Hello,

Some of you may recall that a few weeks ago I had a coolant leak on the engine block and I posted a picture of where I thought the issue may have been. The consensus was that it was probably the Cooling Manifold gasket ( # 529) on the drawing. I replaced that thinking all was well, but have since noticed the continuation of the coolant leak. The stain on the engine block is still there and when I placed my fingers wayyyy under the cooling manifoild (#530), I can feel a oily residue that is kinda sweet smelling. This is something I really have to reach underneath to find, but I am guessing that this may be the LIM gasket(s) (#532) since I really do not see anything else that is could be?

Any thoughts on what this could be?

and how much would a typical shop charge to fix?

and what replacement gasket would I need??

Thanks!

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

I was quoted just under a grand out here.. decided to do it myself.

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Darn, sorry the gasket on that door thing didn't solve it. The job is pretty easy (at least it was on a GT when I did it). The gaskets that you should get are the aluminum GM ones, not the crappy plastic ones. ZZP sells the aluminum ones for roughly 50 dollars included the rubber ends as well #533. You would always want to get a S/C gasket, coolant elbows (for the coolant bypass thing on the left side of the LIM), and some sort of gasket sealer (the recommended stuff to use is GM anaerobic sealer).

I would check the thermostat gasket though real quick just to make sure that it's not leaking as well.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Hey there!

So is the consensus that it probably is the LIM gasket???

That job would be way too big for me so I will have to see what my shop would charge.

I will check ZZP for the gasket and the rubber ends. You also mentioned the S/C gasket, and coolant elbows? Are those really needed or just as a precaution? Are they on drawing by chance? I am not sure what those part numbers would be for those.


I am assuming that the gasket in the pic is the gasket I need...... anything else??



Thanks for the help!

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

Yup that pic is of the LIM gaskets and ends. The diagram in your first post is actually of the L36/L26 N/A engine so it doesn't show the supercharger gasket and I'm not actually sure if it's a reusable item or not, but for 9 bucks new from ZZP I would just buy it and replace it just to be on the safe side. The diagram also doesn't show the coolant elbows, which can be reused but it seems as though they always break when taking off the heater hose bracket and/or LIM since they are brittle plastic. I bought my elbows from pepboys for like 3 bucks in the help! section.


The S/C gasket is #528 in this pic.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

The weird thing about this whole situation is that I intially felt some residue as I reached further under the intake below the cooling manifold....... I decided to clean it off as best I could and drove the vehicle yesterday.....then let the engine cool......I felt under the intake again and did not feel anything. So I am wondering if this is a really really slow leak and I should wait and monitor before fixing?? and the stain on the engine is just the same stain from the cooling manifold leak??

I would hate to go through all is this and find out it was something else....

maybe it is just wishful thinking?? haha

so what are the symptoms of LIM gasket leaks?

Thanks

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

If you follow ur supercharger down to the injectors there a little valley there right above the valve cover and if the LIM gasket is leaking you should see coolant (and oil in some cases) sitting in that valley. If I'm not mistaken the 2004 models still got the plastic gaskets which are the ones that fail quite often.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

This area in which I felt the residue was under the cooling manifold area, but way inboard towards the center of the engine block. I did not realize there was so much open area under that cooling manifold area. I was abe to feel the underside of the top intake and that where I felt the residue.

I wish there was a better picture of the engine where I coould pinpoint the location.

-- Mon Oct 04, 2010 12:00 pm --

Good news....!!

The performance shop I use quoted me on $320 to replace the LIM gaskets. I will provide the parts from ZZP. I also ordered the SC gasket and coolant elbows.

I am hoping this all works as I am tired of fixing this car.

I want to enhance this car!

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

I had mine done for about $500, but that was 4 years ago.... I don't trust myself with this kind of repair. Been too long since I've spun a wrench on something serious for me to have that kinda confidence in my own abilities.

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

So how common is the LIM issue on GPs? Sounds like it happens often??

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

It's pretty common. The LIM gasket has some serious weak points, but the replacements seem to have them pretty well covered.

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2012 Ford Focus SE Sport
2012 MINI Cooper Clubman

I have ADHD and drive a Focus. Ironically.
Although gold dust is precious, when it gets in your eyes, it obstructs your vision.

Thanks for all your help guys! We shall see what happens on Friday when I take it in.


..if it turns out NOT to be the LIM, then what else could this be??

and what would happen if I did not get this fixed?

Just curious!

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

Really? I never would have guessed

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Man this sucks.....

This evening....I checked that same location where I felt the oily residue this weekend and nothing. It is dry..... Dang...

I hate these guessing games! But I guess better be safe than sorry??

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

It turned out that it was a T-Stat gasket issue and NOT a LIM issue. Whew!

$10 bucks to the person who guesses the next problem my car experiences!

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

That's a relief. I did mention to check that so do I get the golden kewpie doll?

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Yes! it was a relief! And yes you get the Golden Kewpie Doll and if you can predict my vehicle's next ailment... you get her sister too

By the way, did GM change the LIM gaskets design in 04? or later? or maybe never?

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.

That is actually a good question. There was a thread about this before and I'm not sure what the outcome of it was. The plastic ones were used in all the 97-03, and from what I've found and heard they were also used in 04, then switched to aluminum in 05. But not positive on that. I know my 04 had plastic and I know others who have an 04 also had plastic ones.

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Dubs:00 VW GTI VR6, Low and Slow 91 VW GTI 8v, Shave the Bay!! 91 VW Cabriolet 8v, bitch Basket
GP's:04 GP GT, Past now G-Ma's Girlfriend's 97 GP GT, "Project Pink Power"

Damn thing is a Black LIM gasket and not Aluminium. Once I get Rockers I should go ahead and replace it.

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2009 G8 GT -Sport and Premium Pkgs, Roto-Fab CAI, Cortex 93 Octane Tune, Billet Prototype Catch Can, BMR Front and Rear Sways, BMR RTAs, BMR Rear Cradle Bushings, BMR Steering Rack Bushing, GXP SW......and much more to come.