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'* 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.

Sorry to hear that, Joshua. There'* never a good time for that to happen. Are you going to get the lowers done at the same time? Going with the GM aluminum?

Yeah, never really a good time for it to go. Hopefully won't be too bad. I'm supposed to work tomorrow, but I'm not driving my car there or anywhere. They can come get me, or I will be sick... lol

Yes, I do plan on getting the LIM gaskets replaced while it'* in the shop. Might as well since they will be right next door when replacing the UIM. I'm a touch worried about having the engine sit in the coolant until Monday. Hopefully all is ok...

GM has an aluminum UIM for series 2 engines, now? I did not know that. I will certainly have them install one if at all possible.


P.*. Good to talk to you again, Dick.

I'm not seeing a definate intake failure yet.

It'* turning over easy. When the coolant really fills the intake, you'll hydrolock and the starter won't crank over.

Coolant being low, hard start.. could be the beginning of the intake. Maybe you are catching it early.

When Archon said "GM aluminum," I believe he was referring to the new type of LIM gaskets, not the UIM.

Yeah, sorry for the confusion on that. Joshua, if you haven't already - read this techinfo article.

http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...e=article&k=38

It goes through explanations, and options. Even if you aren't doing the work yourself, it'* a good idea to know what the mechanics will be doing to your car. Have them do the lower intake manifold gaskets while they're doing the work. They're already 90% of the way there doing the upper. No sense in having to tear it down again when the lowers go. That'* where the aluminum gasket goes...for the lower intake.

As Boosty said. Let'* hope it'* just the beginning of the UIM gasket starting to leak and that you're catching it early. Good luck, Joshua....let us know how it turns out. Oh...also, make certain that they change your oil when the job is done!

Oh, my bad. I had read that wrong. That makes more sense, and I do vaguely remember an aluminum gasket... Yes, I will definitely have them do the LIM gasket as well. No sense of having them be so close to not do it. Also, an oil change will be done. I will also make sure they refill with Prestone as I still feel it'* a better idea than the Dex-Cool.

Hopefully no engine issues come of this. But it appears not all that much coolant has gone missing, so far.


Question:
Would a new set of spark plugs (and while they're at it wires) be a good idea? I assume there may be build-up of some kind on the plugs from running with coolant? Not to mention they're still stock as far as I can tell, and have 67,000 miles on them. Is this necessary?

I'll post more info as I get it. Thanks, guys.

You may as well have them do the plugs and wires while they're at it. Let them fight with getting them off the first time! Probably the valve cover gaskets too. They're a lot easier to do with everything else apart.

Ahhh....welcome to the UIM/LIM gasket failure club, if that is case. I've noticed that even with low miles, some only last 6 years....mine went last year (yr 6) at 59,000 miles. BrianJ'* went this year (yr 6) with 68k.

My upper was the one that failed, but I changed out the LIM gasket and it was "this close" to failing as well. I don't have pics, but it was nasty thin in some spots. Seriously consider changing the Dex to Prestone Long-Life Dex-compatible coolant.

Link to Dexcool class action lawsuit in General:
http://www.bonnevilleclub.com/forum/...=68420&start=0

Link to lawyer'* website pursuing the class action
http://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool.html

Hey, thanks for the links, singscountry. I will have to look into those.

I did change to Prestone a few months after I bought the car. It'* been running the green stuff for almost 3 years now.

The UIM/LIM gasket club is definitely not one I wanted to join, but I knew my admittance was mandatory at some point...