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5103 messages, Last post on Mar 21, 2010 at 9:42 AM

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#4757 of 5103 They are getting old by dave8697 Mar 29, 2009 (5:06 pm)
All my old GM's are leaking more this spring. I don't know if it was the sitting out in the cold or just rubber drying out from old age. Leaks I'd like to fix to keep the driveway from getting stained up: '96 Riviera with 171,000 miles. I used a 1/2 bottle oil leak stop and after 200 miles still have some tiny leaks. They have been diminished by about 80%. Should I have used a full bottle? Same car has had a trans fluid leak in flex hose to radiator since I got the car. It is leaking where the metal line from engine is crimped to rubber part just behind radiator. I am leery of using additive because I just read that they soften rubber seals but then problem comes back worse later. Trans has no other leaks. I was wondering if I could tighten a band clamp over the aluminum outer shell at hose crimp and stop the leak. '99 Sonoma with 106,000 miles. Had 1 and got 3 new leaks over winter. Had a PS line leak at a crimp when I bought it. I put in PS fluid with leak stop last week. Will it work? I only was able to add about 5 ounces of the qt bottle. Unbolting the line seemed like a lot of work to be able to add more. The two front shocks, now 10 yrs old, started leaking the same day, about the first warm day of spring. Do they stop leaking after a while, and is there any risk to not changing them once they leaked? Had oil leak from drain plug rubber washer being 10 yrs old. Put a new one in and that leak was cured for $1.25. Now for worst leak. On last really cold day of winter, I got to work and coolant was leaking from front and back of engine. I can't tell where from on the 4.3 V6. Took off air intake lines for better look and nothing visable. freeze plugs are good. It is coming from above spark plug height. More in back than front. Not from any hoses. Leak is pretty big. I was going to try prestone stop leak but the leak is pretty big. Oil is clean (normal) and truck starts and runs great. If I try prestone and it doesn't work, can I use the Bars leak stop with the black pellets? Research shows an intake manifold weakness in these late 90's 4.3s. Any way to find leak? 1998 Astro with 115,000 miles. It was in garage all winter but this is first year in new house without heated garage, so it went below 32 on those 8 degree nights. I used the other half of the oil leak stop and I drove about 160 miles so far and no leak yet. It was at a metal line to rubber flex line joint in the oil cooler line to the radiator. That makes 3 flex line crimp leaks in 3 vehicles for 3 different fluids. This one is oil. This Astro also got a coolant leak about the same time as the Sonoma and same engine and leak from trans/engine interface as well (drips off starter motor mount bolt). I put most of a bottle of prestone stop leak in and it sealed it up. For now the Astro is dry underneath. Is there any harm to the oil leak stop I put in? Will I have to use it every oil change? The Astro is due for an oil change in about 1000 miles. I use QS 5w-30. Replies to this message: burdawg (Mar 30, 2009 6:33 am) Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2009 8:53 am) monicadart2 (Mar 30, 2009 11:36 am) and 1 more...
#4758 of 5103 Re: They are getting old [dave8697] by burdawg Mar 30, 2009 (7:33 am)
Replying to: dave8697 (Mar 29, 2009 4:06 pm) Well, it sounds like these vehicles need lots of demurred maintenance. Those leaks at the crimps on the flex lines pretty much means they need to be replaced. That's where they typically take the most stress. Those coolant leaks in the V6's near the back of the engine could very well be intake manifold gasket problems, but then again it could be something much less severe. Sounds like it's time to get out the tools, or the checkbook, (or both I guess) which ever applies. Stop leak can only do so much. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2009 8:53 am) monicadart2 (Mar 30, 2009 11:36 am) Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2009 1:21 pm)
#4759 of 5103 Re: They are getting old [burdawg] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Mar 30, 2009 (9:53 am)
Replying to: burdawg (Mar 30, 2009 6:33 am) Stop leak is a very temporary measure that will just come back to haunt you. I agree, the power steering hoses must be replaced. Also oil stop leak will not work on any seal that surrounds a spinning shaft of some type. Replies to this message: monicadart2 (Mar 30, 2009 11:36 am) Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2009 1:21 pm)
#4760 of 5103 Infiniti i30- Power Steering Pump by monicadart2 Mar 30, 2009 (10:05 am)
I have a 1996 Infiniti i30 with about 155k miles on it. I took it in for an oil change, then they said I needed an oil pan gasket but they also said I need a power steering pump and are charging me 604.16 for that an 104.95 for the Flush. I called the dealer and they said that pumps on my car rarely go bad. I spoke to another mechanic and he said it could just be the hose. I am a woman and this board has been extremely helpful so I'm asking for your help again. The ppl did let me look underneath my car and I did see that something was leaking. Oh, also when I turn on the air/heat I do smell something like oil even after I got the gasket replace and they said that it's a combination of the oil pan and pump needing to get fixed. HELP!!
#4761 of 5103 Re: They are getting old [Mr_Shiftright] by monicadart2 Mar 30, 2009 (12:36 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2009 8:53 am) But does it cost almost 800.00 to fix such a problem is my qestion? Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Mar 30, 2009 1:21 pm)
#4762 of 5103 Re: They are getting old [monicadart2] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Mar 30, 2009 (2:21 pm)
Replying to: monicadart2 (Mar 30, 2009 11:36 am) Seems a bit high. The pump retails at $430 and it takes 2 hours to replace it...so where I live that would be about $680. If the $800 includes the oil pan gasket then yeah that might be fair enough, as that is $10 parts and .8 hour labor, so where I live that's about another $100. Not sure what this "flush" business is all about.
#4763 of 5103 Start of Tranny problems? by carguy89 Mar 30, 2009 (9:06 pm)
Hi: My friend today went to his mechanic who drained the tranny and told my friend the fluid was black in fact showed us the drain plug which was totally black and had a few metal filings on it!Is this the beginning of the tranny problems,the car is a V-6 Accord '05 with 75,000 miles on it? Thanks for any help. P.S He just changed the fluid 6 months ago,about 6,000-8,000 miles if that helps Replies to this message: oregonboy (Mar 30, 2009 8:38 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Mar 31, 2009 8:21 am) qbrozen (Mar 31, 2009 8:37 am) jipster (Apr 02, 2009 6:34 am)
#4764 of 5103 Re: Start of Tranny problems? [carguy89] by oregonboy Mar 30, 2009 (9:38 pm)
Replying to: carguy89 (Mar 30, 2009 8:06 pm) I know this is not helpful in the least.... but I LOVE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS !!!
#4765 of 5103 Re: Start of Tranny problems? [carguy89] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Mar 31, 2009 (9:21 am)
Replying to: carguy89 (Mar 30, 2009 8:06 pm) Well transmission science isn't like the old Westerns where the scout picks up a piece of horse manure and sniffs it and says: "two...maybe three days...." Unless you drop the pan, and scan & pressure test the system, you really don't know that much. About the only "sensory" input I pay attention to is if I pull the dipstick and get a very heavy burning smell that actually makes you pull back your nose, it is so pungent.
#4766 of 5103 Re: Start of Tranny problems? [carguy89] by qbrozen Mar 31, 2009 (9:37 am)
Replying to: carguy89 (Mar 30, 2009 8:06 pm) black fluid? can we confirm the mechanic knows the difference between the trans plug and oil pan plug? And why did your friend feel it needed trans fluid change again after only 8k miles?