Tamvolan

1998 Malibu - 3.1L V6, transverse engine.

I have coolant pooling on the driver's side of the engine, by the transmission fluid add cap, and a little higher up. This is on the opposite side of the engine from the water pump, etc.

I've heard that it could be the intake manifold gasket, or the plenum, both of which are included in an intake manifold gasket kit.

Could the problem be something besides this? I'd really prefer to avoid having to take it in, as I don't have an extra $1000 lying around to give to someone else to troubleshoot/fix the issue. I can get the gasket kit fairly cheap, and I've done most of the work on this car myself, anyway.

kevinkpk

How many miles? The 3.1 are notorious for lower gasket leaks. I'd suggest you also check your dipstick to see if it is leaking into the oil pan also. Might be a good idea to replace them anyway.

Tamvolan

About 157k. I've been checking the dipstick, and I recently (within the last 3-4 weeks/150 miles) did an oil change. Oil looked ok.

However, I have been dealing with a small oil leak, almost since I bought it back in '01. Nothing to ever really worry about, just enough to stain the driveway underneath. That leak seems to have gotten a little worse in the last couple of weeks.

kevinkpk

That lower gasket could have been replaced. On the ends of the intake uses RTV, and you have to really get them clean or it will leak there. I's hard to tell without being able to see it.