I have a 2000 Chevy Malibu LS 3.1L engine, automatic with 112,000 miles. It has Dexcool as the coolant medium. I have had to add about a quart of coolant every couple of months. Thought that I had a bad cap, so I replaced it. Still lost coolant. I got under the car tonight and noticed that coolant was leaking down the back of the engine. It looks like it is coming from behind the thermostat, under the air manifold. Is it the dreaded Head Gasket??? Please tell me that there is something else under there that could be leaking…
Actually, it could be the dreaded intake manifold leak. I was losing a pint a month when my 2000 Blazer had the leak at 45k miles, it has 97k miles with no loss of coolant. It would be in your best interest to have a proper diagnosis done as soon as possible. Coolant in the oil will displace the oil from the crankshaft bearings.
The Malibu may be covered under the Dexcool settlement. See below.
Good luck,
Ed B.
Thanks for the reply, after I posted, I checked out the Dexcool settlement. The settlement for the Malibu only lists “lower intake manifold” gasket repairs. Luckily, I have been checking the oil frequently, with no sign of water intrusion. I guess that I will just have to start tearing down with plans on replacing the lower intake manifold gasket. Better that having to tear down to the head gaskets… Just had to do head gaskets on a 2000 Mercury Sable.