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2008 Grand Prix 3.8 III Series Coolant leak

Definitely some sludge, and I see a lot of gasket material on the pump face so I'd be extra thorough removing this (without damaging the gasket surface) but nothing unexpected. my bet would be the bottom part of this channel is the leak point. You'll definitely want to replace that gasket (I recommend felpro's)

P.S. if you don't own the tool to remove the harmonic balancer, The one you rent from advanced, oriley, and autozone ALL don't have the correct bolts you need (ask me how I know...). Autozone is the only local place I've found with the right bolts for rent or purchase. They're cheap, but they're a separate "GM bolt set". Hope this saves you an extra trip to the store!

Nice work so far!
 


Also, I used the sealant that the guy at the parts shop suggested when I did the gasket the first time. I've read here the it is a dry gasket. Could that be the real issue? Should I have actually sealed the 4 long bolts instead of the gasket?

Once I started taking the small bolts off of the water pump coolant started leaking. When I got to the front bottom long bolt it started pouring out. Nothing came out of the top front hole and that was the first one removed.
 
make sure you are scraping off all that old gasket on the cover and pump. just a little chunk of old crap can cause a leak.

and i see lots of old black stock gasket on there still. take a sharp razor blade to it, you can lock the blade into a vise grip to be safe if you dont have a scrapper.
 
Yeah. Not a clean surface at all from what I see and no. Don't listen to the autoparts guys they know nothing. This is a dry gasket, do not use sealer on this and don't use oil. You'll regret it. Go with the felpro gasket, it's not paper, and it's a lot more durable. Then coat the threads and under heads of bolts with black rtv to be sure (you don't need a lot, be sparing). Sounds like this could be part of your leak problem.
 
Okay, back to the parts store I go.

Thanks you guys for the help so far. I feel a lot less like I'm stabbing in the dark now. I still really want to avoid the timing chain cover because I feel like I'm going to mess something up if I do it, but so far it seems like that's my next point of failure if it isn't already so it needs to be done.
 
the draining of coolant is normal, the little bolts let the coolant out the pump, the long ones let it out the block, why the bolts need thread sealant. little one dont need sealant, use a new gasket and install it dry, do scrape all that crap off till its nothing but shinny metal. if need be you can use fine sand paper if any is so stuck on your digging into the metal. just dont sand a dip in the cover, stay on the black paper.
 


Scottydoggs said:
https://www.zoro.com/permatex-threa...CACfHWD-6qIbh1YvD0Je13mK74MSUz5gaArGKEALw_wcB

this is thread sealant to get. any one with ptfe
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I picked up!

Having an issue with the pulley pull. I got the bolt puller but for the life of me I cannot get the damn thing pulled. I read all the threads I could find and I think I am doing it correctly but I keep getting one of the three bolts slipping out before I get the pulley off. I rented a kit from the parts store and the bolts there sucked so I went and bought a set from another parts store and those bolts seemed a lot snugger a fit but none of them are going in straight, they all angle in, which I guess makes sense giving the angle of the surface of the pulley, but one slips loose every damn time.

I did remove the tapered end and stock a socket extension in the hole to make sure I'm not pulling the pulley against itself.

I'm taking a short break before getting back to it in the dark. Went and bought a small work like to help because I have to get this done tonight.
 
puller bolts for the harmonic balancer are "three bolts M6 x 1.00 and 70-75mm in length."

http://www.grandprixforums.net/threads/60906-How-to-replace-a-crank-sensor pics dont work but the info is still there.


 


Haha I actually was just thinking that too! And I know this is going to sound stupid for asking, but you did the the crank bolt out right??
 
Yeah, still leaking after the new gasket and sealing up the water pump bolts. I poured half a gallon in and it was weeping out from right below the waterpump/timing cover connection.

And I'm an idiot with the pulley pull (yeah, I got the crank bolt out using the ratchet/starter trick), I was thinking the bolts caught on the front side of the pulley, not realizing they would actually thread deeper in the pulley. So I was focusing on the exterior connection. Went to Home Depot and they only had 1 damn set of M6 1.0 75mm. So I had to get that and a single 1/4 28 3". Got it all set-up and ready to go. Should have doubled up the washers because they looked about to fail right before I felt the pulley give and slide out.

So, pulley is finally out and now I get to unbolt things I guess.
 
Had to stop last night because the neighborhood dogs weren't happy with the noise.

Finally got the cover off, it took a lot of prying and wiggling to get off. Will try to upload pics of the gasket.
 
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what yo should be looking for is a blow out of the gasket near where the coolant flows, or from anther bolt. or a crack in the cover.
 
i cant really see the gasket clearly from that angle. but you know a blow out when you see one.

when you put the new gasket in, first scrape it all clean. i mean spotless. then the oil pan and two inches up the block on both sides put rtv, then install the gasket, put more rtv on the gasket the same 2 inches up, then put the cover back on.

make sure the crank seal looks ok too, no chips or anything.
 
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