What causes coolant to leak on GM Vortec Spider?

One of the most common problems on the GM Vortec ‘Spider’ 4.3L, 5.0L, and 5.7L engines is coolant leaking from the intake manifold gaskets.

Why is coolant leaking from my GM 3.1L engine?

One of the most common problems on the GM 3.1L and 3.4L V6 engines is coolant leaking from the intake manifold gaskets. This problem has been a gold mine for GM and the auto repair industry.

Is there a problem with my GM venture?

It is a common problem for 1997 to 2002 GM products that have the 3.4L engine. It affects Chevrolet Venture and Pontiac Montana vans also. In the winter, the van would take forever to heat up and when it did there was little heat coming out of the heater. When it gets to -20 below, the heater would put out luke warm air.

What causes antifreeze to leak from the intake manifold?

The intake manifold gaskets are the most likely cause of your antifreeze leaking and engine oil getting low. Location #1 in the picture below is on the passenger side front of the engine behind the front timing cover. Location #2 is a little harder to see.

Can a 3.1L engine leak coolant?

Once out of warranty… well, you know that you’re the one that’s gonna’ have to pay for it. If you do own a vehicle equipped with a 3.1L or 3.4L engine, chances are that you have already experienced this ‘intake gaskets leaking coolant’ condition (and have repaired it), or you’re experiencing it right now or will be soon enough.

Where is the coolant leak on a V6?

Location #1 in the picture below is on the passenger side front of the engine behind the front timing cover. Location #2 is a little harder to see. It is below the throttle body and next to the coolant temperature sensor and thermostat outlet housing on the drivers side.

Can a leak in antifreeze not be detected?

Sometimes a leak may not be visible. Even if you have depleted coolant levels with no sign of leakage, you could still have an internal leak that isn’t detectable from the outside of your engine. Detecting a faint, sweet smell of antifreeze with no signs of a leak is also indicative of an internal leak.

Is there a problem with coolant leaking from intake gaskets?

This problem has been a gold mine for GM and the auto repair industry. Although GM has been aware of this problem ‘since Christopher Columbus proved the world was round’, they haven’t done much to correct it (other than to deflect blame onto the owner of the vehicle for supposedly using the wrong type of coolant).

Why is coolant coming out of the intake?

This expansion and contraction is due to the engine starting and heating up and then cooling down when turned off. Over time and thousands of miles, this action of expansion and contraction (of the cylinder head and intake manifold), plus the rushing/moving coolant starts to eat away and/or tear the intake gaskets at their coolant ports.

What kind of fuel injection does a GM 4.3L use?

IMPORTANT: The above torque specifications and the illustration below applies to the 4.3L, 5.0L, and 5.7L engines that use the Central Sequential Fuel Injection (CSFI) ‘spider’ system. This CSFI system can be identified by the fact that it uses a MAF sensor and the upper intake plenum is made of plastic.

One of the most common problems on the GM Vortec ‘Spider’ 4.3L, 5.0L, and 5.7L engines is coolant leaking from the intake manifold gaskets.

What causes an intake gasket on a Vortec to leak?

Leaking Intake Manifold Gasket The intake gaskets on the LB4 and L35 vortec’s are very prone to going bad which results in engine leaks, overheating, stalling, etc. The intake gasket sits between the intake manifold and the cylinder head. It is responsible for sealing engine vacuum, and also engine coolant.

Why is my Chevy Vortec 4300 V6 leaking fuel?

In the L35 and LF6 engines, the spider injectors are known to leak at the pressure regulator and at the supply and return lines due to a design fault. Outside of leaking fuel onto the exterior of the engine itself, it can cause excess fuel to get sucked into the engine.

What causes coolant to leak from the intake manifold?

What exacerbates the problem is the fact that the metal parts, the intake manifold gaskets are sandwiched between, expand and contract. This expansion and contraction is due to the engine starting and heating up and then cooling down when turned off.

When do you have to pay for coolant leak?

Once out of warranty… well, you know that you’re the one that’s gonna’ have to pay for it.

Is there a way to prevent coolant leaking from intake gaskets?

Although GM has been aware of this problem ‘since Christopher Columbus proved the world was round’, they haven’t done much to correct it (other than to deflect blame onto the owner of the vehicle for supposedly using the wrong type of coolant). So, you might be wondering, is there a way to prevent this from happening?

Is there coolant leak in Chevy S10 engine?

If its something else then it will be an expensive fix. Chevrolet S10 Intake Manifold Gaskets May Leak Coolant or Engine Oil – 25 reports. Learn about this problem, why it occurs, and how to fix it. That’s okay. There are no oil passages in the intake manifold. I’m afraid you’ll have t pull a head… or two.

Why is there no antifreeze in my Chevy S-10?

It turned out to be a ruptured radiator tank that was letting coolant in through the transmission cooler tank. That’s always a possibility as well as a cracked block or blown cylinder head gasket. The mechanic should find the problem rather quickly. I would suspect the intake manifold gasket first–GM V6 motors are known for this.

Where is the oil cooler on a Chevy S-10?

There is also a possibility that there is a radiator failure, as most of these have an engine oil cooler in the left tank of the radiator and a transmission oil cooler in the right side of the radiator. Head gasket? Not very likely without an overheating episode or excessive rust or corrosion in the cooling system.

Where does the coolant go in a Chevy Blazer?

A 2000 Blazer with the 4.3 has coolant passages through the intake manifold. The lower intake gaskets are a composite flat with o-ring seals around the intake ports and the coolant passages.

Where can I get parts for my Chevy Blazer?

Then visit CARiD to choose the product you need. CARiD.com offers great repair parts for your vehicle including engine parts, air intake parts, brake parts, transmission parts, ignition parts, suspension parts, emission control parts, fuel delivery parts, A/C and heating parts, exhaust parts, and a lot of other products.

What causes a GM V8 engine to leak coolant?

Knowing where to look helps and often a cracked cylinder head is the source of the problem. Between 2001 and 2006 GM manufactured millions of engines, many with defective cylinder heads castings. The cylinder head castings are weak in the area where the head bolts pass through.

How can you tell if your car coolant is leaking?

Another sign of a leak would be if your vehicles engine suddenly overheats, sometimes there can even be a coolant smell if it is leaking. Finding out the type of leak your coolant system has is not that difficult, however, locating it can be more of a challenge.

What are the symptoms of a car coolant leak?

Here are a few common symptoms that might Indicate an automobile coolant leak: 1 A sweet, antifreeze smell 2 Overheating Engine 3 Puddles Under the Car 4 Low Coolant Levels More …

What are the most common GMC truck problems?

One of the most common 2007-2013 GMC and Chevy truck problems owners experience is excessive oil consumption. This problem led vehicle buyers to launch a class-action lawsuit against GM, which alleged 2010-2013 vehicles with Generation IV 5.3 Liter V8 Vortec 5300 engines were defective.

Where is the coolant in the radiator when there is no leak?

There’s a COLD/MIN label on the tank indicating the ideal antifreeze level when the engine is cold. The coolant in the radiator should be just below the filler neck. When you are losing coolant but no leak is visible, several parts could be the guilty party.

Why does my GMC pickup truck use so much oil?

The AFM system, which disables some of the engine’s cylinders at lower RPMs to reduce fuel use, is the most common cause of this issue. While the system accomplishes this, it also leads to oil use problems. Some drivers have reported using as much as a quart of oil every 1,000 miles.

What should you do when your car is losing coolant but no leak?

Generally, there should be a leak somewhat if the vehicle is losing a high amount of antifreeze. However, a car could be losing coolant but no leak. What should you do when coolant disappearing from reservoir without leaving any trace?