What do failed UIM/LIM gaskets look like?

[TenGHz]

Looks like my car finally bit the bullet and decided it was time for the UIM to fail... I only have 67,000 miles on it, too. I was planning to have the UIM and the LIM gasket replaced, failure or not, at 70,000 miles. Guess my car didn't want to wait... lol

I imagine the extreme cold we've been having for the past week or so is what finally pushed it over the edge.

My symptoms were these: Car started fine in very cold temps. I got in drove about half a mile or so, and went in a store. I came back out and my car didn't want to start. It would turn over easy enough, but felt like it was too 'weak' to finally start, kinda like it wasn't getting enough fuel. On the 3rd crank I stepped on the gas a bit and it started just fine, and drove fine... I figured the cold to be part of it (it was below 0 at the time) causing some kind of fuel problem. I got home, parked, and turned off my car. I then let it sit about 2 minutes and just tried turning it on again. It fired right up with no problems. So, I didn't think too much of it, but didn't like that it had done it. Yesterday I was out again. This time I stopped at a gas station, and came back out and it didn't want to start again. I got it started with a press of the gas pedal again, and I went home. I got to thinking about it last night, and figured I better check my coolant level to see if my UIM was the cause... Sure enough, it appears the UIM has failed...


I am posting pictures of what my car's symptoms look like. Hopefully this will help someone to know what to look for that hasn't already seen it first hand...


Reservoir tank is very low:



Oil looks very dark, like dark coffee: (kinda hard to see from the -22* wind chill, I was shivering too much)



Milky colored, snot like substance on the oil fill tube:




Finally, a shot inside the valve covers:



I pulled off the engine cover, but there was no pooled coolant in the little recesses. There was a build up of old oil that has been seeping for a while already, but no coolant in it. The car is going to have to go to the shop on Monday. Sucks that nowhere is open today so I can get the car there and the oil drained....... I'm crossing my fingers.

[Pontiacdad]

Gasket failure typically allows cross contamination from the coolant passage to the oil passage, there will be an eroded portion of the gasket material from the coolant passage to the oil galley.

It looks like you caught it soon enough before any real damage, good luck with the repair.

[lash]

OK, to add the pics that actually do what your title says....lol...here's a few from the archives to make this thread a decent reference:






And a couple pics of the new replacement aluminum-framed LIM gaskets:

[TenGHz]

Sorry, guys, I should have put a disclaimer on this. This is an old post from BC. This happened over a year ago now, and has been long since fixed.

Sorry for the crappy title, it is the same title I used over you know where.

[allensteiner]

hi guys. i'm new here, just bought an 05 se a few months ago and i've read a bunch about UIM/LIM's failing on bonnies.

is my year prone to do that too or did they fix the problem? my coolant reservoir is exactly the same level as TenGHz's but doesn't seem to drop.

[TenGHz]

Welcome aboard! If you haven't already, make a post in the introductions section!

To help answer some of your questions: Pop open your hood. Does it say "3800 Series 2"? Then, yes, you are in the same boat as me. It will only be a matter of time before the old gaskets go. I'm not aware of any changes that GM made through the years on stock Series 2 3800's to fix the problem.

You mentioned your coolant level is low, but doesn't change levels. Is your coolant level always the same even if the motor is hot or cold? I would be concerned if that was the case.

Do you still have Dex-Cool coolant? If so, it'll be red color in the reservoir or if you pop off your radiator cap (ENGINE COLD ONLY!). If you do, I would recommend flushing your coolant system a few times to make sure it is all out, and refilling with a known good coolant - like the good old fashioned green Prestone. This *may* help make your gaskets last longer. If nothing else it will eliminate all the known problems that Dex-Cool causes. If you do the flush and fill, get your coolant system to a full line and watch it to make sure it stays the same level then. It is normal after a flush that the coolant level will drop a bit in the reservoir - this is just excess trapped air bleeding out of the system. Just top off what is missing, it should level off within a weeks time, depending on how much you drive it. I recommend checking your coolant level with a cold engine as it is usually a more reliable indicator of the level - a warm engine will have varying amounts of heat in it and this can cause different reservoir levels.

If you're finding that you keep having to top it off, try following the instructions in this thread:
http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=18&t=335

[allensteiner]

thanks for the info. the steady coolant level is with a cold engine so hopefuly my gasket is ok. i also want to put a sc on this summer so will have to get new gaskets anyways.

switching to green coolant - aren't the ingredients a little different? what about switching to "mixes with all colors"?
i've never had to do it on any other of my cars just to extend it's life.

[TenGHz]

Be sure to pick up the new style gaskets if/when you do. They are made with aluminum now.

The green stuff is just what I use. It's a personal preference since that's what I've used for as long as I've even known what coolant is. There are plenty of ppl using "mixes with any" coolant here. I think orange juice would be a better option than the Dex-Cool though, so it's hard to go wrong when changing from what came in the car from the factory.

[*B2*]

I'm using the Prestone Long Life Dexcool compatible and haven't had any problems. My repair is approximately 6 mos. old.

[Archon]

Most of us here recommend the "mixes with any color" antifreeze.

[clm2112]

Most of us here recommend the "mixes with any color" antifreeze.

Ditto Here. I have removed Dex-Cool from any vehicle that had it.

Drain the system, including the block's water jacket drain plugs, and flush the entire system with water until it comes out clear. You can run the motor for a short period of time to circulate the water and really flush out the block & heads. Refill with glycol based anti-freeze (or the "mixes with any color" blends.) Kim's '06 Pontiac Torrent got the treatment just a few weeks back.

If you want to see how bad life with Dex-Cool can get, check out the Illustrated Rebuild of an L36 into a L67 thread in Performance & Brainstorming...the donor motor died from a manifold leak of Dex-Cool into the oil.

[allensteiner]

you guys got me convinced, but i think i'll take it to my local lube shop where they can flush all the coolant out...my neighbors would cry too much if i did it in my driveway i had cops come out a few years back, when i had my fiero's rear in the air and engine on the ground, to see if i'm not letting any fluids drain down the street.