Alero possible head or manifold gasket leak?

It still misses when it is cold. Just started doing it again.

It still misses when it is cold. Just started doing it again.

Did you check/replace the manifold gasket as Chevrolet suggested?

I have not replaced it. I do not see any external leaks. What else would I check for, without taking it apart.

You can try pressure checks of the cooling system. Some of those leaks may show up externally, others may leak internally. Since you had to add coolant, it makes it a bit suspicious.

People used to blame the DexCool, but I think it goes further than that. The gaskets themselves were questionable, and installation methods have been blamed as well.

FelPro has a set of gaskets that I would use if I were going to do this job. I wouldnt use DexCool, but it has nothing to do with the gasket issue.

You know, of course, that any time you remove a spark plug cable, as you had to do when you replaced the plug, there is a definite risk that the cable may fail due to its delicate internal structure.

Im not saying you DO have a leak, but dont dismiss the idea just because you cant see coolant running down the heads or block.

n message

You know i looked at the ignition module end of the spark plug wire and it was a bit corroded. I am going to clean it and see if that makes a difference.

Easy to happen. When you have the DIS system, you won't stutter with just one cylinder...automatically two will be weak..

jdmcfish wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@u69g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

snipped-for-privacy@d4g2000prg.googlegroups.com

Up down up down up down, like a toilet seat. That's what this thread is. Who said what, and when? Who the f*** knows?

Ordinarily I snip and rewrap any post I reply to, but this one is so marvelously confusing and wonderfully obfuscated by various clueless pogo-posters as to be virtually impossible to follow. For this reason I have left it as-is, as an example.

Add to that Outhouse's total failure to wrap quotes properly and you have a complete mess. Disgusting.

Sorry for the OT rant. Rant mode is "off" now.

Are you still loosing water? Usually if you are leaking in to a cylinder that plug will be very clean when u pull it as the water steam cleans the cylinder.

At this point I wouldn't be assuming head gasket without more proof.

Steve B.

Hell - a good rant is a good rant. I use Outlook Express and I don't have any problem posting consistently beneath the applicable text. No wrap problems either. The pogo stick thing is purely a poster issue, not a reader issue.

I am not losing any water now. I did take another look at the old thermostat and it seemed to be physically stuck. And it had scrape marks on it. I just cleaned the plug wire connection on the coil pack a little bit ago. We'll see when I go home if it does the trick.

In my experience, you seldom can estimate the condition of a plug wire just by looking at it (unless it is burned in two, of course.) Measure the resistance with a good VOM, or just replace them if you think they are bad.