inmemoryofmoo

I thank all of you that posted info on taillights for me in a previous thread. I went with blackouts and you cannot see the damage on the taillight I was going to replace. In the long run, I will get some honeycombs. Now for my new issue...

I took the'96 3.8L to a mechanic today to have an oil leak checked. The result was a $700.00 estimate. It appears I need to have a "intake manifold gasket" replaced along with gaskets for valve covers and the oil pan. The mechanic said I did not have to do it all at once, I could do some of this one stage at a time. Any suggestions? In addition, has anyone had to replace all of these gaskets before? Does the $700 sound legit?

Thanks for any input.

ACW

I don't know much about labor prices, but here's what they'd have to do to replace those gaskets on the 96 3.8L V6. Looks like the intake manifold one needs a good bit more time/work than the others, so it should probably be much cheaper to just do the others.
Edit: If they actually need replacing - Carter makes a good point in the next post!

----------

Oil Pan Removal

1. Remove the oil level sensor.
2. Remove the (four) oil pan bolts.
3. Remove the oil pan.
4. Remove the oil pan gasket.

Oil Pan Installation

1. Install the oil pan gasket to the oil pan flange.
2. Install the oil pan.
3. Install the oil pan bolts. Tighten the oil pan bolts to 14 N·m (125 lb in).
4. Install the oil level sensor.

Notice: Install the oil level sensor, located in the oil pan, after the oil pan is installed. The sensor may be damaged if the oil level sensor is installed first.

----------

Valve Rocker Arm Cover Replacement Left Side

Removal Procedure

1. Remove the ignition coil module.
2. Remove the ignition coil module bracket.
3. Remove the EGR valve.
4. Remove the EGR adapter.
5. Remove the left front engine lift bracket.
6. Loosen the valve rocker arm cover bolts.
7. Remove the rocker arm cover and bolts.
8. Remove the rocker arm cover gasket.
9. Clean the rocker cover.
10. Clean the cylinder head gasket surfaces.
11. Clean any debris from the bolts.

Installation Procedure

1. Apply thread lock compound or equivalent, to the bolts.
2. Install the valve rocker arm cover gasket.
3. Install the valve rocker arm cover and bolts. Tighten the bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
4. Install the left front engine lift bracket.
5. Install the EGR adapter.
6. Install the EGR valve.
7. Install the ignition coil module bracket.
8. Install the ignition coil module.

----------

Valve Rocker Arm Cover Replacement Right Side

Removal Procedure

1. Remove the drive belt.
2. Remove the generator.
3. Remove the transmission level indicator tube mounting nut. Reposition the tube.
4. Remove the spark plug wiring harness from the clip and reposition.
5. Remove the evaporative emissions canister purge solenoid valve.
6. Loosen the right rear engine lift bracket.
7. Loosen the valve rocker arm cover bolts.
8. Remove the valve rocker arm cover and bolts.
9. Remove the oil fill cap. Remove the oil fill tube, if necessary.
10. Remove the valve rocker arm cover gasket.
11. Clean the rocker cover and cylinder head gasket surfaces.
12. Clean the bolts of any debris.

Installation Procedure

1. Apply thread lock compound or equivalent to the bolt threads.
2. Install the valve rocker arm cover gasket.
3. Install the valve rocker arm cover and bolts. Tighten the cover bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
4. Install the right rear engine lift bracket.
5. Install the right rear engine lift bracket studs. Tighten the lift bracket studs to 50 N·m (37 lb in).
6. Install the evaporative emissions canister purge solenoid valve.
7. Install the spark plug wiring harness to the clip.
8. Install the transmission level indicator tube mounting nut.
9. Install the oil fill tube. Install the oil fill cap, if removed.
10. Install the generator.
11. Install the drive belt.

