Just bought a 1997 bird w 3.8 liter. 138K miles.Too late, I just read they can have intake gasket and throttle body gasket leaks, putting oil in water. I opened the radiator and it was pretty much light brown mud. Looks more like rust but is almost vaseline -like on my fingers. Is this oil in water? If so, I just lost my money. This was to be my daughters first car and I think Ive screwed up royal. Is the intake gasket something I could do if I used to build 350s in the seventies? lol
Oil in water maybe??
- Thread starter Cedonulli
- Start date
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CHevy garage told me that GM coolant was bad during that period and actually harmed gaskets. Also said it would turn to pudding. The gunk in my water is tan to light brown and almost like mats of bacteria, sort of buttery feeling. I dont see colors in the water like oil would leave on the ground.STrangest darn stuff---I cant tell if its oil. Chevy wants $250 to run my three codes and $120 to do radiator flush but the guy did say I could flush it with dry auto dishwasher soap. What you think?
CHevy garage told me that GM coolant was bad during that period and actually harmed gaskets. Also said it would turn to pudding. The gunk in my water is tan to light brown and almost like mats of bacteria, sort of buttery feeling. I dont see colors in the water like oil would leave on the ground.STrangest darn stuff---I cant tell if its oil. Chevy wants $250 to run my three codes and $120 to do radiator flush but the guy did say I could flush it with dry auto dishwasher soap. What you think?
stantheman1941
New member
Flushing radiator
I would think the prudent and easiest thing to do is perform your own flush with engine and heater running or have a shop do it for you and then see if the problem comes back. It is true that there was some bad antifreeze out for a time but I don't remember exactly when it was. I would also do a complete oil and filter change too and then watch both the antifreeze and the oil for signs of leakage. I don't know what running the codes will tell you but if Autozone or O'Reilly will do it for free, why not?
I would think the prudent and easiest thing to do is perform your own flush with engine and heater running or have a shop do it for you and then see if the problem comes back. It is true that there was some bad antifreeze out for a time but I don't remember exactly when it was. I would also do a complete oil and filter change too and then watch both the antifreeze and the oil for signs of leakage. I don't know what running the codes will tell you but if Autozone or O'Reilly will do it for free, why not?
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Yes! I just put in a quart of oil and the cap had dark brown burned looking residue on it and inside the filler neck---like a cross between steak juice with coffee in it and burned cream. Im afraid to ask what that means. I never had anything like that in years of owning chevy V-8s.
Kevlar
New member
Cedonulli, you've not mentioned how the engine is running. Does it run now? Is it smooth, rough, is.there a miss? Does it run hot? Do you know if it has overheated in the last month?
Give us a little more info on that.
Give us a little more info on that.
Zimgxp
New member
Some Auto Parts stores will read the codes for free. Auto Zone is one.
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