Friend's Impala blowing smoke
 

My friend left me a voicemail. His 2000-something (2003?) Impala at about 100,000 miles is blowing white smoke out of the tailpipe. He was wondering if it was a head gasket.

I played phone tag and left him a voicemail. I'm not sure if he has the 3400 or the 3800 (I think it's the 3400), but I told him that the 3800 rarely blows its head gaskets.

Has anyone had this problem with the 2000-something Impalas?

I've not personally delt with it on the impalas but have him see if the exhaust smells sweet.

Check the coolant level.

It definitely sounds his UIM or LIM is leaking. Are those as much of a problem on the 3400, too?

put it this way Grand Ams with the same motor blow them up all the time

The 3x00 have intake gasket problems that would cause this.

Oh well, at least we 3800ers aren't alone.

I shot him an email and told him it's more than likely the UIM, given the white smoke, and pushed him to get metal LIM gaskets installed at the same time.

The UIM's on 3X00's are metal. So only the gaskets are needed

So the 3400 got a metal UIM before we did... Lucky.

I saw metal LIM gaskets for it; are there metal UIM gaskets to match?

I would be lead to believe you can get it as a whole kit.