Strong Coolant leak. Regal LS 97

[strider]

Hello,
My car (Regal LS 97 3.8L) got strong coolant leak to the ground. Seems to leak from lower intake manifold gasket (middle lower part of engine, from passenger side at least). Coolant reservoir empty even though I added some coolant a week ago. Also there's 'low coolant' light on.
I would like to add distilled water only for couple of weeks, while I'm looking into this. Have read several articles, some say water may boil and damage hoses, reservoir etc., but they say it depends on the engine working temperature.
Is it safe to run just on distilled water?
Weather is hot in my area, the only way it could get frozen is if its the middle of winter.
The amount of parts to remove to replace the gasket seems awful, and I need this car for 1 year at most. One need to remove upper intake manifold 1st. I even doubt I will be able to assemble it all back correctly. Thus I'm looking for least effort consuming solution that would work for 2 months-1 year.
Is there a way to seal the gasket from outside?
May be some glue? I have a small glue gun, could it be used for this?
I think the leak is too strong to use some additives.
Thank you very much.

 

[strider]

I was advised to use external sealant that hardens after application.
Anybody knows a sealant that would stay more or less solid for engine working temperature?

 

[HotZ28]

I have never heard of anyone sealing a LIM gasket leak from the outside! Are you sure the leak is not coming from the coolant elbow, or o-rings shown as Items #319 & 321 in the attached link?
http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...1997&ukey_category=19398&ukey_trimLevel=15042

 

[strider]

I have never heard of anyone sealing a LIM gasket leak from the outside! Are you sure the leak is not coming from the coolant elbow, or o-rings shown as Items #319 & 321 in the attached link?
http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...1997&ukey_category=19398&ukey_trimLevel=15042

I will double check, thank you. I wish I'd be wrong, than it should be a much easier job to do🙂

 

[strider]

I have never heard of anyone sealing a LIM gasket leak from the outside! Are you sure the leak is not coming from the coolant elbow, or o-rings shown as Items #319 & 321 in the attached link?
http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...1997&ukey_category=19398&ukey_trimLevel=15042

Just rechecked, I think you're right it leaks from o-ring on the engine side. I recently flushed whole cooling system, therefore coolant almost transparent and its really hard to tell where exactly the leak starts even on clean surface. You must be really good at this to guess the actual reason without even seeing the car!
I will try replacing o-ring anyway. Do I need to drain coolant 1st?
Are there other cheap parts besides o-ring that likely need to be replaced, so that I could buy them as well?
Need to remove alternator or it can stay?

 

[strider]

deleted

 

[strider]

Having hard time finding the o-rings to buy. Tried both coolant elbow ring and heater water by-pass inlet pipe ring (this name used in GM shop book 1) - no such thing on NAPA and rockauto sites.
There're lots of rings on rockauto site, but how to choose the correct one?

 

[HotZ28]

You must be really good at this to guess the actual reason without even seeing the car!

Been there, done that! You need to replace the existing plastic elbow with an aluminum elbow, which is supplied with the 0-rings as shown in the following links. The 1997 3.8L only had one elbow! You will have to remove the tensioner & should replace the 0-ring there also as shown in the last link.

Do I need to drain coolant 1st?

Drain about 1-gal and you should be ok!

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...=Search_03867_1019865_1885&pt=03867&ppt=C0331
http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/gates,9105119,heater+hose+connector,6876
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1309871&cc=1021419&jsn=425

Fitment:
BUICK ALLURE 2005-2009
BUICK LACROSSE 2005-2009
BUICK LESABRE 1996-2005
BUICK LUCERNE 2006-2008
BUICK PARK AVENUE 1995-2005
BUICK REGAL 1996-2004
BUICK RIVIERA 1995-1999
CHEVROLET CAMARO 1995-2002
CHEVROLET IMPALA 2000-2005
CHEVROLET LUMINA 1998-1999
CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 1998-2005
OLDSMOBILE 88 1995-1999
OLDSMOBILE 98 1995-1996
OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE 1998-1999
OLDSMOBILE LSS 1996-1999
OLDSMOBILE REGENCY 1997-1998
PONTIAC BONNEVILLE 1995-2005
PONTIAC FIREBIRD 1995-2002
PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 1997-2008
Please refer to catalog for application details.

 

[strider]

Been there, done that! You need to replace the existing plastic elbow with an aluminum elbow, which is supplied with the 0-rings as shown in the following links. The 1997 3.8L only had one elbow! You will have to remove the tensioner & should replace the 0-ring there also as shown in the last link. Drain about 1-gal and you should be ok!

