Orange Gunk in Passage beneath Plenum

[Compguy]

I am new here so and though handy not a car 'pro'. I need some help. After removing the plastic intake manifold, and removing the plenum (research said replace those gaskets whenever replacing upper plastic manifold) I noticed a passageway FILLED/BLOCKED with orange-ish gunk (see photo). Is my engine shot? Is this contaminated coolant? I've attached a photo and would be very grateful for any advice. thanks

 

[DonP]

Looks like what I saw on a Chevy 3.1 and the 3800 when I did the LIM gaskets. IT looks like the deteriorated DEXCOOL that has sort of crystalized.
Further the chevy was leaking coolant into the oil when I discovered it, had dumped about a quart into the oil when discovered (A car used by a friend).

The Chevy has run for nearly 5 years since discovery, and the LeSabre is 2 years past the repair job.

If the engine ran before yo started the project, it is not ruined.
Just clean it out as best you can. Don't let the crud fall into the cylinders or the space between the banks.

 

[imidazol97]

I am new here so and though handy not a car 'pro'. I need some help. After removing the plastic intake manifold, and removing the plenum (research said replace those gaskets whenever replacing upper plastic manifold) I noticed a passageway FILLED/BLOCKED with orange-ish gunk (see photo). Is my engine shot? Is this contaminated coolant? I've attached a photo and would be very grateful for any advice. thanks

I don't have a used lower intake to look at again, but I believe that's the dead end passage where there is no opening in the lower intake manifold (LIM) to match. So the goop collects there. The color is from the DexCool dye and from the brown in the ground almond shells that were put in as a stop seep material.

It would be a good indicator that as soon as the intake job is finished, I'd do a good flush on the cooling system.

I've seen that on an engine my shadetree neighbor had repaired and it may have had a seep through the lower intake gasket in that area which helped collect the gunk into that area. Take a good look at the flat sealing surface of the intake in that area to see if it has been etched back and might not seal well against that with new gaskets. IIRC, my neighbor purchased a junkyard LIM for the car he was working on because of corrosion have taken away the flat sealing surface. That's how I got the LIM to recycle for the metal.

 

[Spriteman]

You might want to give him the pontiac link imidazol97 - so he can do the job right.

 

[Compguy]

Thanks, I'm feeling optimistic. I could use some advice about installing those low gaskets, reseating the plenum, and how to get at the 2 short 90 degree hoses (I think I read they go from the plenum to the tensioner assembly, which, as yet, I have note removed). and: ground almond shells?