2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? - Focaljet

**natedog_1959** · 11-03-2008, 05:31 PM

Has anyone on the board had to change the intake manifold gaskets on a late model Chevy malibu? If so, how long did it take and is it something I could do with a decent set of hand tools and a weekend? Thanks in advance, Nate.

**blueovaldave** · 11-04-2008, 09:46 AM

Most of the guys here at the shop can do one in 4 - 6 hours.

Pretty involved, I would not say impossible with hand tools.

**zx3r_type** · 11-04-2008, 12:51 PM

It is pretty involved. I do them in about 3.5 hours. If you do it, make sure to get the updated Fel-Pro gaskets, and pay attention to the updated torque specs. The OEM style will just crap out on you again.

**natedog_1959** · 11-04-2008, 03:25 PM

I just realized that the oil and coolant will probably need to be replaced while doing this job. In that case, it will have to go to a shop. Thanks for your help. Nate

**EggYolk_Zetec_ZX3** · 11-05-2008, 04:04 PM

There is a class action lawsuit filed against GM for this gasket.

**natedog_1959** · 11-05-2008, 04:07 PM

Do you think it will be cleared up by tomorrow when my wifes car goes in? Maybe I can use it against them to get them to lower the price. I will tell them that if they charge me less now it will be less they will have to pay me back after the lawsuit is settled. Nate

**EggYolk_Zetec_ZX3** · 11-05-2008, 04:55 PM

Link for you... there is a bunch of info on this though. Good luck!

http://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool.html

**TXFO** · 11-05-2008, 06:16 PM

I've done a million of these. anytime a 3.1, 3.8, or 3.4 comes in, intake gaskets are EASY MONEY.

they are ALWAYS leaking.

Just make sure to keep track of your pushrods, DONT MIX THEM UP!!!!

and yeah, change the oil before starting it for the first time!!! unless you WANT to kill the motor. And dont be alarmed if it runs crappy for the first minute or so.

**Jlongoria9** · 11-05-2008, 07:52 PM

are u sure its the gasket? these cars like to overheat because the fan relays crap out. all the ones i've seen have had heads repaired.

**natedog_1959** · 11-05-2008, 08:26 PM

Fans seem to work fine. There is definitely oil/coolant leaking at multiple places on around the gaskets and the coolant in the resevoir looks to have some oil mixed with it. The engine runs like a champ so I don't think there is anything wrong with the heads. I guess we have been lucky to get 120k miles out of it before having this work done. Nate

**2xtremefocus** · 11-05-2008, 10:34 PM

I see these all the time at work. The 3.4L is the worst for it. Some of the GM V6's also had issues with popping head gaskets too. Not as often as the intake manifold gasket, but it did happen.

**zx3r_type** · 11-05-2008, 11:25 PM

While the intake is off, change the o-ring on the distributor hole plug. They like to leak oil. I change it every time I do one.

**natedog_1959** · 11-06-2008, 06:39 AM

Thanks for the tip. Nate

11-03-2008, 05:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
natedog_1959 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,522	2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? Has anyone on the board had to change the intake manifold gaskets on a late model Chevy malibu? If so, how long did it take and is it something I could do with a decent set of hand tools and a weekend? Thanks in advance, Nate. __________________ 2004 SVT Focus Black w/ red inserts, HID's, Audiophile. Show: Euro Upper Grille, Tinted Corners, 5% tint on rear three windows, Stock 6-spoke SVT wheels. Go: Steeda STS, SRI, STB, 2 Mounts, MSD Coil/Wires, Side Gapped Cu Plugs, SS Brake Lines, F2 Rear Sway, SRF Throttle Body, ORP, Borla Exhaust, Grounding Kit, SVT Salvage battery box and Odyssey battery, COSDEVSVT Harness Bar, Corbeau Harness, 215/45/17 RE-01R's, Multimatic/KYB suspension, P-51 shims, Centric rotors/Hawk HPS pads.

11-04-2008, 12:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
zx3r_type Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Denmark, Wisconsin Posts: 1,550	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? It is pretty involved. I do them in about 3.5 hours. If you do it, make sure to get the updated Fel-Pro gaskets, and pay attention to the updated torque specs. The OEM style will just crap out on you again. __________________ 03 Infra-Red SVTF 5 door, HID's, Winter Package, Audiophile Saleen Suspension, AEM Intake, FC ORP, Borla Flex Back, FC 65mm Throttle Body, All 3 VF Engineering Motor Mounts, Screamin Demon Coil and FR wires, Tune by Hypnotic, ST170 Grille, WW Midwing, Hail Damage Mod. 04 Sonic Blue Ranger XLT Ext. Cab 4x4 4.0 M/T Magnaflow Split Rear Exhaust, K&N Intake, Tune by Hypnotic, Lund Racerback, Westin Brush Guard .

11-04-2008, 03:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
natedog_1959 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,522	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? I just realized that the oil and coolant will probably need to be replaced while doing this job. In that case, it will have to go to a shop. Thanks for your help. Nate __________________ 2004 SVT Focus Black w/ red inserts, HID's, Audiophile. Show: Euro Upper Grille, Tinted Corners, 5% tint on rear three windows, Stock 6-spoke SVT wheels. Go: Steeda STS, SRI, STB, 2 Mounts, MSD Coil/Wires, Side Gapped Cu Plugs, SS Brake Lines, F2 Rear Sway, SRF Throttle Body, ORP, Borla Exhaust, Grounding Kit, SVT Salvage battery box and Odyssey battery, COSDEVSVT Harness Bar, Corbeau Harness, 215/45/17 RE-01R's, Multimatic/KYB suspension, P-51 shims, Centric rotors/Hawk HPS pads.

