Tracing down a small coolant leak yesterday in my 2003 SS. I found it coming out at the location of the bolt at the bottom of the water pump, I'm hoping it's just the gasket. BUT - in filling the coolant to get me through the next couple days, I noticed for the first time a very thin brown slick floating on top of the coolant in the reservoir.

I hope I've caught this very early, I just fixed the coolant elbows several weeks ago and there was no sludge then. There's no nasty film under the oil filler cap yet either. So how long do I have? I've already ordered upper and lower intake manifold gaskets and fuel injector o-rings (thermostat, water pump gasket and temp sensor too since I'm going to be in there). What other parts should I be replacing since I'm going to try to fix this myself? I'm hoping there's some good advice out there on what "gotcha's" to look for.

BTW - really disappointed to have to do this repair. I'm not a mech wizard but I don't have the money to pay anyone else. I really thought the 3800's didn't have this problem 'cause they used better gaskets or something like that. Guess I heard way wrong

 

Are you certain that it isn't just Dexcool sludge?

 

If there isnt coolant in the oil I wouldn't worry.

 

Agreed, you may be jumping the gun a little by ordering parts right now.

 

I'd love to think I don't have to do this right now (or ever). I remembered last night that I put some rust inhibitor in with the new coolant after changing the elbows. Never thought about dex cool since that's been gone for a few years but now I wonder if maybe that kicked up some of the old dex cool sludge in the system. It kind of looks like that more than oil, except it separates and floats on top of the coolant like oil would instead of sinking to the bottom like I would think sludge would. I'm not sure what to think. Once it gets cold around here it's going to be much harder to change out those parts.

 

There are UPGRADED gaskets that you should buy if you are doing this job. Aluminum instead of the nylon.

3800s are prone to this, they AREN'T prone to headgasket failures like the 3100. Mostly LIM failures.

That sludge you are noticing, is most likely, just your basic dexcool sludge. Clean everything you can reach, and flush your coolant out. Then put in some distilled and run it through a few times.

 

Thank you all for the encouraging words, sludge would be a lot easier to deal with!!

I definitely feel better if it's probably not the LIM. Even if the parts sit for a long time at least I can still drive to work tomorrow. I bought the FELPRO part MS98014T which is supposed to have a steel core. The description says -

"The new Fel-Pro PermaDryPlus gasket features a high-strength aluminized steel carrier that is edge molded and encapsulated with a proprietary fluoroelastomer (FKM) material. In addition, the new gasket features three separate sealing beads around coolant ports to ensure a long-lasting seal under any situation."

Would that be the one you would recommend?

 

I believe that's the correct aluminum one.

 

I really think you should check the oil/flush the coolant first. Replacing lim gaskets is kind of unnecessary right now isnt it?

 

Trusting the forum and leaving UIM/LIM gaskets alone, I'll just leave 'em on the shelf and wait until the creamy stuff shows up on the oil cap. Hopefully it won't for a long, long time, if ever. I can see oil seepage at the LIM corners but I suppose everybody has that. Ended up replacing the water pump because of the original coolant leak. It was probably just the gasket but it wasn't expensive so why not since I'm in there anyway. Wouldn't have been too bad but it got dark about the halfway point and a work light just ain't the same as broad daylight. I hate coolant elbows but I love the forum! Thanks everyone!!