So I'm going to change my Intake Manifold Gasket...

[B0000rt]

So it seems my Grand Am's Lower Intake Manifold gasket has a fairly slow leak, as I can see oil accumlating around the gasket, and have decided to change it out next week. Should I do an engine shampoo first so as to have everything clean so I don't accidentally push some dust into the heads?

I recall people saying that you should cover the alternator, and just throw a degreaser spray all over the engine and power wash it off. That should be ok, right? Engines are supposed to be waterproof, yes?

[Pete_Coach]

The type of cleaner you buy will indicate what needs covering. All cleaners will have instructions on the can. Your electrical and electronic devices want to be dry all the time so be careful with that. I find using plastic bags and rubber bancds work well for covering most things. At any rate, be careful with this stuff as it can also eat into your paint in a hurry if oversprayed. I have used and orange oil based cleaner with good results. I got it at CT.
The job you are taking on is a big one and I wish you total success. Be very carefull dissasembling the fuel system, make sure the pressure has been bled off. Also, use plastic pry bars and a rubber dead blow hammer to pry off the intake manifold. Use plastic scrapers to clean off the old gasket.

[RBK]

No problems for me when I did an engine shampoo. Didn't cover anythign at all, and used the pressure washer at petro canada to blast it off. ;) I used the gunk engine degreaser at CT. Have done this many times with no problems.

[B0000rt]

The job you are taking on is a big one and I wish you total success. Be very carefull dissasembling the fuel system, make sure the pressure has been bled off. Also, use plastic pry bars and a rubber dead blow hammer to pry off the intake manifold. Use plastic scrapers to clean off the old gasket.

Thanks, there's plenty of walkthroughs over at the Grand Am forums, damn crappy Lower Intake Manifold Gasket design! Plastic scrapers? I was told I could use razor blades too?

[TrevorK]

Thanks, there's plenty of walkthroughs over at the Grand Am forums, damn crappy Lower Intake Manifold Gasket design! Plastic scrapers? I was told I could use razor blades too?

With razor blades there is potential to nick the head.

If you're careful, it won't happen. But why take the chance?

[Pete_Coach]

Thanks, there's plenty of walkthroughs over at the Grand Am forums, damn crappy Lower Intake Manifold Gasket design! Plastic scrapers? I was told I could use razor blades too?
Of course you can use razor blades. Just be careful, use the single scraper blade design and use it gently. A plastic scraper is always good to have on hand. Mutitude of uses and ultimately sharpenable (don't know if that is a word or not but you can sharpen the plastic one down to the nub).
If you have never done this before, do not rely on the forums as your manual. Take pictures along the way and review them on rebuild. There are a lot of little things that will esure (or not) a good repair. The torque spec and sequence is one of the most critical. Do not underestimate it. Look at all the little things you are removing.
As a small hint, most wires and conectors will only go to a specific spot. Do not streach the hose, wire cable etc...if it does not reach...it does not go there. If the wrapping is off the cables etc before dissasembly, put it on first, then remove them, this ensures you cannot put the wrong plug in the wrong receptical.
Have fun and let us know how you did.

[B0000rt]

Of course you can use razor blades. Just be careful, use the single scraper blade design and use it gently. A plastic scraper is always good to have on hand. Mutitude of uses and ultimately sharpenable (don't know if that is a word or not but you can sharpen the plastic one down to the nub).
If you have never done this before, do not rely on the forums as your manual. Take pictures along the way and review them on rebuild. There are a lot of little things that will esure (or not) a good repair. The torque spec and sequence is one of the most critical. Do not underestimate it. Look at all the little things you are removing.
As a small hint, most wires and conectors will only go to a specific spot. Do not streach the hose, wire cable etc...if it does not reach...it does not go there. If the wrapping is off the cables etc before dissasembly, put it on first, then remove them, this ensures you cannot put the wrong plug in the wrong receptical.
Have fun and let us know how you did.

For sure, I have a big roll of tape to mark everything if I unplug it!

I will for sure mark which are the exhaust pushrods and which are the intake pushrods :D Pictures galore, though one may cringe at how much sludge is probably caked on the engine.

[corrupt123]

For sure, I have a big roll of tape to mark everything if I unplug it!

I will for sure mark which are the exhaust pushrods and which are the intake pushrods :D Pictures galore, though one may cringe at how much sludge is probably caked on the engine.

Remember their order too. Everything must go in exactly as it came out.

[Brandon]

There is a pending class action against GM for this problem!!!

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060330/whistleblower_gm_060406/20060406/
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/15/gm-to-handle-intake-manifold-gasket-problem-on-a-case-by-case-ba/

My family had this problem with our van (2003 Venture) and we got it replaced for free (we were under warranty though). But for those not under warranty, this could potentially be expensive to fix. For our van if it wasn't under warranty, it would be approximately $1000.

[B0000rt]

Doesn't include my '94 Pontiac Grand Am, with a 3100, the first engine lasted roughly 260 kms, the second of unknown mileage has already logged 110k kms in this body (assume atleast 100k kms so ~210k kms on the current engine).

The gasket used in the engine is probably better in some wierd way. I recall the guys over at the Grand Am forums, having to replace theirs already at 50k miles on their 99+ Grand Ams!