Lower Intake Gasket Leak?
 

Got my car (2002 Monte) serviced today and on the report from the shop there was a red flag for a lower intake gasket leak.

I've been perusing a few different places to see the effects of such a problem and a few accounts have clicked with some issues I've been having lately. My car has been sputtering on pick up while passing some people in traffic and whatnot. I haven't thought too much of it, as it usually goes away after the first pass.

With the gasket leak, I've seen in some posts online that it may contribute to the sputtering, or waffling of the engine during pick up and sometimes while idled.

I've got to make the drive home for the holidays on Monday (almost 300 miles) and I was curious if I should try and fix the leak beforehand, or if it would be possible to just wait to fix it til I go to my family mechanic at home?

Keep an eye on ALL OF YOUR FLUIDS.

If your oil is black and foamy, you shouldn't wait. If the oil is fine, then the gasket is just doing a little blowby and can wait until the family mechanic can do the teardown.

Have them replace with the new upgraded metal LIM gasket

I found out about the leak when I got my oil changed today. So, I would imagine the oil is fine for the time being.

I'm guessing any massive changes could happen between today and Monday, but that would depend on the severity of the leak, right?

My assumption is that you will be fine on the fresh fluids. Just make sure and pull over halfway on your trip for a bite to eat, and check your oil when you get out.

Keep a little extra in the trunk just in case you have to add a touch.

It only takes a minor amount of coolant in the wrong place to make you spin a bearing. Just sayin.

If it was bad enough, the person doing the oil change probably would have said something then and there. I would at least hope so...

It's up to you OP, we just share our opinions here :)

Forgive me for being a bit naive about the situation, but could you elaborate on this?

The crankshaft needs to be lubricated (with the oil that's in the crankcase). Water obviously separates from oil. Water + hot, quickly moving metal parts = spun bearing.