The factory gaskets are cheap crap!!!! They WILL fail causing overheating. The cheap gasket kits at the parts store is the same cheap crap. Buy Only the Fel-Pro Extreme duty complete headgasket kit!!!!!

I'm a mechanic so I did the repairs myself. Machine shop fees $200. Fel-Pro Extreme duty gaskets $200. They cost more but have proven success in maintaining their integrity. It took me 3 days to finish it. One day to take apart (in vehicle) take heads to shop ( 1 day ) and put together on 3rd day. It really wasn't that hard to do. If the motor needs replacement...it would be a nightmare! Must come out from underneath vehicle. So if your having overheating issues get it repaired promptly and you may be able to save the engine with a complete headgasket kit...remember..Fe-Pro Extreme duty gaskets ONLY!!!

Note: Make sure to bleed the air out of the cooling system! Good luck.

1926-2009 RIP Pontiac. Hopefully forever! By far the worst vehicle I ever owned. When the low coolant light goes on and you add 1.5 gallons of a premixed antifreeze solution, you should not see your oil dipstick level rise. Now I have 4.5 quarts of oil and 1.5 gallons of antifreeze in my crankcase. Either way this is the 3rd General Motors product that I have had this issue with. All 3 of them were 6 cylinders. Blue Book is generous with the Montana saying its worth $2,500 in decent shape. I think they added a zero as a typo. Anyway, I raked this joke to the end of the driveway, threw a rose on it, and a junk dealer offered me $50.00 to come sweep up the mess. I said SOLD!

This would all make sense if I didn't RELIGIOUSLY take care of my vehicles. Believe me I do. In this case it didn't matter. (there are other problems also)

My advise: If you have one of these American embarrassment over 75,000 miles, don't sink a dime into it. Let it run its course. It's days are clearly numbered.

Catgrower