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Head gasket or intake manifold gasket?

6.1K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  UmmScott  
#1 · (Edited)
I have a 2007 Malibu LT 3.5L and either the head gasket or one of the intake manifold gaskets are leaking but I'm not sure which one it is.

I first had an extremely slow coolant leak for several months where I had to top off the coolant reservoir about once a month, and then last week I noticed a moderate size oil leak. When I checked under my car, there was oil all over the front driver's side corner of my engine for as high as I could see but I couldn't see where exactly the oil is coming from. The area around the oil filter is dry, and I couldn't see any wet spots when I looked from above my engine.

Last week I also noticed that my coolant leak has gotten significantly faster and there was white smoke coming out of my exhaust for about 25 seconds after I started my car.
 
#2 ·
well, it could be either.. here's how I approached it on my Buick Ronde..
After I pulled the intake off, and didn't see any trace of damage on the gasket.. I pulled the heads.
Good thing I did.. when I sent them to the machine shop, they found a crack in one that extended into a water jacket.
 
#3 ·
Plus how many miles are on it.?

Honestly with these engines it's silly to go that far into it and not take the heads off.
Literally the only extra work at that point is to take the exhaust manifolds loose and then the heads are ready to come off.

It would really suck to do all the work, reassemble, only to find out it's a head problem and have to do it all over again.

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