I have a 2001 Impala with the 3800 engine and 68,000 miles on it with a fairly new crate engine before I got it at 58,000. After a long series of problems, I learned that my upper intake gasket was bad.

Seeing as the engine is quite new we assumed the lower gaskets were fine. A week of no issues and it is back to running rough and now I also had oil in the coolant which wasn't happening before. I also know that the upper gasket is already bad and melted at the EGR tube despite being a high performance manifold and gasket.

Is it safe to assume that it is lower intake time already? What can I do to make the gaskets stop leaking? All I am trying to do is keep this darn car running for one week to sell it, but everyday it is a new problem.

I guess I just find it hard to believe that GM made a car that can't stay running for a week. It is already on it's second engine and FOURTH transmission (fortunately the last two were under warranty). Every GM truck I have had has never had problems like this.

Thanks for any help.

 

My first quick thought was are you sure if it is engine oil or transmission fuid in the coolant? I have seen trans coolers in the radiator tank leak into the coolant before.

 

Did you replace the upper intake or just the gaskets? It should have been replaced as an assembly as they warp by the EGR pipe. Dorman make a complete intake assembly that comes with everything need to do the job. It comes with a replacement EGR pipe that is smaller in diameter, which fixes the problem.