Pontiac Repair: lower intake gasket, chevy malibu, water condensation

Question
Hello Todd,  I don't have a Pontiac but that shouldn't matter. The Chevy guys are all on vacation. I have a 2001 Chevy malibu. 3.1 liter. 140,000. I am fairly sure I am getting coolant in the oil. On the oil cap there is that whitish/tan goo on the inside of the cap. A mechanic guy took one look at it and said the lower intake gasket is gone or going. I'll accept that I guess. My quetion is how long will it run like that? Will changing the oil more often help? The head gasket is NOT leaking and heater, everything else in the coolant system seems to be working fine. I am losing about a cup of coolant per 2 weeks. Just would rather not fix the intake gasket for $500 as I only paid $300 for the car a year ago. Yeh almost stole it at that. 4 months prior to this problem I had the thermostat changed because is was stuck shut.
  #2....A 2001 Mailbu has that sealed automatic transmission system. No dip stick. How easy is it to find and remove that plug to check the trans fluid level?? How do I do that? Hate to pay $50 just to have tranny fluid checked. Who the heck invented that stupid idea of no dip stick????

Answer
Hey Wayne:

get it fixed. Any coolant in the oil is bad!!! Yes they leak all the time... It may only be a small amount but the water that's in the mix "intermix" takes all the lubrication properties out of the oil and can actually start to rust the engine parts It wreeks havoc on the bearings as well. if it's minute the PCV system will suck it out and you will not notice it but if it's building up on the cap it's bad enough to get it fixed.Changing the oil is not a really goot option. I would suggest that after you get this fixed to get the oil cahnged about a week later. there is always some water/condensation that doesn't drain out with the oil change when the job is done.  Use the GM gaskets they are better now then the original parts on that car. If you go aftemarket parts buy from a good parts store like NAPA or Carquest. #2 YUP it's a stuid design that the engineer is a genious they save the price of a dipstick and indicator X the amount of cars built with that transmission he got a HUGE bonus for that design. You need a lift to check the oil level on the transmission there is a plug you have to take out of the case and check it that way.it's on the right side of the transmission just under and in fron of the right axle shaft. the car has to be warm and on a level surface to check the fluid. If this car has 140K I would skip the checking the level and just get the fluid and filter changed and save the $50.00 to check it out. If they charge you $50.00 to check it then I would find a different place to do business with or should I say I should get a job there sounds like they make money hand over fist!!!! Good luck :}