11-05-2008, 04:04 PM	#5 (permalink)
EggYolk_Zetec_ZX3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bentonville, Arkansas/Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 3,184	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? There is a class action lawsuit filed against GM for this gasket. __________________ Current Car - MkV GTI 2.0T Reflex Silver w/DSG Previous Car - 2002 Sonic Blue SVT #2769 of 4788 Built June 13, 2002 Wife's Car - 2007 Silver Birch Metallic Ford Fusion SE

11-05-2008, 04:07 PM	#6 (permalink)
natedog_1959 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,522	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? Do you think it will be cleared up by tomorrow when my wifes car goes in? Maybe I can use it against them to get them to lower the price. I will tell them that if they charge me less now it will be less they will have to pay me back after the lawsuit is settled. Nate __________________ 2004 SVT Focus Black w/ red inserts, HID's, Audiophile. Show: Euro Upper Grille, Tinted Corners, 5% tint on rear three windows, Stock 6-spoke SVT wheels. Go: Steeda STS, SRI, STB, 2 Mounts, MSD Coil/Wires, Side Gapped Cu Plugs, SS Brake Lines, F2 Rear Sway, SRF Throttle Body, ORP, Borla Exhaust, Grounding Kit, SVT Salvage battery box and Odyssey battery, COSDEVSVT Harness Bar, Corbeau Harness, 215/45/17 RE-01R's, Multimatic/KYB suspension, P-51 shims, Centric rotors/Hawk HPS pads.

11-05-2008, 04:55 PM	#7 (permalink)
EggYolk_Zetec_ZX3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Bentonville, Arkansas/Grand Rapids, Michigan Posts: 3,184	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? Link for you... there is a bunch of info on this though. Good luck! http://www.girardgibbs.com/dexcool.html __________________ Current Car - MkV GTI 2.0T Reflex Silver w/DSG Previous Car - 2002 Sonic Blue SVT #2769 of 4788 Built June 13, 2002 Wife's Car - 2007 Silver Birch Metallic Ford Fusion SE

11-05-2008, 06:16 PM	#8 (permalink)
TXFO Not Special Enough Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: My sweet insanity Posts: 13,561	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? I've done a million of these. anytime a 3.1, 3.8, or 3.4 comes in, intake gaskets are EASY MONEY. they are ALWAYS leaking. Just make sure to keep track of your pushrods, DONT MIX THEM UP!!!! and yeah, change the oil before starting it for the first time!!! unless you WANT to kill the motor. And dont be alarmed if it runs crappy for the first minute or so. __________________ German and Italian car tech. Fixin to adjust the knob to HIGH POWERED. black belt at the drunk as balls dojo.

11-05-2008, 08:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
natedog_1959 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,522	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? Fans seem to work fine. There is definitely oil/coolant leaking at multiple places on around the gaskets and the coolant in the resevoir looks to have some oil mixed with it. The engine runs like a champ so I don't think there is anything wrong with the heads. I guess we have been lucky to get 120k miles out of it before having this work done. Nate __________________ 2004 SVT Focus Black w/ red inserts, HID's, Audiophile. Show: Euro Upper Grille, Tinted Corners, 5% tint on rear three windows, Stock 6-spoke SVT wheels. Go: Steeda STS, SRI, STB, 2 Mounts, MSD Coil/Wires, Side Gapped Cu Plugs, SS Brake Lines, F2 Rear Sway, SRF Throttle Body, ORP, Borla Exhaust, Grounding Kit, SVT Salvage battery box and Odyssey battery, COSDEVSVT Harness Bar, Corbeau Harness, 215/45/17 RE-01R's, Multimatic/KYB suspension, P-51 shims, Centric rotors/Hawk HPS pads.

11-05-2008, 10:34 PM	#11 (permalink)
2xtremefocus [FJ] Specialist Join Date: May 2004 Location: Whittaker, MI Posts: 5,372	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? I see these all the time at work. The 3.4L is the worst for it. Some of the GM V6's also had issues with popping head gaskets too. Not as often as the intake manifold gasket, but it did happen. __________________ 2006 Ford F-150 XL 2005 Suzuki SV650N Hopefully, a 2011 Focus or Fiesta when they hit the market

11-05-2008, 11:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
zx3r_type Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Denmark, Wisconsin Posts: 1,550	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? While the intake is off, change the o-ring on the distributor hole plug. They like to leak oil. I change it every time I do one. __________________ 03 Infra-Red SVTF 5 door, HID's, Winter Package, Audiophile Saleen Suspension, AEM Intake, FC ORP, Borla Flex Back, FC 65mm Throttle Body, All 3 VF Engineering Motor Mounts, Screamin Demon Coil and FR wires, Tune by Hypnotic, ST170 Grille, WW Midwing, Hail Damage Mod. 04 Sonic Blue Ranger XLT Ext. Cab 4x4 4.0 M/T Magnaflow Split Rear Exhaust, K&N Intake, Tune by Hypnotic, Lund Racerback, Westin Brush Guard .

11-06-2008, 06:39 AM	#13 (permalink)
natedog_1959 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,522	Re: 2000 Chevy Malibu Intake Manifold Gasket? Thanks for the tip. Nate __________________ 2004 SVT Focus Black w/ red inserts, HID's, Audiophile. Show: Euro Upper Grille, Tinted Corners, 5% tint on rear three windows, Stock 6-spoke SVT wheels. Go: Steeda STS, SRI, STB, 2 Mounts, MSD Coil/Wires, Side Gapped Cu Plugs, SS Brake Lines, F2 Rear Sway, SRF Throttle Body, ORP, Borla Exhaust, Grounding Kit, SVT Salvage battery box and Odyssey battery, COSDEVSVT Harness Bar, Corbeau Harness, 215/45/17 RE-01R's, Multimatic/KYB suspension, P-51 shims, Centric rotors/Hawk HPS pads.

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