Marshal Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 I'm changing out my gen 3 for a gen 5 and just pulled the LIM. most of the bolts were damp with antifreeze, and I actually had a coolant leak from one of them I think because there was a small puddle in one of the lim valleys. Am I supposed to use rtv on those bolts to keep them from leaking? I'm sure I will have more questions, but that's it for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Sounds like you had a failing LIM gasket. There is no need to put RTV on the bolts. New gaskets, and torque it down properly and you're good to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Posted December 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 I do have new gaskets to put on, thanks for the input and a quick reply. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottydoggs Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 you need pipe thread sealant, or the bolts leak, they live in the coolant jacket of the heads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 I've personally never done it on any 3800 LIM job, and that's more than a few at this point.. I'm pretty sure that they don't go into the water jacket unless I'm having a serious mental lapse today. I seem to remember the bolt holes NOT going right into the water jacket and having their own independent bosses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluegtp91 Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/wcsstore/CVWEB/staticproductimage//N2131/large/16160023_ptx_80632_pri_larg.jpg You are supposed to use a form of thread sealant. When you remove the OEM bolts that is all the residue that is on the factory bolt to begin with. Wire brush or chemical clean off...then apply paste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Huh. Guess I've been doing it wrong all these years. Thread sealant next time it is! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Posted December 13, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 permatex thread sealant it is then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottydoggs Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 they go right through the head and into coolant, just like the water pump and timing cover. all them bolts need sealant. ive also found that most oil pan leaks are the bolts, not so much the gasket, thos dumb bolts are clear into the bottom end and oil splashes on them, then they seep and get that dot of oil on each of them, i sealed mine and a few others did the one by one removal and seal and they dried up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 I'll be darned, guess I'm using sealant now. I've always done a little on oil pan bolts.I can picture another bolt that has a white sealant from the factory, front of the engine maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottydoggs Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 knock sensors need it too, also right into the coolant. rear cover bolts get a dot of loctite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted December 13, 2017 Report Share Posted December 13, 2017 Knock sensors I knew, I use them as block drains, lol. wstefan20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 got the lim back on and am calling it good for the night, used the thread lock with ptfe and tightened the bolts to good and tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstefan20 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Knock sensors I knew, I use them as block drains, lol. Actually, according to the official service manual, this IS the official engine coolant drain plug! I read it one day and burst out laughing! Imp558 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Multitasking at it's finest. CKP sensors double as a huge pain in the ass and exhaust crossover pipes double as power robbing throttle body heaters. Honestly I really do hold the 3800 in high regard, despite the couple little things it's a tank. wstefan20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstefan20 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Multitasking at it's finest. CKP sensors double as a huge pain in the ass and exhaust crossover pipes double as power robbing throttle body heaters. Honestly I really do hold the 3800 in high regard, despite the couple little things it's a tank. Speaking of which, what success has anyone had with keeping engine bay temps down? I've been thinking about powder coating the headers inside and out and adding reflective shielding, and maybe a few hood vents. Any pros or cons? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I put a custom hood scoop on and it made no difference. I had a set of ceramic coated headers at one point, but don't remember if they made any difference. I imagine they would, but for the cost it's probably not worth the effort. better to just intercool the supercharger. wstefan20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 With my '96 it got so hot under the hood the strut towers were uncomfortable to touch. I took the rubber hood seal off the back of the engine bay and they were only warm after that. Of course it didn't smoke or anything that worried me coming in the cowl. Burning in new hot paint sucked for a few days though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottydoggs Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 the stink of even high temp paint is brutal, lasted months when i painted my new engine. my ait temps hit 185 sometimes. dead of summer heat type deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wstefan20 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Wouldn't taking the hood seal off allow rain to get in though? I'll have to look into ceramic coating though. Ever since I upgraded my headers, it's HOT under there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 There's a lip, rain doesn't get in but it's a high pressure area so dirt sure did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I must be the only person who doesn't have overheating/heat problems, no matter how hot it gets. Nothing special, just new coolant and a drilled 180. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Imp558 Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 I must be the only person who doesn't have overheating/heat problems, no matter how hot it gets. Nothing special, just new coolant and a drilled 180. What fan temp do you run? I liked 190* with my 180* stat, it stayed a pretty even temp on my scangauge. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digitaloutsider Posted December 14, 2017 Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 Fan 1: 85 degrees C on 80 degrees C off Fan 2: 91 degrees C on 86 degrees C off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marshal Posted December 14, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2017 my car never overheated either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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