Should I be worried?

[yZoH]

Intake manifold gasket.

Cheers
Mat

 

[lothaer]

Is replacing the intake manifold casket a big job?

Also I'll assume I'm gonna have to drain, flush and refil the radiator with new coolant.

 

[vc commodore]

Best suggestion when replacing the gasket, take pictures and plenty of them....that way, you have a reference of where things go when it comes time to put things back together.

Yes, you'll have to flush the radiator.....Once the gasket is replaced, leave the bottom hose off and run straight water through the radiator....When you have clean water, fill the motor and run with clean water....Once you are satisfied you have clean water,(ie no milky substance) drop it and replace with coolant....

 

[XUV]

How old's the coolant?

 

[Surfwagon]

Common problem with ecotec V6 blown inlet manifold gasket.
As said before replace the plastic item most probably fitted with the later aluminium replacement.
Don't let your parts supplier try and push the plastic one as this will eventually happen again.
The Al ones were originally an aftermarket part but then Holden finally got the message and started offering the aluminium part as well as a direct OE replacement.

 

[lothaer]

Thanks for all the help guys and/or gals.

This seems like a pretty big job and I'm only a beginner/novice when it comes to mechanics (yes I'm a dude and I don't know much about cars so what).

 

[gregaust]

Get the cooling system pressure tested may give a good indication

 

[lothaer]

OK I had the car booked into get the radiator replaced and I had it check from various people and they all said TransCooler.

Took it to get the job done today and the mechanic said that the radiator that was in it was BRAND NEW so it didn't need to be replaced.

He flushed the cooling system and as it turned out there was only a minimal amount of gunk which was probably left over from when the radiator was replaced.

So instead of costing me $370 it only cost me $130 for the flush and fluids.

I also topped up the transmission fluid needed about 1/2 a liter.

 

[XUV]

Keep that mechanic.

 

[lothaer]

Keep that mechanic.

Wasn't exactly a mechanic but I didn't know the politically correct term for a radiator repair guy.