Everyone,

I have a 2003 SSEi with 42,000 miles on it. Over the winter I noticed 3 or 4 times that I would hear a lifter clattering upon start up that would last for a couple minutes and then quiet down. I read on a previous post that lifter clatter is one sign of coolant getting into the engine.

A couple days ago I noticed that the coolant recovery tank was empty. The radiator is almost full. I don't see any coolant pooled on top of the engine, nor do I see a leak anywhere.

I'm the second owner of the car and I'm assuming the original Dex-Cool is still in the radiator. And because of the disappearing coolant and occasional lifter noise that I need new LIM gaskets.

I read Danthur'* post in the How-To section on changing the LIM'* so I feel comfortable in tackling the job. Thanks for the detailed post Danthur, it will be very helpful!!

I've only heard the lifter noise 3 or 4 times so hopefully I won't have to do anything about that as long as I change the gaskets soon. Any comments on that would be appreciated.

I'm listing the gaskets below that I believe I will need. If anyone thinks I need anything else, please chime in.

Aluminum LIM Gaskets from dealer
Supercharger gasket
Supercharger O-Rings
Throttle Body gasket
Thermostat gasket

Thanks.

Dave

I'm not sold on the LIM'* causing the lifter tick unless you find coolant in your oil. Which then leads to asking if you do regular oil changes, and at what intervals and what oil/filters you use. Lifter tick isn't common on these motors, but a lifter can collapse, a cam bearing can spin and cause a lifter to be starved of oil etc.

As for the coolant loss check for a leak by the TB to SC area, look down at the transmission etc. If coolant is being burned because an LIM gasket is bad it'* possible and you should see white smoke in the exhaust and it should smell sweet.

Here'* a list of the parts and numbers that would be good for the LIM change up if you push forward with that.

Series 2
Part # ............Name.................................. ...............Rockauto
Fel Pro
ES70599...........Fuel Injector O-rings (need 3)....................$1.91
VS50465R.........Valve Covers (L67) w/grommets................$40.79
MS95744...........Plenum (SC to LIM) gasket w/rings (L67).....$8.43
61024..............Throttle Body gasket (L67)........................$3.52

Fel Pro (optional)
35595..............Thermostat Housing gasket........................$1.00
35666..............Thermostat Seal (rubber)...........................$1.87


Dorman
47065.............Coolant elbows.........................................$3. 00

GM Dealer/Intense
89017816..........Lower intake gaskets............................. ~$50-70
......................GM Pipe Sealant with PTFE...................... ~$10

GM (optional)
12345982.........GM */C Oil (M62 1, M90 need 2).................~$10

I'm with Bill, if your oil is good an dnot foamy, yiour not leaking in to the engine. Check the exhaust for a sweet smell. Let'* check around before you jump on the LIM gaskets. If your oil is foamy, then it'* time for new LIM gaskets.

Thanks for the reply BILLBOOST.

I've had the car for the past 22-24,000 miles. I've changed the oil 4 times since I've had it. I use either Valvoline or Castrol GTX 5W-30 oil and Fram or Purolator oil filters.

Why would I need valve cover gaskets?

Where do I find Dorman coolant elbows, at a local auto parts store?

Thanks for the very detailed parts list!

Elbows can be bought at most parts store, I think mine were under $5 for both.

Thanks Danthurs.

I just did a little closer inspection with the car warm and running. I didn't see any white smoke coming from the exhaust and it didn't smell sweet.

Oil on the dipstick is not foamy, and there'* no white residue in the rocker arm area when I looked into the oil fill opening in the valve cover.

When I looked closer at the intake manifold area, I noticed some very small bubbles coming from the seam between the manifold and heads. There was no puddles of liquid, but the areas were damp. It looked like small air bubbles leaking out of the manifold/head seam. The areas with the bubbles were just inboard of and very close to the fuel injectors. It'* where the manifold has dips in the casting to make room for the injectors.

I could see bubbles near 3 or 4 of the injectors.

I don't know if I can tighten up on the manifold bolts with the supercharger in place, I didn't look that closely.

In my original post, I stated that my '03 SSEi was losing coolant.

The car was not emitting white smoke from the exhaust, and the exhaust did not smell sweet. The oil was not foamy or frothy.

I could not find anywhere on the engine where coolant was leaking.

So, I decided today to tear into the top of the engine. This is what I found.





The areas of the gaskets outlined in red are my problems, correct?

This was most likely caused by the Dex-Cool? The car has 43,000 miles on it.

Should I replace the coolant elbow at the front of the intake manifold even if it wasn't damaged when removing it? If so, replace even if the replacement parts are made in CHINA?

I removed the knock sensor to drain the block. Should I put some type of thread sealant on it when putting it back on? If so, any specific type of sealant?

Thanks.

That'* a common failure, the problem is in the gasket more then the DEX. These are mine after 85k with dex, and 27k with peak green.


The gaskets just don't hold up well. Did you have the foamy sludge like you see on mine? I wasn't finding any foam in my oil even with my gaskets this bad.

I did have a little sludge on the underside of the intake manifold. I don't remember seeing it on the gaskets before I wiped them dowm.

Do you think I should put some type of sealant on the threads of the knock sensor?

Should I replace the coolant elbow on the front of the manifold?

Thanks.

Dave

If that knock sensor is open to the inside of the engine, just put some Teflon tape on it.

I would say change the elbow, they cost about $5 at a auto parts store and it'* well worth the money to do it.