Galaxie500XL Posted June 24, 2010 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 I've been losing a small amount of coolant the past few days. Before I left for work this morning, got out the flashlight, and began looking for leaks. Sure enough, I found coolant on top of the distributor stub. It's been less than 3,000 miles since I replaced the LIM because of this very thing...the surfaces were so clean, you could have eaten off of them, and I used Fel-Pro gaskets, and very carefully confirmed that the torque applied to the fasteners was done correctly... What could have gone wrong? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted June 24, 2010 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 I had the exact same issue, and when I took it all apart my gut feeling was that the torque was wrong on the LIM bolts. They just felt too tight as I loosened them, and the gaskets had compressed a bit too much. I think that the setup is just extremely sensitive to imperfections and proper torquing; looks like if the gasket is just a small amount thinner than normal you get issues. Mine's been OK for the last couple thousand miles, and we'll see how long it lasts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted June 24, 2010 Report Share Posted June 24, 2010 Well its a good thing they aren't too hard to replace! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 did you use the steel gaskets? fel-pro offers two different gasket sets. one is steel one is not. steel is the only way to fix it right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 did you use the steel gaskets? fel-pro offers two different gasket sets. one is steel one is not. steel is the only way to fix it right I'm pretty sure there isn't a metal gasket for the LQ1. Not that I saw listed anyways, and looking at the design I'd say it'd be tough to fill that space with a metal gasket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 I've not seen the steel gaskets anywhere, but this sounds like a good idea. Any idea of P/N, or a place that might stock them? Rockauto only seems to have the black plastic ones, and the same for the local parts stores I've been to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 I've not seen the steel gaskets anywhere, but this sounds like a good idea. Any idea of P/N, or a place that might stock them? Rockauto only seems to have the black plastic ones, and the same for the local parts stores I've been to. I'd contact Fel-pro directly and ask if they even exist. I have had to use the plastic ones, myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 There is no need for steel intake gaskets on the LQ1. I have done, honestly probably 15 plus intake gasket jobs on these things and have yet to have one leak like that, that many of those were before I knew what I was doing and did not use a torque wrench. did you clean the mating surfaces with a die grinder/scotchbrite pad and accidentally take off too much material off the head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 (edited) this listing repairs all 3xxx gm engines, part #MS98003T. not sure about the part # for the LQ1 Edited June 25, 2010 by jtwmechanic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 25, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 I cleaned them with a toothbrush, and a brass brush to get the stubborn deposits off. The original machining marks on the surface still show evenly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 are you sure its not that dumb rubber O ring that feeds the TB heater? I've had issue with that thing leaking in the past. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted June 25, 2010 Report Share Posted June 25, 2010 a touch of RTV there can't hurt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 I've been thinking about that myself the past couple of days...I was tempted to get some UV dye and put in the coolant, and see if I can find a leak... Then again, maybe that yellow Prestone glows already? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AL Posted June 26, 2010 Report Share Posted June 26, 2010 No, it doesnt, add the dye and keep an eye on it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted June 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 I'll get the dye. A friend asked me if I'm using Dex-Cool...I'm not. Is this a possible issue? I've always used Prestone, the yellow stuff, was this engine supposed to use Dex-Cool, and would that make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 Coolant is a non issue! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheFehl Posted June 28, 2010 Report Share Posted June 28, 2010 I know the 3100 in '95 didn't use dexcool, I would assume the LQ1 didn't either, but I'm not sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jtwmechanic Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 I'll get the dye. A friend asked me if I'm using Dex-Cool...I'm not. Is this a possible issue? I've always used Prestone, the yellow stuff, was this engine supposed to use Dex-Cool, and would that make a difference? the new types of anti-freeze were designed to keep them from rotting out the aluminum cored rads and heater cores when they stopped using copper and brass. i guess over time the old type could cause rotting around the coolant passages of the heads and water pumps since they are all aluminum. as long as it wasn't the old green stuff i would say you were fine and that it was a non issue like Nightfury said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 I know the 3100 in '95 didn't use dexcool, I would assume the LQ1 didn't either, but I'm not sure. My 95 3100 Ciera had dex TYVM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheFehl Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 From the factory? My GP doesn't have dex, I remember someone telling me it wasn't supposed to have it. Plus I don't have one of those little dexcool warning labels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted June 29, 2010 Report Share Posted June 29, 2010 Yes from the factory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayman Posted July 4, 2010 Report Share Posted July 4, 2010 from experience dex cool is not the way to go. well just personal preference anyway. I was having a constant leak in the same area about a year ago. it turned out to be the little 2 inch hose under the intake near the fuel lines. i had to replace the fuel pressure regulator Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted July 4, 2010 Report Share Posted July 4, 2010 Experience? Like what? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
birdman Posted July 4, 2010 Report Share Posted July 4, 2010 ive heard that dex is less forgiving if you have air in your cooling system, it tends to corrode things if you dont bleed the system properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted July 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 5, 2010 It's looking like that's where mine is leaking as well...it's made quite a mess. There's a small film of coolant almost over the entire subframe! I'm pulling the plenum off to take a look, almost impossible to see anything with the plenum on the engine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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