1998 Oldsmobile 88: engine overheating

Filed Jun 6, 2012 · Engine · 93,000 miles · PA

Yesterday our car began overheating. We added a bottle of coolant yesterday and another two gallons today along with a bottle of stop leak and had it towed to our mechanic. Our mechanic told us it seems like the engine has seized completely and he is not equipped to fix it.

Filed Feb 23, 2005 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MI

My oldsmobile 88 was loosing anti-freeze. There was a recall on the fuel pressure regulator, so I took it in for recall repair and had the dealer check the coolant system. They said my intake manifold needed to be replaced at a cost of $1200. This is the second time I have had to have this done to the car. The intake manifold was replaced at 60000 miles.apparently the plastic manifold is not able to handle the heat. My car has never overheated and this should not be happening. I have 133,000 miles on the vehicle and should not have had to replace this manifold twice.

Filed Jan 26, 2005 · Engine · AR

While driving,\ the check engine light flashed on the dashboard and remained on. Then, the vehicle stalled. Driver was unable to restart vehicle. Noticed that coolant leaked from underneath the vehicle. It was towed to the dealer, and mechanic determined that the intake manifold needed replacement. Driver informed the mechanic that this problem occurred more than once ,and has not been resolved.

Filed May 11, 2004 · Engine · 89,114 miles · AR

In october of 2003, my check engine light on my oldsmobile 88ls, 3.8 series two engine, came on. The car had a loss of power and started running rough. Before I got the car stopped the engine quit. I looked under the hood to see water running out of the gaskets. I checked the radiator to find no water and also noticed the overflow tank had none. I pulled the dipstick to find all the remaining water to be in the oil. The vehicle was towed under and extended warranty to the dealer of which it was puchased to find that the upper intake had either cracked or burst. The dealer refered to the damaged part as a plentium. This occured at 89,000 miles. The dealer replaced the damaged part and put the engine back together. The dealer advised me to keep a watch on the car to see if any changes develop. At the first three thousand mile oil change the vehicle had lost oil and I also added water to the radiator. The vehicle was also back to the dealer before the oil change for loss of gas mileage and a few other concerns. When I arrived at the dealer for the oil change they pressure tested the engine and asked that I leave the vehicle for them to check out a detected problem during the pressure test. The repairs done during this time involved the gaskets again, and also the heads where warped and they repaired them. At 106,000 miles the dealer requested that I replace the engine. The dealer tested the engine again to determine an internal coolant leak. Now the car has a loss of water and also has started to burn some oil. There are numerous amounts of complaints about this same problem with this engine and something needs to be done. This particular engine is in all oldsmobile, buick, pontiac, and chevrolet made vehicles. All the owners of these vehicles need some assistance.

Filed Apr 25, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 77,125 miles · AL

Car overheated without any visible signs of this but the red area of the gauge then the check eng light came on. Pulled to side of the road, checked it got it cooled down, then proceeded to the very next rd to gas station for better view of what was going on. Got to it very quickly and the temp was back up. Stopped let it cool and added water to the now empty resovair that was full when we started the trip. And no signs of leakage and no boiling over, let it cool. Added water. Then tried to crank it up, it would not. Had to have it towed to dealer, thought eng had locked up. Was told their was a feature to this car that shuts down the eng when a leak like this occurs. Wondering how many other people are taken because they thought the eng was gone......and it was not. But it somehow damaged the starter when all this happened. I had a mechanic check out the car before we left on this trip, had the oil changed and everything. But something went wrong when the leak, and running hot occured. Not sure how it messed up the starter. But also know since it shuts the eng down, locks it up, how many people are having to get a new eng cause their person did not know about this feature as well.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 31,009 miles · CA

1) aug. 2000 generator failure 2) aug. 2002 both rear wheel cylinders replaced 3) oct. 2003 coolant leaking : replaced leaking water pump. Intake manifold also leaking but not replaced at this time due to cost. 3.8l v6

