99' Chevy Lumina

[Vbb199]

Idk if i ever even made a post about this or not, but i recently acquired a 99 lumina with the 3.2L. 4 speed auto.

100$ literally drove by a little old lady.

New tires, nice shape.
100 something thousand miles, i dont remember at the moment.

It had a power steering pump that was dying, and sticking thermostat.

I replaced the pump, havent done thermostat yet.
This will be my sipper so im not putting so many hard miles on the suburban.

Supppsedly gets about 20mpg town, 30 hwy

Not bad, i took it for a spin, trans shifts firmly.

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[Vbb199]

Interior isnt actually dirty with red stains, i took pics from the window

 

[bucket]

If you want to make it go faster, a 3400 V6 is nearly a direct replacement for the early, small port 3100 that's in there now.

 

[Vbb199]

Been driving the lumina for a little bit, it developed a nice coolant leak from where the oil/water cover is, so i pulled that.... gonna reseal that back, and then see whats up from there.

Has an overheating issue also, i changed the water pump and the thermostat, because it wasnt opening, now i have hot water coming from the thermostat housing, but cold water at the radiator cap......

Also have cold air when i turn the heat on..... wonderful lol

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[Vbb199]

Some ******* used stop leak in the cooling system also instead of fixing where the leak was.... more fun to come.

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Just got rid of a 98 lumina because it threw a head gasket like they always do. Other than that, not bad little cars. Had a 98 boneville blow a head gasket on me too... man I gotta stay away from 98's I guess lol. They're little tanks but have those heating issues.

 

[Vbb199]

Ive been driving the lumina for a week, week and a half? I filled it up when i started driving, i pulled up to the pump because im at a 1/2 tank..... 6 gallons and its full

I cringed as i filled it up, thinking it'd be a painful 20 - 40 (which doesnt even remotely fill up the suburban with its 41g gas tank that's just my usual dollar amount i put in the burb of 93 octane)


I walked away from the gas station with a full tank and only out 16$ in gas.... WTF

 

[Vbb199]

Current calculated MPG is 25 by the way...

ses light on for evap system, i imagine thats where the rest of the mpg is going.

 

[Ricko1966]

Those V6s were notorious for intake leaks. As a factory service campaign we put stop leak in them as directed by GM. Not to stop an existing leak but to prevent a future leak. Did tons of intake gaskets on them, I was the guy they had do them if time was critical because I got so good at them.Anyway watch the oil level the intake will leak from underneath and the oil level rises. Lots of them diagnosed as blown head head gasket were just intake gaskets.If you do an intake on one, resist the temptation to tighten beyond factory specs.

 

[Vbb199]

Those V6s were notorious for intake leaks. As a factory service campaign we put stop leak in them as directed by GM. Not to stop an existing leak but to prevent a future leak.

Intake seems to maybe have a small leak, oil on the valve train was ok.

But there was a little "grease" on the bottom of the cap.

I thought about doing intake gaskets while i had it apart, but i will let that ride for now.... do it when the time comes with the "problem solver" gaskets.

 

[Ricko1966]

I got a phone call mid post so while I was finishing you had already read and posted

 

[bucket]

Those V6s were notorious for intake leaks. As a factory service campaign we put stop leak in them as directed by GM. Not to stop an existing leak but to prevent a future leak. Did tons of intake gaskets on them, I was the guy they had do them if time was critical because I got so good at them.Anyway watch the oil level the intake will leak from underneath and the oil level rises. Lots of them diagnosed as blown head head gasket were just intake gaskets.If you do an intake on one, resist the temptation to tighten beyond factory specs.

Spot on sir, spot on!

 

[Vbb199]

I'll remember that @Ricko1966

Thx for the input. I won't do them yet, but i'm gonna eventually get around to it, probably sounds like i should sooner, rather than later.
So far, oil level is the same since ive gotten it, so im not too concerned, yet.

 

[bucket]

I'll remember that @Ricko1966

Thx for the input. I won't do them yet, but i'm gonna eventually get around to it, probably sounds like i should sooner, rather than later.
So far, oil level is the same since ive gotten it, so im not too concerned, yet.

Yep, you should. You know I'm just going to bug you about until you do, lol.

 

[AuroraGirl]

@Vbb199 im getting a 3 day GM SI subscription here soon, do you need anything that is potentially hard to find about the car or need bulletins or anything? Gm service manulsnandncollision stuff is all good back to 98, then campaigns, recall, PIs, etc are good back to 1980. Campaigns are treated a lot like a recall but gm really just banks in yiu never complaining or knowing about them