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d...=Search_03867_1019865_1885&pt=03867&ppt=C0331
http://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/gates,9105119,heater+hose+connector,6876
http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1309871&cc=1021419&jsn=425

Thanks very helpful, thank you!
Parts from yours links to rockauto shipped from different places.
Do you know alternative part numbers so that I try to choose those that come from same place?
Or is there an algorithm I can find alternative part numbers myself?
Shipping from rockauto cost more than parts themself. There's only NAPA & Advanced auto in our town and I don't have another car to go to another town.
If I could combine shipping on rockauto would order other parts also.

Found your old post on same issue for older cars
http://www.automotiveforums.com/t764169-plastic_coolant_bypass_fitting__vin_l_3800_.html
Are the part numbers listed here fit my car also?

 

[strider]

Do I need only 1 0-ring besides those 2 that come with aluminum elbow?

 

[HotZ28]

There's only NAPA & Advanced auto in our town and I don't have another car to go to another town.

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NBG9105119?searchCategory=5.6&searchIndex=App

- - - Updated - - -

Do I need only 1 0-ring besides those 2 that come with aluminum elbow?

Yes, you will need the one that goes between the tensioner and the engine. Napa should be able to supply that also. If not NAPA, they should still be available from the dealer as shown as Item #328. http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...1997&ukey_category=19398&ukey_trimLevel=15042
SEAL,DRV BELT TENSR(SEAL-0.799" ID,0.1.03 X-SECT DIA). Required: 01For: W 3.8-1(L67) (1997-1998) ACDELCO 24502846

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3885342&jsn=481

Found your old post on same issue for older cars
http://www.automotiveforums.com/t764...n_l_3800_.html
Are the part numbers listed here fit my car also?

No, that is for the Series I engine which is totally different fittings.

http://buickforums.com/forums/threads/38622-hard-to-find-coolant-leak?highlight=coolant+bypass

 

[strider]

https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/NBG9105119?searchCategory=5.6&searchIndex=App

Was gonna ask already if thats the right part🙂 thank you!
Price from rockauto with shipping the same & no need to wait for a week.

 

[strider]

http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1309871&cc=1021419&jsn=425

Don't want to be mean, but this link from 1st page (May 31st, 2017, 01:30 AM) leads to a ring with different part # (Inside Diameter 17.02 MM) than link in your last post (Inside Diameter 20.32 mm).
Thats quite a difference in inside diameter. Is the link to o-ring on rockauto on 1st page wrong?

 

[strider]

I called to NAPA about o-ring, representative was not very helpful even though I gave him all part numbers from rockauto listing and explained where the ring goes. Basically said I need to bring the original o-ring.

 

[HotZ28]

Don't want to be mean, but this link from 1st page (May 31st, 2017, 01:30 AM) leads to a ring with different part # (Inside Diameter 17.02 MM) than link in your last post (Inside Diameter 20.32 mm).
Thats quite a difference in inside diameter. Is the link to o-ring on rockauto on 1st page wrong?

Sorry for the confusion and you are correct, the one in the first post is the o-ring for the elbow. Here is the correct one from RockAuto: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3885342&jsn=9
And from:http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...ant-Pack-of-5-Pack-of-5/2997101/24502846.html

 

[strider]

Sorry for the confusion and you are correct, the one in the first post is the o-ring for the elbow. Here is the correct one from RockAuto: http://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=3885342&jsn=9
And from: http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...y-Pack-of-10-Pack-of-10/3010864/25537068.html

sorry, but again these 2 links for different rings. I believe the 1st link on rockauto is for correct ring, and the 2nd wholesalegmpartsonline link is NOT for the tensioner.
I need GM 24502846 ring for tensioner, right?
If yes, I'm going to order this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GM-24502846-Cooling-System-Misc-Engine-Coolant-Pipe-O-Ring-/262982399569
Could you please confirm this is correct ring for tensioner?
Listing says genuine GM and part # seems correct, also diameter listed is the same as shown here
http://www.wholesalegmpartsonline.c...ant-Pack-of-5-Pack-of-5/2997101/24502846.html

 

[HotZ28]

I guess I had too many wholesalegmpartsonline tabs open when I first posted, so I edited the link in my previous post to give you the right part for the tensioner. Yes, it is Part # 24502846.

 

[strider]

I guess I had too many wholesalegmpartsonline tabs open when I first posted, so I edited the link in my previous post to give you the right part for the tensioner. Yes, it is Part # 24502846.

I'm sure you have lots of stuff to do besides helping me🙂
Ordered this ring http://www.ebay.com/itm/262982399569
Just found I can add to your reputation in posts. Will do that for your every post here once I'm done with ordering stuff🙂

 

[HotZ28]

Thank you for the kind comment. Keep us updated on the progress.

 

[strider]

Removed belt and alternator and noticed that idler pulley on belt tensioner has minor wobble for about 1mm (2mm max) when it pushed by hand back and forth in horizontal direction. Is this normal or better to replace the pulley?
Pulley is made from black plastic.
Here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axAltpW8wR4
people replace just the pulley keeping old tensioner. Is it possible for this car?