Re: Losing coolnat in a 4.3 l V6... I'm scared!

"Roger Seymour" wrote

You don't see as many posts about the 4.3 engines, but they have/always had the same intake problems as the v-8's. The later model 4.3's that are the Vortecs with the plastic upper plenum use the same style gasket as the Vortec v-8's. We do lot's of intake gaskets on both v-8's and v-6's. It's usually just a matter of time.

Ian

hummmm, I have a 4.3 in my truck. Having a hard time starting it sometimes, , but as soon as it does...it runs like a champ. Maybe I got a little vacuum leak in the manifold gasket...

Hmmm... indeed. Just before my fuel pump failed, my 4.3 was taking somewhat longer to start up. I hadn't really paid much attention, but my son took the truck one day, came back and said "Hey, Dad, have you noticed......" It ran OK once going. Then, out of the blue, it just died at the side of the road with zero warning - not a hiccup... nothing. The mechanic who replaced the pump told me that the mechanical injectors need about 55 psi to work right. When he tested it, it was only giving about 30 psi. Anyway, $340 later I was on my way. Kinda stumped me since I could still hear the pump run when I turned the key. Thought at first I'd lost spark.