Recently had an oil pan replaced and the mechanic told me the valve cover and intake manifold gaskets are going.Its a 3.1 motor and will probably cost a few hundred.Is it really anything serious to worry about? I'll eventully do them but I want to know how much time I have.What happens with these bad gaskets?

 

I'll chime in since I replaced my intake manifold gaskets a few days ago... I started leaking coolant like a sieve... other bad things are you could get a vacuum leak... either way it's something you'd notice...
valve cover? oil leaking a lot. I think that's it.

3.1L... injected.... don't think that changes much.... oh, probably no coolant in the intake manifold?

I've never head of gaskets *going*.... usually they're just gone.

 

3.1s go through intake gaskets like a fat kid through cupcakes. If you dont replace it, your cooling system wont hold pressure, your engine wont cool properly, you'll leak out all your coolant and eventually overheat the motor. Fix them ASAP.

 

OK, I give. How do you tell gaskets are going bad? They are aging just like everything else. They are either sealing or they're not. If it aint broke, dont fix it (unless of course your'e modifying it for more HP).

 

Well, if you have a fluid leak thats a pretty good indiction that they aren't doing their job.

 

I agree but, the original post doesnt say anything about leaking. Like I said, if they are sealing then they are good ("sealing" should be interpreted as no leaks).