Intake Manifold Gasket or Head Gasket?

[RICKDIZZLE]

Hello everyone. I am in the process of doing a resto-mod build on a 1985 Olds Cutlass Supreme. The car has the original V6 in it and starts and runs pretty decent. I have noticed that there is a coolant leak the appears to be coming from the front side/corner of the intake manifold just behind the valve cover on the drivers side. I am not super well versed in engines, so I was concerned and curious as to if this could be a head gasket issue and not a intake manifold gasket issue. I checked my oil and do not see any milkyness or separation. I also checked the radiator and it does not appear to have any oil in it or the overflow tank. I only drive the car about 1 time a week only a few miles, just keeping fluids moving. And in the last month, have had to add 1/2 a bottle of Prestone coolant. I can clearly see it is an external leak as I can see where it is leaking from, dripping down and pooling/running down the block. Before I take it anywhere to get this intake manifold gasket replaced, I want to be more confident that it is not a head gasket. As I do not want to get talked into a fix that I do not need. The leak comes out of the circled area and then runs down the front of the block where I can see it pooling and then running down and dripping off the block. Here are two pictures of where the leak is coming from:

Lastly if it is just the intake manifold gasket, am I safe to drive the car a few miles here and there? Or is that bad and risking overheating?

Thank you and appreciate everyone's input.

 

[johnson350]

Kinda looks like an intake manifold gasket problem. Well you don't seem to have water in the oil, so I think you may be ok with having just the manifold gasket replaced.

I had an issue with leaking coolant not too long ago. Was coming from the timing chain cover. Now that was NOT a fun job (tear the whole front of motor apart).

 

[1evilregal]

def an intake leak... should be ok to drive short distances, but remember: it's only going to get worse as you drive...


btw, welcome to the site!

 

[lilbowtie]

First make sure that it isn't wicking from somewhere else. Since you don't plan on doing the job - try tightening the intake bolts and using a name brand stop leak. Worth a try, you'll get dinged pretty good to have it done.

 

[RICKDIZZLE]

Thank you guys for the input! I appreciate it. I double checked looking for wicking from elsewhere and is only right there at the joint between the intake manifold and the block. But thanks for the advice on checking. I will hold off on driving it, to prevent further issues. The local shop here wants, quoted $275-$300 to do this job, so no joke about getting dinged good on this. Previous owner said "he had the heads tightened" about six months before I bought the car...that's why I was worried about possible head gasket too.

 

[truracer20]

WOW $275-$300 for a 3.8 intake gasket replacement?

 

[RICKDIZZLE]

WOW $275-$300 for a 3.8 intake gasket replacement?

Sadly this is what I was told and you are correct for a 3.8 intake gasket. I live in a small town, so our options are not large. I am going to reach out to a couple other places on Monday and see if I can get it done for less anywhere else.

 

[foxtrot]

$300 seems liked a reasonable quote to me. I'm thinking of a few hours labor @ $75/hr, parts (intake gasket & thermostat) & shop materials (coolant, rtv & misc) that's a good price. That's my .02 for what it's worth.

 

[Evan11]

First make sure that it isn't wicking from somewhere else. Since you don't plan on doing the job - try tightening the intake bolts and using a name brand stop leak. Worth a try, you'll get dinged pretty good to have it done.

I agree, you can temporary tighten up the intake bolts and run some gasket maker silicone over the entire front section of the intake and add a tube of aluma seal or something like that. Make sure to clean the area well before you put any silicone on it. I have done this in the past just to get back on the road with an old beater truck. Just be sure no coolant is getting in the oil and you'll be ok for a while. looks like someone might've threw a glob of red rtv silicone in that spot at some time from what I could see in the pic.

 

[AllMotorMalibu]

I'm not at all fond of any of the stop leak products. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it almost always contaminates the block & radiator. I had a ton of stop leak gunk that settled to the bottom of my race engine block water jackets. So much so when I took the block drains out to drain water from the block nothing would come out. Had to poke a screwdriver in there to break up the solidified stop leak stuff. Had to tear the engine down, asked the machine shop to knock the freeze plugs out to try and clean all the gunk out. In the end, did not come clean. Same crap in the expensive $700 radiator too.

Alot of the Bars Leaks products (I used the copper metallic flake looking stuff) is ceramic based and near impossible to clean out later.

$300 to replace intake gaskets isn't bad IMO. If you have a mechanic you like and trust, have them do the diagnostic work to see where the leak is coming from if in question.