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Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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plsmoothy
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Dec 16, 2008, 7:08 PM
Post #1 of 7
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Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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Hi all. A friend of mine took her '04 Pontiac Grand Am GT 3.4 liter V6 (78,000 miles) to her mechanic for an oil change. Sure enough, he calls her back with the all too familiar "we found something" call. He said the intake manifold gasket was leaking. He showed me the location and it did in fact appear as if there were a leak. There was a stain which he said was the residue of coolant that had evaporated due to heat. An online search indicated that this has been a common problem with 1999 thru 2003 Grand Am's. Nothing turned up for '04 models. Can anyone shed some light on this issue? Also, if it is a leak, how serious of a problem is it? Many thanks in advance.
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 16, 2008, 7:20 PM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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Very common! In my opinion, it is the Dex Cool that causes this. If it is just a 'trail' and not a wet leak, she can wait. But, it's pay me now, or pay me later. I would recommend that you change it over to the 'green' etheelyn glycol anti-freeze after the repair.
Loren
SW Washington
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Jeff Norfolk
Enthusiast
Dec 16, 2008, 7:24 PM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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Good advice from Loren as usual. Very common. Just a note to add. I have seen a cam snap on this style engine once. It had been running with a coolant leak into the crankcase. The consensis at my shop was that the exposure to liquid caused the weakness in the cam to show up. What do you think Loren?
Jeff
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Dec 16, 2008, 7:29 PM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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Jeff; Haven't run into that, yet. But, GM cams aren't known for their strength. Remember the small block V8s that the cam lobes would go flat? Liquid and metal don't seem to work very well together. LOL.
Loren
SW Washington
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plsmoothy
User
Dec 16, 2008, 7:42 PM
Post #5 of 7
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Re: Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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Thank you guys. I honestly don't know what us non mechanical simpletons would to without you.
Best,
Paul
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Loren Champlain Sr
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Dec 16, 2008, 7:44 PM
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Re: Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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Paul; Everyone has their 'niche' in life. I'm certain that you have your's. But, thanks anyway.
Loren
SW Washington
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Dec 17, 2008, 1:03 AM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: Helping a friend 2004 Grand Am GT Intake Manifold Gasket Leak
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This is a common problem on the 3.1 & 3.4s.
2 things to watch out for.... the pushrods are different sizes & it's so close it's hard to see... Get them backwards & you'll bend some pushrods. Also those are aluminum heads if the rockers get overtorqued on reassembly the studs can pull out the threads.. that is also a common problem. There is a tool to remove the pushrods without unbolting the rockers but I've found an 11 or 12 mm crowsfoot works just as well the tool
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