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Regarding the intake plenum coolant leak on GM 3.8L ...
Sent to Car Experts October 25 01:06 AM

Regarding the intake plenum coolant leak on GM 3.8L (98 bonneville) engines. Is there a better repair than simply replacing the failed plenum? It seems the same problem will re-occur on the new plenum eventually. --Thanks, Steve

 

Optional Information:
1998 Pontiac bonneville 3.8L

Already Tried:
Nothing, looking to buy one used but i'm concerned about this cronic intake plenum failure around the egr port.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $10
Answer
October 25 1:09 AM (2 minutes and 21 seconds later)
         
REPLIEDCheck Mark
the best repair is to install dealer plenum gaskets , and while youre there ask if they are updated or if there is updated gaskets available , very rare for plenum gaskets to leak on a 3.8 , how many miles are on the car , and is this the first time its happened??

IF THIS ANSWER HAS HELPED PLEASE CLICK ACCEPT, THIS IS HOW WE MAKE OUR LIVING , PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE AS MOST REPAIR SHOPS CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $75.00 - $ 125.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS , BONUS'S ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
joseph carrillo -- Auto Service Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 181 Car Accepts
A.S.E. certified auto electrical , engine performance , advanced engine performance, emmisions
Reply
October 25 1:19 AM (10 minutes and 18 seconds later)
         
Reply to joseph carrillo's Post: Not a gasket leak on the intake plenum but actual failure of the plastic manifold around the egr port, causing coolant to enter the manifold and in severe cases hydro lock the engine on top of the pistons. GM even has a class action lawsuit ongoing about this. Everything I've read lists replacing the plenum but it seems to sometimes re-occur in another 30,000 miles. So I was asking if there was an alternative repair or kit of some sort. Ken-Co industries has a small fitting kit that's supposed to eliminate this but I don't know any mechanic who has tried it. Any ideas?
Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Answer
October 25 1:27 AM (8 minutes and 5 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark
hmmm I havent heard of any type of kit to repair this problem , but I was on my tech website and apparently the manifold on these cars are being replaced left and right , I seen in your post that you intend to purchase a used one , i strongly recommend that you dont , youll probably run into the same problem , most of the time when a manufacture has a constant part giving problems they will reengineer the part to make it better , so id go to the dealer and get a new one , i know ford changed there upper plenum manifold due to cracking tstat housing made of phenalic to aluminum on thier 4.6 engines , so id guess gm has probably done the same.

IF THIS ANSWER HAS HELPED PLEASE CLICK ACCEPT, THIS IS HOW WE MAKE OUR LIVING , PLEASE BE CONSIDERATE AS MOST REPAIR SHOPS CHARGE ANYWHERE FROM $75.00 - $ 125.00 FOR DIAGNOSIS , BONUS'S ARE VERY MUCH APPRECIATED
joseph carrillo -- Auto Service Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 181 Car Accepts
A.S.E. certified auto electrical , engine performance , advanced engine performance, emmisions
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October 25 6:14 AM (4 hours and 47 minutes and 13 seconds later)
         
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October 25 10:22 AM (4 hours and 7 minutes and 47 seconds later)
         
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joseph carrillo -- Auto Service Technician -- 100% Positive Feedback on 181 Car Accepts
A.S.E. certified auto electrical , engine performance , advanced engine performance, emmisions
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