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Diesel Coolant Question

Russell

Russell

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Hey guys!

My sister has a 93ish Buick LeSabre that she is currently daily driving. The car has been incredibly reliable but has the famous intake coolant leak. The leak is extremely minor, using maybe a quart or two a year at most but we are still concerned with the engine burning coolant, but are not entirely sure we want to replace the entire intake.

Is it true that diesel engine coolant does not form crystals when it burns like regular coolant does? If so, it would be better for us to do the band-aid treatment and just fill it with diesel coolant and let it keep going...
 
It's a 3 hour job to fix intake gaskets on that...I did a 90 Buick with the 3.1 two years ago for a neighbor. Not hard or spendy.

Did you check for any loose intake bolts first though? A lot of the time the bolts just loosen up. The intake leak problem was a combination of not enough torque on the bolts from the factory plus some crappy gaskets.

The diesel coolant should only have an additive to help prevent cavitation around the cylinder walls.

Rene
 
It is my understanding that it is an actual intake fault on these 3.8L engines, and that the entire intake must be replaced to fix the problem.

I suppose I could get a gasket kit for it and give it a shot regardless :)
 
Hmmm, I figured it'd be a 3.1 or a 3.4 which I have firsthand experience with. The 3.4 in our Montana had the intake leak too, but thanks to a CK5er I know that works at a major GM dealer here it got repaired under GM's 'hidden warranty' for intake gaskets.

What is the supposed issue with the 3.8 intake? That is the 90 degree oddfire Buick V-6 correct?

Rene
 
Russ, is it to old to have the plastic upper intake with the EGR running through it?
 
I think the larger Buicks back then got the 3.8...

Rene
 
Yep, it is definitely a 3.8L Tuned Port engine :) Says right on the engine cover :D

It does indeed have a plastic intake, looks very similar to the newer LS2 intakes
 
ok wow i read it as Buick Century.

Russ the EGR probably ate away at the plastic intake, replace em all the time at work. very quick and easy repair. We use the Dormann units as well
 
Can you find out if it has a TSB for me? I can PM you the VIN number when my sister gets home. That intake is way cheaper than I'd have expected too. I was thinking we would have to go with the dealership, and spend like a grand on it
 
Russ there is a TSB on it, says replace with new upper. New design fixes the problem of the EGR eating it up
 
Ok, by it having a TSB, does that mean that the dealership will fix it for us? Or does that just mean they acknowledge the problem and thats it?
 
Russell said:
Ok, by it having a TSB, does that mean that the dealership will fix it for us? Or does that just mean they acknowledge the problem and thats it?
Click to expand...

just means its a common problem, stealership wont do nothing for you
 
Ah, kinda figured as much, lol

Can you get me a list of parts I'll need to complete the job? Would it just be an EGR valve, intake manifold, and a gasket kit?
 
everything you need should be in the kit, you don't replace the egr, the passeges are redesigned in the intake.
 
actually injector o-rings are a good idea, the kit doesn't come with them, but if you are careful when taking it apart, you won't need them.
 
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