just got the ssei almost finished now a new problem LIM ????

[candimann31]

hi everyone i was wondering if anyone could awnser this for me?i recently bought a 01 ssei and have done alot of work to it already (tranny sunroof drain leaks interior swap etc now i have a new problem i started it up last night and it had smoke coming out of the exhaust like it would if it was cold but it doesnt go away it smells a little funny like antifreeze.This morning i went out to start it and the smoke is still there i then looked at the oil and it looks ok but when i looked under the oil filler cap and theres water condinsation there. its milky but not to bad my question is is it the lim gasket or the headgasket the car has 170,000 on it and it looks like it was done before maybe? i am wondering if the lim gasket goes will it cause this any help would be great thanks matt

[00Beast]

How's your coolant level and what does it look like in your reservoir?

Look at where the intake manifold meets the head. If there's a black plastic gasket in between, you should plan on replacing the LIM gaskets ASAP. Provided the engine wasn't overheated at some point, a head gasket failure is really rare.

[candimann31]

oobeast it does have soild black gaskets where the intake meets the heads, and a orange and black gasket with rtv sealer on the ends that meets to the block under the supercharger are those factory gaskets or ones that have might been replaced before by previos owner i dont have a problem replacing them if thats the most likely suspect but i didnt know if head gaskets where a problem with this motor or not cause it it was then id do the headgaskets too while everything is apart .the coolant is low in the radiator about 2 inches or so and the reservoir has has little in it i really havent ran it alot maybe 2 hours since iv owned it and it hasnt overheated it stays a little under 200 degrees with the ac when it up to temp thanks matt

[00Beast]

They might have been replaced, but they're still the inferior units. You want to use the aluminum framed gaskets, either from GM or Fel-Pro.

Replace the LIM gaskets.

[candimann31]

ok i will one more question please which in your opinon are better the gm or the felpro ones and would a bad lim gasket cause the little bit of smoke out the tailpipes thanks again matt

[00Beast]

They're gonna be the same, the Fel-Pro ones are a little cheaper and come with a few more gaskets, IIRC.

Yes, this would cause smoke out the tailpipes.

[candimann31]

thank you 00beast for the info i was so worried it was a headgasket thanks again for the awesome help you provided on this problem for me matt

[daddyman]

You are probably aware, but the Bill Buttermore article about changing the LIM gaskets worked me through the whole process.

http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... =53&t=3591


Fantastic reference.

Good luck and happy trails,

Keith