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8.1L Intake Manifold Gasket change?

jeff in co

jeff in co

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I took the truck into our local Firestone to just do a once over check. I had a little vibration up front and was wondering if it's the front wheel bearings or not. While there, they looked over everything and one of the big ones was intake manifold gasket leak.

Tech notes: intake leaking coolant down passenger side block and head.

I've looked around and didn't see a lot of mess but will probably get a second opinion.....because it seems like every time I bring it there, they always find tons and tons of problems. So, grain of salt here.

If it is an intake manifold gasket, how difficult is it to change? I've never really stepped into the engine that far, in either the blazer or the Yukon. But for an $1800 quote for a $50 set of gaskets is tempting.

Any threads or YouTube videos??

I did order some new SKF bearings from RockAuto so hope that fixes the front end!
 
Is the 8.1 not like rest of the ls series engine and use crossover pipes instead of having coolant run through the intakes?
 
yep just looked at the one on my engine stand with no intake on it . . . . . no coolant in the intake section .

$1800 bucks for an intake gasket job ? :yikes::1zhelp:

remember no impact gun on center hub/cv axle nut when going back together . and torque to spec .
 
jeff in co said:
I took the truck into our local Firestone to just do a once over check. I had a little vibration up front and was wondering if it's the front wheel bearings or not. While there, they looked over everything and one of the big ones was intake manifold gasket leak.

Tech notes: intake leaking coolant down passenger side block and head.

I've looked around and didn't see a lot of mess but will probably get a second opinion.....because it seems like every time I bring it there, they always find tons and tons of problems. So, grain of salt here.

If it is an intake manifold gasket, how difficult is it to change? I've never really stepped into the engine that far, in either the blazer or the Yukon. But for an $1800 quote for a $50 set of gaskets is tempting.

Any threads or YouTube videos??

I did order some new SKF bearings from RockAuto so hope that fixes the front end!
Click to expand...


The intake is dry on a 8.1l so the coolant leak isn't coming the intake gaskets. The job pays 3 hours and will require about 150 dollars of parts. You need a different shop to look at it and give you a reasonable and honest quote for the work.
 
It was Firestone Service center and I never could trust them....that's why I hadn't been there in probably 3 years. But I thought it might be good to get a second set of eyes on it.

Now I can't trust them at ALL!! I did also swing by the Chevy dealer asking for his input. They were too busy to look at it yesterday but I did ask how much an intake manifold gasket repair may run. He thought around $500 or so but wasn't positive without looking it up. So that's a relief nontheless.

I can smell just a little coolant in the engine compartment, and I have added some in the past. Nothing on the floor, but there may be some type of leak I'd guess. Where is the coolant line areas I should check?

It is at 177k and my wife will be driving it to Idaho this Christmas....so can't have it break down on her!
 
sweetk30 said:
yep just looked at the one on my engine stand with no intake on it . . . . . no coolant in the intake section .

$1800 bucks for an intake gasket job ? :yikes::1zhelp:

remember no impact gun on center hub/cv axle nut when going back together . and torque to spec .
Click to expand...

Thanks Sweet, I am just starting the hubs this morning and I'll keep that in mind.

Center – red locktite 177 ft-lbs

Back 4 – blue locktite 133 ft-lbs

Caliper bolts – 225 ft-lbs
 
sweetk30 said:
BFGOODRICH = :saweet::burnout:
Click to expand...

Thanks man. Was wondering if it was going to look too aggressive with the new sidewalls, but I like it!

On the hub nut, do you know off hand the size of socket? I thought I had one but I guess 1-5/16 is too small. :(
 
36mm if i recall but its been a bit since i did one . . . and i have a full set so i just grab and use anyway .
 
Got it, rental at O'Reilly's. 36mm

So, after all that, small vibration still there. Bummer. New tires and new hubs. Not brakes or rotors. Nervous it might be in differential....
 
big question is when vibe ?

braking ?
if so where ? steering wheel or pedal ? wheel = front . pedal = rear . . . most of the time .

vibe at speed ? feel in wheel or butt ? wheel is front . butt is rear . . . most of the time .
 
Feel it in the front area completely. I notice it at highway slightly but can mainly hear it around 40 mph and slower. As I slow it slows down too

Kinda feels like bearing type of of sound. Does not matter if accelerating or slowing down. On or off brake no difference. Shifted into neutral, no difference.

I've grabbed onto both drivelines and don't feel or see visible movement in ujoints.

I've had driveline vibration in blazer and doesn't quite feel like that.

The only thing I notice is almost to a stop, it feels and sounds like on rollers...hard to describe.
 
Last I dealt with a Firestone dealer was for an alignment bc I put a rack in and it was closest. They turned me away bc the Silverado has 2" drop spindles and they refused to put it on their lift. I'll never deal with them again.
 
you might have to pull the drive shaft and check the u-joints .

i have had a few full of rust grinding them self apart but no rust out the caps and no play . but about frozen caps in place .

otherwise i got no clue with out being there for test drive .
 
Thinking about it this morning driving in....it sounds kinda like, when you put a playing card in the spoke of a bike wheel. Pretty fast sound at higher speeds but as you come to a stop, you can hear it all the way to a stop/stand still, but slows down obviously.
 
double check your heater hoses at the passenger side firewall. My 02 had a leak at one of those cheap plastic fittings, always smelt the coolant and could never see a leak because it was burning off on the exhaust.

Have you done the bearings yet? At 177K I'd be amazed if you haven't.
 
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