Okay, I bought my 2000 Venture with 147,000 miles on it. The original owner kept detailed records of tranny fluid changes, oil changes, coolant changes and general replacement parts upkeep all verified with shop receipts.

I've been reading all about the infamous intake manifold gasket problems. The seller insisted he did not replace the gasket(nor was there any receipt for it, I have all of his receipts). Has anybody heard of a Venture having 147,000 miles and no gasket problems? Am I on borrowed time?

I have been driving it for the last month. I wanted to get all the bugs out during this time and I did. Thanks to this forum, I now check all my fluids DAILY. No exceptions. I'm looking for the gasket leak but there's no signs.

I plan on using this van for family vacations only. I would rather replace the gasket on my time(when it's convenient for my schedule) rather than when the vehicle decides it needs to have it done(like in town with a population of two). Is this crazy? Let me know what you think. Thanks.

1st sign is coolant loss that has no visible source, the problem here is it may not start small, there can be a catastrophic failure of the gasket which could lead to " real" engine problems. Very unpredictable issue.

run a oil sample to a independent lab and they will tell you what is going on with the engine.

I've seen 2 Ventures so far that have gone over 130,000 miles with the original gaskets intact and no problems, (one now has 166,000) miles.I'm sure there are more out there it's just we really hear about the ones that go bad and the owners are more vocal.Keep your vigil of checking the fluids on a regular basis and do an oil sample like 463 says for additional info. Then you can make up your mind as to whether or not you wish to replace the gaskets for your own "peace of mind". It's not "crazy" as you say to think about changing the gaskets on your own schedule if you can afford to. Doing it on your own schedule can save you money as you can choose a mechanic you are familiar with and can hopefully trust, rather than be at the mercy of a mechanic far from home that could take advantage of you.Plus it wouldn't be as much of an inconvenience to do it when you want, rather than in the middle of a family vacation.

Thanks for the replies.

My gut feeling was to go ahead and get it replaced on my schedule. I trust my local mechanic almost as much as my husband. He's fair with pricing and does a thorough job in everything he does.

For the future reference, what kind of lab does motor oil analysis? Where can I find them?

Oh, by the way, as long as I'm going ahead with the intake manifold gasket replacement should I also consider asking if he's going to use the Felpro gasket? Is it the best? I know he buys most of his supplies from Napa so that's where the gasket would come from. I would not mind picking up the gasket at my Chevy dealer for him to get the best.

I'm also going to ask him to change the o ring on the oil pump drive. Also the plugs and wires...after all it is right there all torn apart. Should I ask him to replace the manifold bolts using Loctite(the thick putty type) or is this stardard practice? Do they need to be new bolts or is that standard practice?

What else should I have him do during the gasket job? Have I covered everything? I want a very reliable van on these trips. I have even considered buying a spare working alternator(from a salvage yard) and bringing it with me...just in case.

Thanks, Mary Jo

While I can't really make any personal recommendations on labs that do oil analysis, because I haven't done so myself, a name that comes up frequently on this site is Blackstone Labs http://www.blackstone-labs.com/. I'm sure others may post the names of other labs they have used and liked.You could go with either the Fel Pro or GM OEM gasket. One thing though, you may want to opt for the GM version (Part # 89017279),and while you're at the dealer you could pick up a new set of intake bolts. GM is recommending you replace the bolts along with the gasket as the bolts have been a problem in some cases ( becoming loose and backing out a bit.) The part number for the bolts are:11588914 for the longer bolts and 11588915 for the shorter bolts.The new bolts have a pre applied thread locking compound so there is no need to apply any aftermarket compound. Some people say you don't need to replace the bolts but if you are spending all this time and money and want to do the job right the first time, replace the bolts as well. For their modest cost, it's like an added insurance policy that you are doing the job right. You might also want to consider replacing the radiator cap with a new one. There have been reports of older radiator caps' seals failing, allowing air into the cooling system and causing sludge among other problems.

While I can't really make any personal recommendations on labs that do oil analysis, because I haven't done so myself, a name that comes up frequently on this site is Blackstone Labs http://www.blackstone-labs.com/.I can give a personally recommendation with Blackstone Labs. Both by father and myself have used them in the past. They are local, so it's easy for us to just drop of a sample. They are also quite quick and we've gotten a response back within a few hours of dropping of a sample (although mailing it in has some obvious lag). It's $22.50 and will definitively tell you if you have a leak. It also can indicate other engine problems such as bearing wear, blow-by, etc based on what elements they see in the oil.

I can give a personally recommendation with Blackstone Labs. Both by father and myself have used them in the past. They are local, so it's easy for us to just drop of a sample. They are also quite quick and we've gotten a response back within a few hours of dropping of a sample (although mailing it in has some obvious lag). It's $22.50 and will definitively tell you if you have a leak. It also can indicate other engine problems such as bearing wear, blow-by, etc based on what elements they see in the oil.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'm thinking of using them, after viewing their website, to check my oil in my Uplander. I switched to synthetic back in February, and want to make sure everything is operating the way it should. How often do you run the tests? I was thinking either yearly, or after every other oil change (synthetic change=longer interval) or is that too soon? Trying to get a feel on what others consider an acceptable length of time to run between tests.

Thanks for the recommendation. I'm thinking of using them, after viewing their website, to check my oil in my Uplander. I switched to synthetic back in February, and want to make sure everything is operating the way it should. How often do you run the tests? I was thinking either yearly, or after every other oil change (synthetic change=longer interval) or is that too soon? Trying to get a feel on what others consider an acceptable length of time to run between tests.You can get it done as often as you want really. Every oil change I would say is overkill. Yearly probably wouldn't be a bad idea. Blackstone will keep a record of your past tests and summarize them. They'll also point out trends that might indicate problems. Obviously the more frequent samples the better the trending can be along with catching a possible problem early enough to do something about it before it got real expensive.

My current motor in my 97 Montana went 140k before it failed.

I replaced my 97 motor with a 99 motor and switched to green stuff when the replacement motor was put in. The replacement had 45k on it. My original delema was whether or not to perform the Lower Intake repair while I had the motor out. I chose not to and got another 95k. Sold me on the green stuff philosophy.

Now, when my Lower Intake went is was fast. I had just changed my oil and everything look good. After going 200 miles after the Oil Change, I had to add some wiper fluid. I checked the oil filler for moisture (very anal about that everytime I pop the hood) and saw moisture. Not happy, but parked the van until I could get all the parts for the repair. I did go all GM on replacement parts. Everything running good so far. (knock on wood).

My suggestion is to prepare for the inevitable, because it is going to happen.