Questions and Answers

GMC Suburban Blown Engine Q. Mr. Ciulla, I had an intake manifold replaced on my 1995 GMC 4x4 1500 Suburban with a 350 V-8. The day we (my wife and I) picked it up we noticed the oil pressure gauge reading "0" PSI at idle. Not good. Took the truck back in to have it checked and was told it was my gauge malfunctioning and after three visits back to R&R sending unit etc.

I was told my oil pressure was fine, it was the instrument cluster that was bad. Five days after R&R of the intake manifold my engine seized (main crank engine bearing failure). They even "spun" in the case. Coolant was present in the block oil. I am fighting with the shop now as they say my engine was just old (64,000 miles) and the failure was the result of long term wear.

Please note that no oil change was done by the mechanic after the intake manifold work was done. I disagree and believe their work was a direct cause of my engines early demise. Please help.

Questions:
1. Do the procedures to R&R an intake manifold recommend an oil change?

2. Would coolant in the lubricating engine block oil cause accelerated engine bearing wear?

3. How much "coolant" would need to be in the lubricating oil (block) to cause accelerated bearing wear?

Thanks for your time.

Mark

A. 1. I Have never seen it written but it's pretty much common sense to change the oil after going inside the engine.

2. Coolant is a main reason bearings fail!

3. I would say a cup or two.

This is a sticky situation. First of all the intake was leaking, right? Chances are that if it leaked outside the engine some may have leaked inside as well. Also, sometimes the tech will use a "cookie" on an angle die grinder to remove the old gasket material. These cookies shed small particles of sand like granules. This could have also helped in the speed at which this happened. An oil sample sent to a lab would help in diagnosis if it hasn't been dumped already. Even the old filter may help.

I wish you luck on proving your case and hopefully the shop will come up with a result that takes that sour taste out of your mouth!