Thread: Leaky LIM

may be a stupid question, but what probs can this cause? can it cause multiple cylinder misfires? p0420 code?

spun bearings.

mines been leaking for awhile, not a bad leak. ive only had to add coolant one time in over a year. i saw a thread somewhere on here about someone saying it caused misfires. Bio are familiar with my other posts about the multiple cylinder misfires i have been having, im trying to get to the root of the problem and was just curious about this.

yes, it can cause misfires because of the coolant leaking into they cylinders, but that isnt what youre really worried about. youre worried about coolant getting into the oil and destroying the bearings on the bottom end. just do the gasket change and be done with it.

thanks man, im no mechanic by far... but i didnt realize it could cause anything other than overheating... would it also give me a horrible exhaust smell in the cabin under moderate throttle? and possibly throw a p0420 code?

A leaking LIM gasket should only cause a misfire on the cylinder or cylinders it's closest to. That's if the gasket around the coolant port and cylinders are both bad.

Usually it'll leak into the engine oil or externally. Those are the most common issues.

my oil color looks normal... its puddling up around the injectors. i got an estimate awhile back to fix it... the ppl said it was a pinhole leak spraying very little coolant to the injectors and in the nooks and crannys of the S/C. im gonna go ahead and get it done... like i said im just curious if this could be causing some other probs im having as well. for the most part the horrible exhaust smell i get under moderate throttle.

Well, since the exhaust comes out of the pipes at the rear of your car, to smell it....you'd need to be driving in reverse.

Are you driving backwards?

Leaking onto the top of the LIM usually means the coolant/oil is seeping up the threads of a bolt. Using GM Pipe Sealant with PTFE or an equivalent on the LIM bolts when installing would keep this from happening again.

Being that you see it at an injector boss, it is also possible that the fluid is coming over over the edge of the LIM by the head and then leaking down in, or you have a leaking valve cover gasket. A valve cover gasket would mean oil and oil could be leaking on to your exhaust and choking you to death in the car while driving normally. Driving backwards would not smell.

thanks for the info, the smell im getting doesnt smell like burnin oil.. its smells really rich.