1999 Oldsmobile Silhouette: engine overheating

Filed Oct 22, 2008 · Engine · 36,652 miles · MA

Repeated intake manifold gasket leak / failure - had to replace twice in less than 100,000 miles - first time at just over 36,000 miles. Never owned a car where I had to replace an intake manifold gasket once, let alone twice and virtually every car my family has owned has been maintained and driven over 100,000 miles. Searching the internet you see the gm 3.4 liter engine in 1999 era this is a common complaint/problem. Also the original oldsmobile dealer acknowledged it was a known issue with this engine. There is also a lawsuit www.dexcoolsettlement.com showing how prevalent this issue is - yet gm refuses to acknowledge it is a defect and take care of their customers and vehicle owners by repairing these vehicles and changing the gasket design. It was bad enough having to spend close to $500 to repair this on my oldsmobile with just over 36,000 miles on it, now I am told to pay close to $1,000 to have it replaced again! Gm customer assistance insists there is no defect, there is nothing abnormal about this that requires any corrective action or "assistance" from gm. They further claim gm engineers have reviewed the incoming data to customer assistance and there is no problem / no trend with intake manifold gaskets on the 3.4 liter engine - that can not be the truth. This is not a normal wear item, an intake manifold gasket should last the life of the engine and if not, gm should stand behind their product and replace it for their customers. Other customers with the same problem have had engine seizures and serious safety problems because they did not notice or catch the problem soon enough and coolant leaking into the oil caused engine seizure and/or overheating. Original problem was february 2003, problem has re-occurred october 2008 so clearly gm did nothing to change the gasket design and does not even stand behind their service / replacement parts.

Filed Sep 21, 2006 · Engine · 102,998 miles · NC

Vehicle started overheating on short trips to the store(1-2 miles). Thought the problem was the thermostat however when taken to mechanic found out that it was the intake manifold that has leaking and had to be replaced. I called oldsmobile ref to the problem to inquire about tsb # 030601010 or 030601010b and was told that there had never been a bulletin.

Filed May 6, 2005 · Engine · 45,000 miles · IL

Vehicle overheated on congested highway with no prior warning of any problem. Manifold gasket failure at 45,000 miles. The vehicle was repaired at a cost of $831 with the possibility that the engine may seize at any time due to coolant/oil contmination. Intake manifold gasket replaced with new gm design and new installation proceedure. I have retained the old parts.

Filed Apr 28, 2004 · Engine · IN

I own a 1999 oldsmobile silhouette with about 55,000 miles. I took the van to a local mechanic because of a knocking noise on cold startup and continual overheating. The mechanic diagnosed the problem as a failed intake manifold gasket. The total bill about $600. The van had regular maintenance. This seems to be a common problem with gm vehicles with the 3.4l engines.

Filed Mar 2, 2004 · Engine · 103,000 miles · LA

Intake manifold gasket - no warning of any problems before finding myself stranded at a gas station due to my van overheating.

Filed Jan 14, 2004 · Engine · 72,000 miles · TX

Intake manifold coolant leak caused by defective gasket. Related tsb mentions "new gasket design" implying that original design was defective. Oldsmobile refuses to offer any warranty coverage for failure, repair bill is $950.00 so far. Seems to be a common problem with this model at this age. Very disappointed with gm's attitude of customer dissatisfaction.