Persistent 3.1/3.4 timing cover leak

[Sunaj]

I’ve changed gaskets twice now for the 3.4/3.1. I say them both because I noticed the block says 3.4 on it yet the top engine cover says 3100. 2000 Chevy Malibu. Seems to have a hacked together junkyard motor.

This will be my third time changing the timing cover gasket.. It keeps leaking and I have no idea why and I’m running out of money to service this thing. I made sure all of old gasket is off. I flushed my coolant system. During the flush I had no leak, refilled with premixed solution and now all of it has dripped out? I’m confused..

Any tips on sealing this thing up??? Do I need to put rtv on the front and back of gasket? The instructions only say to put a sticky adhesive on the back where it mates to the block

Topic

[Billy]

Those are THE water passages. The water pump pulls coolant from the radiator and pumps it into the engine through those two passages.

[James]

The discussion we were having earlier was that your water pump was not in that cover like one on a belt or chain drive set up. Those passages are for coolant to pass through engine to cool but like with crank case, you don’t want them to leak in areas only oil should be.

No you can not plug them. I have the factory service manual for 99 Monte with 3.1/3.8 and it also says to use RTV. Best of luck. Hope it solved leak.

[Author]

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