1998 Oldsmobile 88 Engine cooling Problems

“I purchased vehicle used mar. 1,2002. At 51000miles ibegan to have a leaking antifreeze problem (of dexcool) and I had waterpump replaced and then coolant thermostatabout aweek later for leaking..at about 53500 miles,presently,on about jan. 10,2003.I quit relieing on driving the 98 olds 88 and now this vehicle is at wally mccarthy's service”

“In february I went to start my engine in the morning and it blew up. I turned the key, no engine turnover but smoke coming from under the hood. When I opened the hood, flames came out. The fire dept. Put out the fire and said the car was totalled. Some of the vinyl siding on my house was slightly melted.”

“The intake manifold on mt 1998 Oldsmobile 88 failed recently. The plastic on aluminum intake manifold is very susceptible to corrosion. Apparently mine failed and all the water drained from the engine. The repair bill to get the car running again was $1838. I am told by several people that this is a common problem on GM cars. Because of the common occurance of this problem, I would like to think that a recall is in order.”

“Engine hydro locked when a crack in the plastic intake manifold allowed coolant to be sucked into the engine cylinders, causing the engine to lock up while my wife was driving it. Fortunately, no accident occurred, but this seems to be a very common problem due to what seems to be a design flaw by GM. We had to have the engine replaced, and the intake manifold, at a cost of $5,400.00. We heard that there was a class action lawsuit because of this problem, but people were just afforded a short time to act on it, and we were not even notified. Is there another suit that we can be a part of? …”

“Gradually you will see a depletion of the anti-freeze from the holding reservoir. This is could be a sign that the intake manifold is beginning to leak anti-freeze (just a little) into the engine. Sooner or later when the erosion is large enough then a plume of white smoke will come out of the exhaust and you have no choice but to pull over and call the tow truck. I have replaced the engine intake manifold twice on my 1998 olds 88 due to degrading of the interior wall where the anti-freeze flows back into the engine. …”