1992-1999 Series I L27 (1992-1994 SE,SLE, SSE) & Series II L36 (1995-1999 SE, SSE, SLE) and common problems for the Series I and II L67 (all supercharged models 92-99) Including Olds 88's, Olds LSS's and Buick Lesabres Please use General Chat for non-mechanical issues, and Performance and Brainstorming for improvements.

What are some tips/tricks on finding a leaky intake manifold

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-18-2005, 11:00 PM
  #1  
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
Thread Starter
 
19bonnie95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saukville Wisconsin
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
19bonnie95 is on a distinguished road
Default What are some tips/tricks on finding a leaky intake manifold

I head something about spraying soapy water on the intake and another one was spray wd-40 on the intake and if the rpms go up its leaky...... are those safe to do or would that not work?
Old 10-18-2005, 11:42 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
Posts like a Corvette
 
DarkShadow's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Berkeley, IL
Posts: 1,596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
DarkShadow is on a distinguished road
Default Re: What are some tips/tricks on finding a leaky intake mani

Originally Posted by 19bonnie95
I head something about spraying soapy water on the intake and another one was spray wd-40 on the intake and if the rpms go up its leaky...... are those safe to do or would that not work?
i wouldnt spray wd-40 on an engine, theres the chance it could catch fire if left on ther cuz it dosent evaporate..... uhhhh i personally would try the soapy water or better yet i heard trying carb cleaner on the engine and if it bogs down theres a vacuum leak somewhere.....could try engine degreaser too and get a clean engine in the process
Old 10-18-2005, 11:46 PM
  #3  
Senior Member
Certified Car Nut
 
1993 SLE's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 19,756
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
1993 SLE is on a distinguished road
Default

if you have a leaky upper look for coolant in the Oil...and missing coolent from the overflow bottle....if you have these symptoms, you oil will look milky
Old 10-19-2005, 12:52 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
Thread Starter
 
19bonnie95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saukville Wisconsin
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
19bonnie95 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by 1993 SLE
if you have a leaky upper look for coolant in the Oil...and missing coolent from the overflow bottle....if you have these symptoms, you oil will look milky
Not sure what u mean by it looking milky???
Old 10-19-2005, 01:10 PM
  #5  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

mixed oil and coolant take on a frothy white milkshake look
Old 10-19-2005, 01:12 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
Thread Starter
 
19bonnie95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saukville Wisconsin
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
19bonnie95 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by BillBoost37
mixed oil and coolant take on a frothy white milkshake look
ok if i dont have a whitish oil looking like substance on my oil dipstick I dont have an upper intake manifold leak??
Old 10-19-2005, 02:05 PM
  #7  
DINOSAURUS BOOSTUS

Expert Gearhead
 
BillBoost37's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Enfield, CT
Posts: 41,391
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
BillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of lightBillBoost37 is a glorious beacon of light
Default

Let'* elaborate.

if you have a series 2 non supercharged and you have the typical intake failure or a bad intake leak it can show as milky oil.

If you ahve an intake leak you can sometimes see it leaking to the outside..not internal. You would see wetness around the intake.
Old 10-19-2005, 10:54 PM
  #8  
Senior Member
Posts like a Supercharger
Thread Starter
 
19bonnie95's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Saukville Wisconsin
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
19bonnie95 is on a distinguished road
Default

Originally Posted by BillBoost37
Let'* elaborate.

if you have a series 2 non supercharged and you have the typical intake failure or a bad intake leak it can show as milky oil.

If you ahve an intake leak you can sometimes see it leaking to the outside..not internal. You would see wetness around the intake.
U gota be kidding me every time I look at the bottom of the upper intake manifold its wetness that raises from the bottom of the upper intake manifold up will this cause performance problems?
Old 10-19-2005, 10:59 PM
  #9  
Senior Member
Posts like a Northstar
 
CSFiend's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 566
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
CSFiend is on a distinguished road
Default

I'm not sure I'm understanding your description, but the answer to your question is yes, a leaking intake gasket will eventually cause performance problems, to the tune of a blown motor. It'* one of the few leaks that can actually become more than "just an oil leak."
Old 10-20-2005, 10:58 AM
  #10  
Senior Member
True Car Nut
 
bill buttermore's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Ames, Iowa
Posts: 3,066
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
bill buttermore is on a distinguished road
Default Re: What are some tips/tricks on finding a leaky intake mani

Originally Posted by 19bonnie95
I head something about spraying soapy water on the intake and another one was spray wd-40 on the intake and if the rpms go up its leaky...... are those safe to do or would that not work?
OK two things here.

1. The intake manifold seals an area of the engine that is under negative pressure - vacuum. So, the traditional way to find a VACUUM leak to the outside of the engine is to spray around the edges of the manifold with something that the engine can burn, light oil like WD-40, Carb Cleaner (lacquer thinner), or the like. The idea is if you spray on a spot that is leaking from the inside vacuum to atmosphere, the vacuum will suck the additional combustible material in and you will hear an increase in the speed of the engine. Spraying soapy solutions is good for finding leaks on stuff that is under positive pressure, like an exhaust manifold or a tire. Spraying soapy water on an intake manifold with a leak would not reveal the leak by an increase in rpm. And, unless it was a big leak, probably you would notice no change.

2. Our intake manifolds most commonly fail when the seal is lost between coolant passages and the interior or exterior of the intake manifold. In these cases, coolant can be sucked into the combustion chambers from leaking gaskets on the lower aluminum intake manifold seal against the cylinder heads, or from a heat- induced perforation or distortion in the plastic upper intake manifold where hot EGR gasses pass through near the throttle body. Coolant leaks may also occur where the seal is lost from the coolant passage to the outside of the manifold. In this case, coolant usually is seen running down the transaxle. Coolant leaks can be confirmed with a pressure test of your cooling system. The leaks to the outside are not nearly as important as the leaks that allow coolant to trickle into a combustion chamber where hydrostatic lock can bend a connecting rod, or as others have pointed out, into the oil in the crankcase, where it will mix to form a milky acidic brew that will attack the bearings in your engine. Internal coolant leaks can quickly and effectively destroy your engine.


Quick Reply: What are some tips/tricks on finding a leaky intake manifold



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:27 PM.