Thread: Is this the infamous LIM gasket Leak?

After changing my spark plugs, I drove it and after 10 minutes the temp was in the red. Checking the radiator half the coolant was gone and I saw some puddles on the ground after running it, and after I turned the engine off I heard some sizzling coming from this area.




At first I thought it was from the fried (sensor?) in the blue, but looking closer I saw bubbling fluid from the black rubber or plastic in the red. Looking on the other side of the engine, there was another matching stain. Not being too car savvy, is the black piece the LIM gasket? Is that where the coolant is leaking from? And the area around the sensor recieved some runoff from the liquid. Can anyone tell me what the sensor is exactly and if it's fried? Thanks in advance.

There's a little bit of residue on there:




Is the sludge oil? What do you recommend I should do?
I bought a bottle of Bar's Leak and it seems to have helped a bit


Edit: There was more sludge on the cap than on the pictures, I cleaned the cap about a month ago.

your best off just replacing the gasket because even if it fixes one of the leaks the gasket could fail in another place.... the gaskets were notorious for failing at multiple points... mine failed at every point dumping coolant everywhere.... and stopleak wont fix it.

Yes, the sludge is oil. I believe it gets boiled to the top (not a scientist).

I replaced the LIM gasket, and it fixed it. Google search the procedures. I found an awesome one a guy did on a Grand Am website when I did mine. Make sure you get the bolt torques. You will want a long weekend maybe if this is your DD; a lot of tedious work.

Remember, the procedure for a 3400 is the same, so if you find one for a 3400, it is applicable.

Ill try to find that how-to I used, it was very helpful.

Get the Fel-Pro kit that includes valve cover gaskets, I can almost guarantee that you will need VC gaskets as well. Prepare to do a lot of surface prep, you don't want it to leak after all that work.

LIM and Head Gasket Change Walkthrough/FAQ - GrandAmGT.com Forum

Found it!

Originally Posted by Steel Armadillo

LIM and Head Gasket Change Walkthrough/FAQ - GrandAmGT.com Forum

Found it!

I used the same walkthrough when I did mine.....You cant get anymore descriptive when it comes to step by step.

Originally Posted by 91gpse

I used the same walkthrough when I did mine.....You cant get anymore descriptive when it comes to step by step.

Yep.
Just make sure you stop at the right point, as he does go on to remove the heads, which is NOT necessary. You will need to take out the pushrods though, which entails only loosening the rockers.

I just recalled something else, which is that you will want to get a new O-ring for the return side of the fuel rail. Mine ripped coming out, and its not a normal O-ring, it has flat sides.

You likely have oil in the coolant reservoir (if it has black/brown shizz in it, that's oil), and now is a GREAT time to unbolt it and clean it out.BTW

Originally Posted by Ricky21

and after I turned the engine off I heard some sizzling coming from this area.

I hear this too i think its about time to change mine

Isn't yours a GTP???

Originally Posted by Steel Armadillo

Isn't yours a GTP???

GTPs had a similar problem with the LIM gasket it used the same materials. Not as common to fail but they do fail.

Is it more of a sizzling sound or a gurgling sound?

Originally Posted by 91gpse

GTPs had a similar problem with the LIM gasket it used the same materials. Not as common to fail but they do fail.

Is it more of a sizzling sound or a gurgling sound?

Mine was neither. Oil was disappearing from the crankcase and reappearing in my coolant.

I didn't know the 3800 had an LIM gasket like the ones on the 3100...

Originally Posted by Steel Armadillo

Mine was neither. Oil was disappearing from the crankcase and reappearing in my coolant.

I didn't know the 3800 had an LIM gasket like the ones on the 3100...

its a little different but it uses the same materials... heres what they look like... Product Images