[Outlaw 1-1]

I have a 2000 Regal LSE with the L36. It has somewhere around 180,000 miles on it. I'm a poor kid, and I'm looking to make it last for at least another 100k.

I'm sure it has never had the upper intake or any of the gaskets replaced. I'm heading off to college here soon, and I'm wondering if I should go ahead and replace the intake gaskets and whatnot as a measure of preventative maintenance. I would hate for the car to break down between my house and my college or at college because I'm not taking many tools.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated. If there is anything else I should do, tell me.

Thanks,

Keegan

 

[The Guz]

Have you noticed the car eating coolant? Give the engine bay a once over and look for leaks around the gaskets, the coolant elbows, the water pump. Another sigh of bad gaskets is coolant mixing with oil. You would see it under the oil cap. Another common thing is the UIM warping causing it to leak.

How much of a budget are you on? It may be worth it to change out the gaskets.

 

[Outlaw 1-1]

Besides there being typical gunk on the engine, I don't see anything. It doesn't eat coolant and the oil has always looked good.

So basically I haven't noticed anything like that.

As far as my budget, I'm not wanting to buy something else, but I'm willing to spend a little on the car to make it better. It's not going to get driven much in college. The most it'll get used is when I make the five hour trip home.

Thanks,

Keegan

 

[WilliamE]

At 180k it is something that I'd highly suggest doing if you want the car to last, as it is not really a matter of if the LIM gasket will fail, it is a matter of when.
If it fails and you do not catch it in time your cylinders could get filled with coolant, and in a best case scenario it hydro-locks, and you are able to remove the plugs, turn the engine over and get it to expel the coolant.
It could easily fill the cylinders with coolant, and since coolant does not compress, you could throw a connecting rod through the block, that will cost you, as you will need a new motor.

It is not to costly of a job if you can do it yourself, there are a few guides here and there, and a video that is for a L67, but it still has helpful parts for those of us with L36 motors.

The parts are not too expensive.
As stated, inspect the UIM/Plenum to be sure it is reusable, mine had the part that holds the throttle body gasket in place soften up, and when I went to remove the gasket to replace it the stuff just fell apart, so I had to buy a new UIM, which cost me 65.00

Parts List.

LIM Gasket - $50.79
FEL-PRO Part # MS98014T

Coolant Elbow - Get the Aluminum Elbows - $6.68
Dorman Part # 47065hp

You may need to replace the valve cover gaskets, most replace them, but mine were still in good shape at 136k, so I reused them.
If you need to replace them, the part number is below, they do not come with the grommets though, so either save the current ones, or get new ones, I recommend the VICTOR REINZ because they are black like the current ones, the FEL-PRO's look tan...

Valve Cover Gaskets
FEL-PRO Part # VS50080R - $10.06

Valve Cover Grommets - $6.99
VICTOR REINZ Part # GS33304

The only thing else you will need is coolant, and oil, because I always suggest replacing both when you are done with this job.
Oh yea, you will need a little blue loctite for the UIM bolts, and some thread sealant for the LIM bolts.

Loctite Threadlocker Blue 242 from Loctite Adhesives

Thread Sealants : Permatex® High Performance Thread Sealant




Here is the video I was talking about.
http://www.cpaclubgp.com/misc/lim-gasket.html

The thread from when I did my UIM/LIM.
http://www.3800pro.com/forum/intake/36880-replacing-uim-uim-gasket-lim-gasket.html

If you need any other help feel free to ask, I have a decent PDF a good member shared with me from this site, I'd be happy to e-mail it to you.

 

[Outlaw 1-1]

Thank you for all the great information!

I think I'm going to go ahead and replace some gaskets before I get stranded on the side of the road in south Missouri. I'm sure I have the mechanical ability to do so after replacing the head gaskets on a 3400 in a Rendezvous twice. Never again.

Thanks,

Keegan

 

[WilliamE]

Good decision, if you have any questions along the way just ask.
I am pretty good with mechanical stuff too, but I still took pics, which I suggest doing, just in case..
Hope the repair job goes well!

 

[1997MontanaGS]

While you are taking it apart, tag the vacuum lines and such to make sure that you know where they go as you put it back together. Inspect them carefully for cracks and/or hardening and replace as needed.
Good Luck!

 

[WilliamE]

While you are taking it apart, tag the vacuum lines and such to make sure that you know where they go as you put it back together. Inspect them carefully for cracks and/or hardening and replace as needed.
Good Luck!

Good advice, that is one of the things I used my pics for, I accidentally reversed the vac lines at the throttle body, and started getting a purge valve solenoid incorrect flow DTC.
I ended up having to replace all of my soft rubber EVAP lines, as all were deteriorated, I found some in the rear underneath the car, but most of them in the rear were for my air leveling systems "air dryer" that keeps moisture out of the lines for the struts.
There was the soft EVAP line coming from the gas tank though, I replaced it, and all of the ones under the hood, I even had to replace a few connectors, like the one that goes to the fuel pressure regulator, and the ones at the throttle body.