3.1 L GM

I don’t have any experience working on the 3100 or 3400 GM engines, but like you guys, I have heard about constant issues of intake gasket failures. Are these issues related to the massive GM lawsuit about the Dexcool coolant eating away at the intake gaskets in certain engines? I’m not sure. But I know when searching for a car to purchase many years ago, I heard from several mechanics to try and avoid a car with a 3100 engine in it unless I know the entire history of the car, and the owner recently had the intake gasket replaced. I was looking at a few late 90s early 00’s Chevy Malibus and Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and Cutlass Supreme and I was told to avoid them. A coworker of mine had a 96 Ciera and he had issues with overheating and the intake gasket leaking. All of that definitely steered me away from any car with that engine. Now the 3800 engine on the other hand is a very stout reliable engine.

We have had 3 or 4 Chevy Lumina sedans , through out the years . I think all had the 3.1 l V-6 . Over all , good luck with the engines .

The last one may be working on a leak . Tightened down a bolt , it stopped for a while & then started to seep a little . Then the tranny went out at 160000 + , so the leak became insignificant . Transmission job cost more than the car is worth .

As far as transmissions , 2 or 3 of the Luminas have had transmission problems , at or past 100000 miles . And the usual alternators , water pumps , A/C compressors , electric radiator fans , belts & hoses .

Do not think they are still making the Lumina but they may still be using the 3.1 L ? My experience is that engine is at least as good as the average , probably better . Strong & economical .

Will say , changing the 3 spark plugs next to the fire wall , a real bear . But that may be common for such V-6 designs .

Changed a crank sensor once only to discover the true problem was a broken wire in the harness & my failing eyesight .

Hope this helps a little .

God bless
Wyr