Well.. You guys.. Bad bad bad night.. Went to perkins with some friends.. left dropped one off.. and was going home.. Decided to do some WOT.. Well it started misfiring so i let off.. and it started CHUGGING.. reallly really bad.. and the SES light was flashing at me.. it was still driving.. so i drove it home about 5-6 blocks.. it starts smoking.. i'm like FML its on fire.. so i blow 2 stop signs.. its 1:15a.m. and i get home and pop the hood to see oil EVERYWHERE on the belt side.. It LOOKS like oil is spewing from in between the LIM and the block.. if i blew that orange gasket right there would that cause a HUGE vac leak? I am going to do a compression test in the A.M. Just want to know IF There is a leak In between the LIM and the block would that cause a vac leak?

Cliff notes: Travis is having car issues, hoping he didn't pop a piston, Would having a major leak in between the LIM and the block cause a HUGE vac leak??

thank you for any immediate assistance..


I will be doing a compression test/leak test in the A.M.

Yes, a LIM gasket would cause a major gasket leak, but it wouldn't be a big source of oil, unless you DID pop a piston and that's where the pressure busted through, and the air coming out is forcing oil out too.

Pull your spark plugs. The one that's smashed down flat... that's probably the one with the chunk missing from the piston.

Sorry to hear it man.

Damn E85!

(sorry to hear about this, Travis. Hope you didn't run the engine for very long without oil pressure.)

Can you say "Teardown"

Wait, I missed something. You took the same route as Corey did last year? I can't believe people do this stuff!

Engine can be out in 4 hours easy.

Here's how it's done by the book!

1998 Buick Riviera V6-3.8L SC VIN 1
Vehicle Level Engine, Cooling and Exhaust Engine Service and Repair Engine Removal and Installation


Engine Removal and Installation
Notes

REMOVAL PROCEDURE


Remove the hood.
Disconnect the negative battery cable. CAUTION: Refer to Battery Disconnect Caution in Service Precautions.
Depressurize the fuel lines. Refer to Fuel Pressure Release in Powertrain Management.
Drain the coolant. Refer to Draining and Filling the Coolant System in Cooling System.
Drain the engine oil.
Remove the radiator hoses. Refer to Radiator Hoses Replacement in Cooling System.
Remove the heater supply hoses.
Disconnect the negative battery cable from the engine block.
Disconnect the engine harness connector at the bulkhead.
Remove the drive belt. For the VIN 1, refer to Drive Belt Tensioner Replacement (VIN 1).
Remove the power steering pump. Set the pump aside. Refer to Power Steering Pump Replacement in Steering.
Remove the air flow duct.
Remove the throttle cable from the throttle linkage,
Remove the engine mounting bracket. Refer to Engine Mount Replacement.
Remove the other applicable cables from the engine.
Disconnect the wiring harness connectors from the following locations:
The MAT sensor
The throttle position sensor
The idle air control valve
The oxygen sensor
The A/C compressor
The oil pressure switch
The power steering cutout switch
The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
The low oil level sensor
Remove the ignition coil assembly ground strap from the fender inner panel attaching screws.
Remove the fuel feed and return lines from the fuel rail and the pressure regulator.
Remove the emission control canister hoses from the throttle body connections.
Remove the brake booster from the engine vacuum connections.
Remove the heater control hoses from the engine vacuum connections.
Raise the vehicle. Suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.
Remove the exhaust pipe from the right manifold.
Remove the A/C compressor from the engine. Tie the compressor back away from the engine.
Remove the engine to the transmission bracket.
Remove the flywheel cover. Refer to Engine Flywheel Replacement.
Remove the starter motor, Refer to Starter Motor Replacement in Starting and Charging.
Remove the torque converter to flywheel bolts. Refer to Engine Flywheel Replacement. IMPORTANT: Use a scribe in order to mark the relationship between the flywheel and the torque converter. This ensures proper reassembly.
Lower the vehicle.
Attach a suitable lifting hook and a chain to the engine lifting bracket.
Raise the engine slightly in order to take weight off of the mounts.
Remove the torque axis engine mount. Refer to Engine Mount Replacement
Support the transmission.
Remove the engine to transmission bolts.
Separate the engine from the transmission.
Raise the engine.

well, what's the verdict?

Yeah Travis, have you removed the hood yet?