We had the engine light come on intermittently. The local garage could not figure it out. Then, a few months later, we smelled antifreeze (that's never good)and eventually found water in the oil. 2 local garages diagnosed it as a head gasket problem (that sounded/looked right) but a GM dealer (CNO Motors, St Albans, WV) diagnosed it correctly--the intake manifold gasket needed replaced. The 30 year GM mechanic told me this is a common problem on this engine, for the late 1990's models. He did say once it's fixed, they are a very good engine and will go a long time. GM/Chevy used a poorly designed gasket, and they only take so many hot/cold cycles then go out. I saw others w the CHECK ENGINE light mysteriously coming on, that's how our problem started. An $1100 fix (and, BTW, we did switch from the ORANGE coolant, to the more standard GREEN COOLANT per the GM mechanic suggestion), but no problems since then. After getting it fixed the motor was more quiet, got better MPG (We get 18 city, 25 highway) and had plenty of power. Towed 6,000 lbs nicely (added electric brake controller so the trailer brakes itself).
We had the engine light come on intermittently. The local garage could not figure it out. Then, a few months later, we smelled antifreeze (that's never good)and eventually found water in the oil. 2 local garages diagnosed it as a head gasket problem (that sounded/looked right) but a GM dealer (CNO Motors, St Albans, WV) diagnosed it correctly--the intake manifold gasket needed replaced. The 30 year GM mechanic told me this is a common problem on this engine, for the late 1990's models. He did say once it's fixed, they are a very good engine and will go a long time. GM/Chevy used a poorly designed gasket, and they only take so many hot/cold cycles then go out. I saw others w the CHECK ENGINE light mysteriously coming on, that's how our problem started. An $1100 fix (and, BTW, we did switch from the ORANGE coolant, to the more standard GREEN COOLANT per the GM mechanic suggestion), but no problems since then. After getting it fixed the motor was more quiet, got better MPG (We get 18 city, 25 highway) and had plenty of power. Towed 6,000 lbs nicely (added electric brake controller so the trailer brakes itself).
- Bob M., Mountain Home, ID, US