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · UN

Transmission: upper plate gasket went, causing gear slippage at high speeds which gradually became worse in the lower gears. Transmission replaced under warrenty. Transmission was replaced with a rebuilt unit which is now exhibiting much of the same slippage at high speeds (only minorly at the moment) @ 156,000km. Engine: first engine had the egr/exhaust design defect that causes the intake manifold to melt and coolant to poor into the engine. Report from the shop was that entire bottom end was destroyed by the coolant, and a full new engine had to be ordered (complete with accessories, etc.). The new engine's idler for the serpentine had the bearing cease, knocking the belt off. Since the waterpump was belt driven, the engine overheated. The car was left to idle in the parking lot for a total time of ~ 5-15min. (the temperature out was somewhere around -40c / -40f.). Brakes: perhaps cronically undersized for this vehicle, rotors have warped like clockwork every 30,000km. They are currently warped approaching 160,000km and will need to be replaced --- again --- shortly. This is not a car that see's much heavy use. Groceries on weekends, ~ 15-20km max. Total daily trip during workdays. It has yet to accomplish an extended road trip (I.e., north bay -> ottawa or north bay -> toronto, 4 hours (~400km) and 3 hours (~300km) respectively) without the 'check engine' light being lit. Additional recollection: front fog lights constantly filling with condensation as well, have been replaced 4-5 times while under warrenty. No solution was found and now they're just not used.

Filed Dec 6, 2003 · Engine · IN

Gm has a plastic plenum/manifold on their cars that become defective after 60 to 70 thousand miles. Due to the heat that the manifold is exposed to, the part will than leak. When this part was made from aluminum it would not cause these problems. I have replace this part 2 times in 2 1/2 years. Gm will not help with the bills because I have over a hundred thousand miles. But the part only has 65 thousand miles on it. I have gone to 2 auto repair shops and all I tell them is I am losing coolant and they know what the problem is. They said they replace these often. They replace these so often that now there is a after market that this part can be purchased from. My husband is a mechanic and knows what to look for on our regular maintenance, and that is how this was found. If people don't catch this coolant loss in time they could blow their engine. If people are not aware of this problem how can they watch for it?

Filed Sep 23, 2003 · Engine · PA

Intake manifold failed. Coolant leaked inside the engine. Dealer notified. Oldsmobile delta 88,1988.

Filed Sep 11, 2003 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MI

Coolant leak into engine caused car to run extremely rough to the point of having to stop. The car would not restart. Had it towed to a repair shop. The engine had seized due to coolant leak resulting in damage to the head gaskets. The head gaskets along with the upped plenum had to be replaced at a cost of $1100. After research on your sight, I found this problem on several other 1998 olds 88 cars. I also found that a technical bulletin had been issued to dealers about this problem. Why wasn't this problem with the upper plenum that is referenced in the technical bulletin sent to owners of these vehicles. I found the many other model of gm cars also use the 3800 engine with a plastic upper plenum that can crack over time from excessive heat.

Filed Sep 10, 2003 · Engine · 75,463 miles · VA

Car was running rough, esp. On starting. Made appointment with dealer who couldn't look at it for a week. We realized it was losing coolant, but there was no apparent leakage under the car or hood, etc. Filled with coolant, drove approx. 4 miles then engine light came on and stayed on. Checked oil and it was over "full". Called the dealer back with the new symptoms and was told it was a common problem with this type of car to have coolant leak into the oil (then into engine) and it probably needed manifold work $600.--$700. Had car towed to dealer where they found the manifold did need to be replaced. In researching, we have found that this is a common problem in 88's and sometime results in engine fires. We are wondering why there hasn't been a recall and why would the manufacturer use plastic in engine parts!?

Filed Jul 24, 2003 · Engine · 62,945 miles · NC

While driving the engine gasket leaked coolant which caused the vehicle to overheat. The consumer had to replace the entire engine. *ak *cb