Safari Intake Manifold Gasket.

[Done Working]

Hi

Re:1998 Safari with 100,000 miles.

My van has been diagnosed with a bad intake manifold gasket and not sure how long it has been leaking. I was wondering if I should replace the gasket and hope that every thing else will hold and stay intact or should I have the engine rebuilt. My concern is that after having this work done the head gasket will decide to fail.

Any thought or suggestions would be appreciated. I have been quoted $2200 for a rebuild installed from a number of places.

Thank you.

Roman

[lwbfl]

If it's only the intake manifold gasket, that's all thats needed.  It should have nothing to do with the head gasket or require any other work.  Maybe I'm not understanding everything, but a leaking intake gasket will just cause the engine to lose it's vacuum and not get enough fuel.  Simply replacing the gasket will do the trick.

[wavery]

I agree with lwbfl but I will add one thing.

If you leave the intake manifold leaking, it can lead to bigger problems. A leaking intake manifold introduces cold air to the cylinder head (depending on where the leak is), often close to the intake valve. The introduction of air at that point is like adding oxygen to acetylene in a welding torch. It increases the temperature enough (in some cases) to burn a valve and/or valve seat.

If you are in doubt of the integrity of the rest of the engine, you may want to have a compression test done and/or an oil analysis. I certainly wouldn't recommend replacing the engine just because of an intake leak and/or high mileage.

An oil analysis (under $50) will reveal the metals that are contained in your used oil. From that, they can tell the condition of your camshaft bearings, crankshaft bearings, pistons, rings, cylinder walls and many other moving parts.

This is SOP on marine engines.

[Done Working]

Thanks guys,

Yeah it is the intake manifold gasket only. I will concentrate on  getting this replaced.

Wavery I like the suggestion of getting the oil analyzed but I haven't seen this service provided by anyone in my neck of the woods.

Thanks again.

[My3buicks]

I had a Safari, I had to replace it's intake manifold gasket - I got years of service from the vehicle with no addition issues.

[dirtracin]

Do you have a construction or an ag  dealer around your area? You can buy a oil kit and they will send it in to be checked

Thanks guys,

Yeah it is the intake manifold gasket only. I will concentrate on  getting this replaced.

Wavery I like the suggestion of getting the oil analyzed but I haven't seen this service provided by anyone in my neck of the woods.

Thanks again.