----------

Intake Manifold Replacement Upper

Removal Procedure

1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Drain the engine coolant.
3. Remove the drive belt.
4. Remove the transmission level indicator, if necessary.
5. Remove the generator.
6. Remove the drive belt tensioner.
7. Remove the MAP sensor.
8. Remove the vacuum source from the upper intake manifold.
9. Remove the evaporative emissions canister purge solenoid valve.
10. Remove the fuel pressure regulator and canister purge harness.
11. Remove the idle air control (IAC) valve from the upper intake manifold.
12. Relieve the fuel pressure.
13. Remove the fuel lines from the fuel rail.
14. Remove the accelerator control cable bracket bolts and the bracket from the throttle body. Remove the accelerator control cables from the throttle body.
15. Remove the ignition control module.
16. Remove the brake booster hose from the upper intake manifold.
17. Remove the generator brace from the upper intake manifold.
18. Remove the electrical connectors at the following locations:
- The idle air control
- The throttle position sensor
- The mass airflow sensor
- The intake air temperature sensor
19. Remove the wiring harness from the rosebud clips at the fuel rail.
20. Remove the air cleaner. Remove the air cleaner outlet rear duct. Remove the resonator duct.
21. Remove the throttle body from the upper intake manifold, if necessary.
22. Remove the EGR valve outlet pipe.
Important: The thermostat housing must be removed in order to access the hidde bolt or screw located under the housing. The hidden bolt or screw secures the upper and lower intake manifolds together.
23. Remove the thermostat and thermostat housing.
24. Remove the electrical connectors from the fuel injectors.
Important: Clean the dirt out of injector bores with compressed air.
25. Remove the fuel rail nuts.
26. Remove the fuel rail.
27. Remove the upper intake manifold bolts.
28. Remove the upper intake manifold.

Installation Procedure

1. Install the upper intake manifold gasket.
2. Install the upper intake manifold.
3. Install the upper intake manifold bolts. Tighten.
- Tighten in sequence (there's a diagram) the ten vertical intake manifold bolts to 15 N·m (11 lb ft).
- Tighten the two water outlet bolts to 27 N·m (20 lb ft).
- Tighten the side bolts to 30 N·m (22 lb ft).
4. Use the following procedure to install the fuel rail:
- Using clean engine oil, lightly lubricate the fuel injector O rings.
- Install the injectors of the rail into the bores of the manifold.
- Carefully press the fuel rail with the palms of both hands until the injectors are fully seated.
5. Install the fuel rail nuts. Tighten the fuel rail nuts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
6. Install the electrical connectors to the fuel injectors.
7. Install the thermostat and thermostat housing.
8. Install the EGR valve outlet pipe.
9. Install the throttle body to the upper intake manifold, if necessary.
10. Install the air cleaner. Install the air cleaner outlet duct. Install the resonator duct.
11. Connect the wiring harness to the rosebud clips at the fuel rail.
12. Install the electrical connectors at the following locations:
- The idle air control
- The throttle position sensor
- The mass airflow sensor
- The intake air temperature sensor.
13. Install the generator brace to the upper intake manifold.
14. Install the brake booster hose to the upper intake manifold .
15. Install the ignition control module.
16. Install the accelerator control cable bracket to the throttle body. Install the accelerator control cables to the throttle body.
17. Install the accelerator control cable bracket bolts. Tighten the bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
18. Install the fuel lines to the fuel rail.
19. Install the IAC valve to the upper intake manifold.
20. Install the fuel pressure regulator and the canister purge harness.
21. Install the MAP sensor.
22. Install the vacuum source to the upper intake manifold.
23. Install the drive belt tensioner.
24. Install the generator.
25. Install the transmission level indicator, if necessary.
26. Install the drive belt.
27. Refill the engine coolant.
28. Connect the negative battery cable.

----------

Intake Manifold Replacement Lower

Removal Procedure

Important: Remove the upper intake manifold in order to uncover the hidden bolts on the front and left rear corners of the lower intake manifold.
1. Remove the upper intake manifold.
2. Remove the engine coolant temperature sensor.
3. Remove the lower intake manifold bolts.
4. Remove the lower intake manifold.
5. Remove the lower intake manifold gaskets and seals.

Installation Procedure

1. Apply GM P/N 12345336 or equivalent to both the front and rear intake manifold seals.
2. Install the intake manifold gaskets and seals.
3. Install the lower intake manifold.
Important: The two lower intake manifold bolts are located under the upper intake manifold. They must be installed before the upper intake manifold.
4. Apply GM P/N 12345493 or equivalent thread lock compound to the bolt threads before installing.
5. Install the lower intake manifold bolts. Tighten the lower manifold bolts in sequence to 15 N·m (11 lb ft).
6. Install the engine coolant temperature sensor.
7. Install the upper intake manifold.

Carter Hays

Take that car down to your local self serve car wash.
Pressure wash that engine, and jack that thing up and find out where your leak or leaks are coming from. If all those gaskets are really leaking you need to check/repair your PCV system. Something doesn't seem right with this "Mechanic"

jkichline

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I've never heard of needing to replace all of your gaskets for one oil leak. Sounds like this "mechanic" isn't willing to find the source of the leak. Good idea, Carter. Careful with that pressure sprayer though, water in the wrong places can cause other problems....

inmemoryofmoo

Leak is fixed. As suggested, I took it to another mechanic and you guys were right. It was not all of the gaskets, just the valve covers. Cost only $150... far below the $700. Thanks for your help.