Good day my fellow Monte Carlo mates,

I have to replace my intake manifold or so Chevrolet says. When I read threads around here it seems like when it comes to the lower intake manifold that people are replacing the gaskets and not the entire manifold.

I was changing my oil yesterday and I looked at the upper and I could see oil splattered all where the bolts were. I know I'll probably need to replace that but does the lower go bad as well? I also haven't really been able to find any on the auto parts website. I find the upper many places but not the lower.

Also, how much should I be looking to spend for the part? I have already priced the labor to have the parts installed $275 for the upper and lower. Just trying to get a better figure of my total costs.

Thanks family.

 

Welcome to the MCF!

What engine are we talking about? 3800 non-supercharged? They do tend the crack upper intakes as they are plastic. A lot of people find they can be epoxied or Dorman sells the part cheap as a kit with gaskets. I don't think this could be the cause of oil spatters tho, so maybe the lower intake gasket does need to be changed too.

I can't help but suggest you try changing this yourself. If you change your own oil then you must be somewhat comfortable under the hood. Aside from saving $$$, this might be a nice opportunity to get to know your car better

 

Lower intake manifold gaskets are a known issue on all GM vehicles with the 3.4 litre 3400 engine from the late 1990's to the mid 2000's.

I had it on my Grand Am GT. I didn't have to replace the manifold though. It was an issue of the bolts loosening. You have to check them occasionally to make sure they're still torqued down properly. It's been a while since I got rid of the GA (7years). So I don't remember what kind of price it was. Besides, the work was done in the early 2000's. So the prices wouldn't be accurate anymore anyway. Sorry.

 

My intake manifold gasket wss leaking coolant and I heard a lot of bad things abot the lower ones as well. I replaced them both with fel-pro aluminium gaskets and dorman for the upper intake manifold gasket. I have a oic on my laptop of the old gasket. And let me say this. If I didn't replace them sooner it would of been terrible bad news

 

Thanks for all the replies.

Owens, how much did the lower gasket run you?