$1500 worth of dealership repairs needed (suggested)

[Adrenaline]

I need my oil pan gasket ($744) and lower intake manifold gasket ($645) replaced on my 2001 Monte Carlo SS. Plus taxes this comes out to over $1500. My question is should I allow the dealership to do these or pay someone on the side to and save money ($500+)? The big difference I see is that the dealership will ensure their work and if something is to go wrong they will be able to fix it instantly.

I have had no car note for over 2 years and would like to keep it that way. I do not want a new care note until I replace the SUV I have.

 

[Arkaign]

That's the gen SS that used the 3800 IIRC. Erm, that's a crapton of $. Those cars and that 3.8L are not *that* hard to work on.

I'd really really advise shopping around for a reputable alternative.

 

[boomerang]

Are these problems the dealer noticed or problems you had complaints about?

 

[LordMorpheus]

744 seems high for an oil pan gasket. It should just be a number of bolts to drop the pan, a razor to clean the old gasket off, and then reassembly. Probably 30 minutes of labor and 15 dollars of parts. Who knows, maybe you found an honest dealer (ha) and the oil pan is a bitch to take off on a monte carlo.

And intake manifold gasket I could see being trickier.

 

[Adrenaline]

The oil pan gasket requires dropping a subframe and something to support the engine while it is being worked on. I thought it was high but they explained what it took and I was just thinking damn.

Yeah, it is the 3800 V6.

 

[bctbct]

For that amount of money I would check other shops.

 

[uclabachelor]

744 seems high for an oil pan gasket. It should just be a number of bolts to drop the pan, a razor to clean the old gasket off, and then reassembly. Probably 30 minutes of labor and 15 dollars of parts. Who knows, maybe you found an honest dealer (ha) and the oil pan is a bitch to take off on a monte carlo.

And intake manifold gasket I could see being trickier.

Some engines require loosening or removing the motor mounts and jacking up the engine for the oil pan to be removed.

Irregardless, that is a lot of money for about 10 hrs of labor (maybe 8 if you're good).

 

[Vette73]

Seems high for that motor.

On my older buick, 3.8L, I could do the oil pan without dropping the engine cradle.
The intake on that motor is also easy to do IMO. But I am also a former auto tech, but even with that I say its easier then a lot of other motors out there.

How many miles and is it leaking that bad or just very small?

 

[Adrenaline]

It has 110,000 miles. The oil pan leaves a noticeable oil drop after being parked.

Both things need replaced. I was told it was a long job for the oil pan. The lower intake manifold needs replaced as well which will require more time.

 

[angry hampster]

I'd clean off the edges of the oil pan and slick on some RTV silicone all the way around the pan. That may stop your oil pan gasket completely. It'll at least slow it, and a tube of RTV is only $5-6. LIM gasket is a real pain though..check out an independent shop for a lower price.

 

[MiataNC]

If you can live with a drip, and you are not in danger of running out of oil on a long drive, why not hold off and put money away towards the repair?

Older cars leak and drip. Just a fact of life. It is only a problem if the leak is is causing damage to other components (like a timing belt...but that is not a problem for your car)

 

[Bignate603]

You have nothing to lose by getting a quote from an independent shop. Also, many good shops will warranty their work.

 

[Zargon]

lower intake manifold aint bad, I've done it twice to the 3.1L's

first time it took most of the weekend all by myself. next time it took about 10 hours.

645 doesnt seem that bad, since on the 3.1 it cost like 3xx bucks in parts

 

[DietDrThunder]

Don't bother with the oil pan gasket. Do like others suggest. But first get a spray bottle of Simple Green or any other degreaser and clean it real well first. Get all the oil and dirt off before using the RTV, and make sure you use high temperature RTV. I did this on my '93 Buick with the 3.8 Liter V6 and it stopped the leak, and saved money. The intake manifold gasket isn't that hard to replace, you just have a lot of "stuff" to remove in order to get the manifold off. If you have a City Garage near by, I'd take it to them for a quote on the intake manifold. By the way, are you experiencing some sort of problem that the intake manifold needs to be replaced? Or is the dealership just telling you to replace it?

 

[bruceb]

I own a 3800 series II engine in my 1999 Grand Prix. I suggest you do get the Intake Manifold Gasket done as ti can leave the car stranded when it fails. Either at the dealer or a private mechanic or do it yourself. It can be done at home in about 4 - 5 hours. While you are in there flush the cooling system, new T-Stat, Rad Cap, Coolant, Hoses, Serpentine Belt .. as to the oil pan, depends on how big the leak is and how often/much oil you need to add. It is a hard job, as mentioned, the motor must be lifted and supported to get it off. So that I would only do if it was really bad, like say losing 1/2 qt every day or so.

 

[Adrenaline]

Don't bother with the oil pan gasket. Do like others suggest. But first get a spray bottle of Simple Green or any other degreaser and clean it real well first. Get all the oil and dirt off before using the RTV, and make sure you use high temperature RTV. I did this on my '93 Buick with the 3.8 Liter V6 and it stopped the leak, and saved money. The intake manifold gasket isn't that hard to replace, you just have a lot of "stuff" to remove in order to get the manifold off. If you have a City Garage near by, I'd take it to them for a quote on the intake manifold. By the way, are you experiencing some sort of problem that the intake manifold needs to be replaced? Or is the dealership just telling you to replace it?

The dealership told me the lower intake manifold is leaking. This is actually the most honest place I have had work done at on any car I have owned. Sad that it is a dealership heh. I got a quote from a coworker for a savings of about 500 bucks, he does his own work on all his cars, he has 6 of them. I called some other places and they were all within the range of the dealership on price.

 

[canadageek]

3800 Lower Intake Manifold Gaskets fail pretty much like clockwork, its a known weakness.
good news is, the newer gaskets should take care of the issue, bad news is, you're gonna be taking pretty much everything off the motor.

http://www.grandamgt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=68087

this thread is for a 3400, but the process is about the same. if this looks like something you don't think you can do, take it to a trustworthy mechanic.

Edit: if its leaking, get it done soon. If you have bad luck, the coolant will leak into your cylinders and cause hydrolocking, and then you'll be shopping for a new motor.

 

[Adrenaline]

I plan on getting it done this weekend. I looked at failure rates of the intake manifold gasket and what it did and thought it would be an urgent type of fic with the related issues that can come from it.