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I was about to order parts for my moms LeSabre, has intake gasket leak. I have heard in the past that it is common practice to replace the plastic upper intake along with the gasket. I did gaskets on her last LeSabre but didnt replace the manifold and didnt have issues..

Whats everyone's opinion on this? its like an extra $80 so idk if its worth the hassle or i can always do it later if it leaks.

S

IF it's original, it WILL fail, especially sooner rather than later given the age of the vehicle now. Not even counting what touching it will do.

Do it now, especially if you are going to have to go after a LIM gasket leak anyway. Get metal framed gaskets, aluminum coolant elbow, and sleeved UIM will ensure service for years to come, assuming it survives the next thousand miles (coolant in oil eats bearings).

You may also be able to get away with blocking the coolant ports as well, assuming you don't live in an area prone to stupid freezing.

If you put the old UIM back on, at best, your mother will complain of coolant consumption when it starts to go. At worst, you are replacing an engine because it hydrolocks at speed and bends pushrods.

Don't skip it, it's cheap insurance, and a guaranteed failure point if not ever addressed.

As long as the UIM is not warped, fill the coolant ports in it with JB weld to block them. /done

Either block the ports or replace the whole thing. Although... My manifold has failed twice now. Most recently it failed in January, and other than the external coolant leak it caused at the throttle body... The PCV stove pipe almost flew into my engine. It was embedded in the melted plastic of the UIM. Thank God!

I went ahead and did the "reinforced" new intake manifold.. Forgot to order the elbows but i will grab them at the parts store, thank you.

S