, and the fucking cap WONT COME OFF. I had to hit it with a hammer. Anyways, when I finally got it off, I noticed It was covered in this nasty oily yellow foam shit. Never happened before, but anyways... It looks like there is also a lot of nasty watery oil sitting around on the head under the valve cover. Coolant I assume.

 

Only thing I'm going to do is change the oil tomarrow and hope for the best.

 

But can anyone tell me for sure what the fuck is wrong with this stupid goddamn car? I've just about had it.

 

 

Hard to see, but there was actually some clear water floating in the cap...and this cap is almost brand new BTW.

 

 

Thanks for any and all input.

[GOT2B GM]

If it were me, I'd put it in my garage, and pull the top end off the motor and do all gaskets (head gaskets, intake & plenum gaskets, all o-rings etc.) It's not very expensive if you do it yourself.

[ToroToro]

Yeah, it's not the money thing. I need to have this car on the road. My son needs to drive it too. I want to put this off as long as possible, because I dont have space in the garage, and its far too cold.

 

More damming evidence. This coolant was just flushed/filled 5k miles ago. Now it's low...and well, just plained fucked really. And it isn't Dex Cool either. That color isnt natural, trust me.

 

 

[GOT2B GM]

If you don't have time or room to do it than I would say take it to your favorite mechanic and have him do the work. If you plan on keeping the car for a while it would be worth it. I don't think it can be be very good to be driving it like that and it only gonna get worse.

[ToroToro]

Well, I dunno. I really want to do it myself, and get some 3400 heads, have them shaved, and do the 3400 manis and TB. I really would rather come out of this with a faster car.

[GOT2B GM]

Buy a POS beater to drive for a few weeks if need be. Do all the repairs & mods you need to do and then unload or scrap the beater for what you paid for it.

[3pt1lumina]

That doesn't look good at all, obviously. However, you need to get that fixed ASAP so no further internal damage happens. If it gets bad enough, it will hydrolock then you are completely screwed.

 

I honestly would stop driving it, take it to my favorite, TRUSTWORTHY mechanic, do the gaskets, flush the coolant, and then it'll be fine. How many miles does it have on it and were the gaskets ever done before?

[Baddflash]

Like was said, stop driving that thing if you actually care about the motor. If you are going to anyway, get some BARS STOP LEAK and hope it seals it off. If it stops losing oil and coolant , change oil, filter and coolant as soon as you sure. May get you by but I'd still recommend fixing it properly.

[White93z34]

you have 2 options,

 

spend the $60 for new intake gaskets, $15 for an oil change and $14 for fresh coolant, and have peace of mind.

 

or

 

do nothing and drive it as is, and risk breaking your crank into several pieces from water mixing with the oil, possably hydrolocking the engine, spinning mainbearings, overheating and cracking your heads, the list goes on.

 

its not like the 3100 is a very complex engine to tear apart, whole job should take no more then a saturday afternoon at most.

[19Cutlass94]

yeah that doesnt look very good at all

 

 

But Id say just get all the 3400 stuff that you want, and the gaskets, and do the swap on a weekend that you have off. (of course with maybe a little space heater next to you if its that cold ) But it should take no longer than a weekend if you take your time. And youll get what you want. A faster car out of it and a non-leaking w-body

[GutlessSupreme]

If you don't do something about it now you're screwed. You can't keep driving it like that, you're gonna toast your bearings soon.

[ToroToro]

How many miles does it have on it and were the gaskets ever done before?

 

100K, and the huge book of service records ( previously owned by a mechanic ), dont indicate that they have been done before.

 

Fuck it...I should really do something about this ASAP, so I'll just get the fucking gaskets tomarrow, and do em Christmas day. Supposed to 30 something degrees, so that aint too bad. I cant see it taking more than 4-5 hours of solid work.

 

I can always do the 3400 shit in the summer. I'll just buy the cheap gaskets since they wont have to hold long.

 

Thanks for the advice.

[ToroToro]

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=FEL&mfrpartnumber=MS95536&parttype=102&ptset=A

 

This has everything I need right???

 

And are we pretty sure that this is a bad intake gasket, and not a head gasket right?

 

Hopefully I dont have to throw anymore dumbass questions at everyone, but dont count on it.

[Prospeeder]

i would do the head gasket just because but ur doin the 3400 thing soon anyway, mabye you should up it a notch and go with the 3500 stuff

[White93z34]

while head gaskets are a walk in the park on a 3100, i'd pull the intakes first and if everything there looks perfect, i'd do headgaskets, but only if needed. and since you have a 1994, and want to do the 3400 top end swap, you'll need new heads. so i'd probably just hold off on headgaskets till you do the top end swap.

[Crazy K]

intake gasket has gotta be the problem.

I wouldn't change hedgaskets unless absolutlry neccesary.

 

Also, check the oil drive gear gasket. They tend to leak, and would be a cake walk once you have the intake off. READ in FAQ if necessary.

[SigEpCutlass]

wow that doesn't look good to me at all. you better change those asap. :shock:

[ToroToro]

Finally bit the bullet today, and I'll probobly get started within the next few weeks.

 

 

I changed the oil, and haven't driven the car hardly at all, so wish me luck. 8)

[SigEpCutlass]

gl hf lol

[f_399]

man i have 155K on mine, havent changed any gaskets

 

my oil cap seems alright

 

how do you prevent gasket problems? maintenance?

 

pushing the engine too hard?

 

or does it just happen?

 

toro toro only has 100K on his 3100.... i have 155K....

[Prospeeder]

what milage did you buy it at? Coulda been done before you bought it

[Ramma2]

Had to to my lower intake gasket right at 100k miles as well.... then had to pull everything back apart to do the oil pump drive seal 25k miles later...

 

Don't forget that stupid little o ring!

[f_399]

bought the car with 47K

[Prospeeder]

hmmm interesting, fluke, or it crapped out before you bought it, wich is very possible, iv seen 3400 grand ams have only 30-40k and have them go bad

[f_399]

i dont know but its been over 100+K now since i bought it....

 

my engine wont just blow up right?

 

should i see symptoms like toro toro?