spiderw31 Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Ok, so my car decided that it once again wants new LIM gaskets. This is the second set it's munched in about 10k miles (granted thats been in something like four years). I used FelPro, and torqued everything to spec the last time I did the job, yet they leak once again. I know they are supposed to go on dry, but I'm tempted to do add something to keep them from going bad in so few miles when I do them again. Maybe something like a really thin layer of RTV or something. Any thoughts or opinions on this? '92 3.4 BTW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Are you absolutely positive it's the LIMGs? 3.4 headgaskets can go also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas Escobar Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 I used RTV on my lim gasket, and my car runs good, knock on wood. I would check compression to make sure its not a head gasket. Sent from my HTC using Tapatalk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted April 6, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Yep, I can see the coolant on the valley. I'm pretty sure it would have had to flow up to get there if it were the head gaskets. I'd be pretty... shall we say "displeased" if it were actually the head gaskets, especially considering the care and attention I paid in putting the heads back on 15k miles ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
l67ss Posted April 6, 2014 Report Share Posted April 6, 2014 Ran into same prob on first lims i put on my 3.8, followed manual EXACTLY but they started leaking in days. Second set i smeared some rtv and cranked the @#$% outta the bolts, its been good since Yep, I can see the coolant on the valley. I'm pretty sure it would have had to flow up to get there if it were the head gaskets. I'd be pretty... shall we say "displeased" if it were actually the head gaskets, especially considering the care and attention I paid in putting the heads back on 15k miles ago! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted April 7, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Ran into same prob on first lims i put on my 3.8, followed manual EXACTLY but they started leaking in days. Second set i smeared some rtv and cranked the @#$% outta the bolts, its been good since I'm thinking I'll try the RTV route since others say it works well then! Thanks for the help all; I've got the gasket kit on order and we'll see how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Savage Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 FelPro burn up quickly in our engines. My 3100 we originally tried Felpro and like you said 10k miles and gone. From then on we only used Victor Rines and never had a problem. Special order at most places, but worth the wait for the reliability. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 There should be metal fel-pro gaskets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Hmm....I seem to recall when I redid the LIM gaskets on my LQ1, the first set lasted less than 5,000 miles, but the second set are still going strong 30,000 miles later--Fel-Pro both times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted April 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 I haven't seen any metal gaskets for the LQ1 (at least the pictures showed each set as plastic), but I could be mistaken. I'm gonna add RTV judiciously, and let it set up a good amount before adding coolant back in. Time will tell how well that holds up. At least it really isn't that bad a job to do really! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Fury Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 Amen to that. LQ1 down to there is cake. Past that...... LOLNOPE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan1989 Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 did you put rtv on the block on boths sides between the heads? maby you have a warped lower intake?.... i junked my 95 cutless cuz i had a warped head blew rite away after changing it i junked it shoulda kept the body it was mint same color as you gp but i got a pooper(rusty) 94 regal with a 3800 the motor out lasted the car 3000000 kms).... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryan1989 Posted April 8, 2014 Report Share Posted April 8, 2014 not to familiar with the 3.4 dohc thou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted April 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 Amen to that. LQ1 down to there is cake. Past that...... LOLNOPE Don't I know it! I enjoy time under the hood and all, but tearing off the top half and reassembling is not high on my list of wants at the moment!!! did you put rtv on the block on boths sides between the heads? maby you have a warped lower intake?.... i junked my 95 cutless cuz i had a warped head blew rite away after changing it i junked it shoulda kept the body it was mint same color as you gp but i got a pooper(rusty) 94 regal with a 3800 the motor out lasted the car 3000000 kms).... No RTV at all with the last LIM install, since the gaskets are supported to go on dry. It is entirely possible the LIM isn't flat, but the heads should be fine. I had them done at a machine shop when they were off 15k miles ago. I'm hoping that if the LIM is a little off flat, the RTV will make up for it. If not, I've lost nothing but an afternoon of work (and the $25 in gaskets and coolant). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nas Escobar Posted April 9, 2014 Report Share Posted April 9, 2014 I haven't seen any metal gaskets for the LQ1 (at least the pictures showed each set as plastic), but I could be mistaken. I'm gonna add RTV judiciously, and let it set up a good amount before adding coolant back in. Time will tell how well that holds up. At least it really isn't that bad a job to do really! AFAIK, there's no metal ones for the LQ1. IDK if a 3x00 set would work, but I dont have an extra LQ1 to try it. As far as RTV, just put some on your index finger and smear it where the LIMG sits. Don't use too little, don't use too much and make sure its' flat. That's exactly how I did it and I would do it again if I needed to do the LIM again. Don't forget about the "o" ring under the TB as well. It's an overlooked piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spiderw31 Posted April 20, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2014 Ok, finally had some time to do the LIMGs. Did them yesterday, and buttoned the job up this morning and burped the cooling system (was getting dark last night when I got to that point). I used Permatex blue, and made sure to get all surfaces, but not overdo it. It held water this morning, and as far as I can see there are no leaks; its hard to tell sometimes with the mess that the air bleeders make! Now we just wait and see if I need to do the job again anytime soon. I can also say with certainty that it was indeed the LIMGs that failed. First, the day before I did the job, I had a little bit of a high idle; probably a small vac leak. Second, as I was draining the coolant I could actually hear the leak sucking in air! If I pulled up a little on metal upper coolant line, the hiss would get a little louder, and if I pushed down a little it would go quiet. Definitely the coolant passage on the drivers side. Once I got the gaskets off, I could see where the leak was for sure. Anyways, job done; hopefully for a long time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.