I have two Buick’s with the 3800 engine. Most common repairs are upper and lower intake manifold gaskets and valve cover gaskets. The engines have 167 k and 272 k miles on them . MPG on the 167 k engine is 41 highway and the 272 k engine still gets 31 MPG. The 1999 has a crappy paint from the factory; but the paint on the 2001 still looks like new. I want to be buried in one of them, I just can’t decide which one.😎. I love your UA-camvideos 💪
@@smdog66 The 41 MPG is achieved by increased tire pressure, not using the A/C and only driving it on the highway. From a ranch in Wyoming to a ranch in Nebraska; with no stops, towns, or visits with either state patrols. Never, ever attempted to use ethanol gas. Only the best octane gasoline, I can find. Super slick wax job on crappy paint job and rain X on all the windows.
3800s are also in Intrigues. Your comments were insightful. I see those fixes needing to be done.I didn't know about the cover, which I diligently cleaned, and learn from yourself GM suggests tossing. Also elbow on belt tensioner cracks. Thanks for the video.
OMG i now have this problem on my 2002 buick only 75K miles but couldn't figure out what it was causing this burning plastic/oil smell. Thank you so much i hate to have a fire with my kid in the car.
I just had my head gaskets replaced on my 2002 Buick LeSabre. It cost me a lot of money. I had the same smell when I came to a stop as well. I thought that's what it might be so I popped the hood and I saw oil all over the side of the engine. I'm not a mechanic and I knew what it was. I can't believe that the guy took his car to 2 shops and couldn't figure it out. That's crazy. BTW my LeSabre has 101,000 miles on it. It runs very well. I have owned the car for almost 7 years. I bought it from my grandmother.
matt gilmore yeah I couldn’t believe that he took it to two “shops” either. When he told me that I was thinking it would be something far less obvious.
what if a small piece of the coolant elbows (tensioner pulley elbows) dropped into the lower intake manifold. I used a hook tool to get the o-ring out, but a small plastic broken part of the elbow dropped down in on me. Should I worry about that or would it not cause any problems. Thanks!!
@@dabneyoffermein595 there has been some people that the same situation has happened without any problems, but I would try to get it out. You can try to vacuum it out or flush it out with a hose. Also make sure to replace the elbows with the new metal ones
@@PetesGarageandperformance yes I made the mistake of putting full synthetic in an older engine. Hopefully some castrol gtx 10w30 and some STP oil treatment with stop leak will fix it. The car started having that candle burn smell when I put the Mobil 1 full synthetic. My wife and I both have these bucks. They are practically bulletproof but they do have their quirks.
Matthew Gunter don’t put any kind of stop leak product in your oil. If it leaks with synthetic, it was about to fail anyway. Just replace the leaking gaskets for a couple hundred dollars and have a reliable engine that doesn’t leak anymore. I also have videos on these repairs.
Those 2000-2005 lesabre didn’t have any recalls for the valve cover gaskets. It was mostly the W body cars with the 3800 that have the recall for the valve cover. My grandmas 2005 lesabre has over 200, 000 miles and still have the plastic engine cover on it
BrendenAerosmith Farr correct. Only the W bodies were recalled for some reason. It’s the same engine setup so I have no idea why GM would recall one and not the other. But they all leak and would need replaced at some point. At least they are easy to work on.
That plastic cover is a parts and tools tray because it's always being worked on. Just joking. gm guy here. Just bought a 97 lesabre and I've got more time under the hood than driving it. Owned it a year. Lol.
There is a recall out of this problem. Justice had mine done free of charge. Look up your vin before replacing anything yourself. You can’t go wrong with free service and/or parts.
They did my recall..took my cover away..supposedly fixed the valve cover gasket..leaks again after a year and and A half at 6k err..hey is there puddle of oil inside that oil fill..when they did the recall on mine..they changed out to a different oil cap and different plastic piece ...i noticed there was oil jus sitting down in there it would steam out when i took the oil cap off..and i think that is why my buick is burning so much oil! Is because oil is jus stiiting thete and not moving..and it burns..then more oil gets circilated and sits and burns.. Does that make sence..iam baffled on why my car burns alot of oil on short millage...its bad..i only have 63k i changed my pcv..didnt help
William Coleman here’s the video of replacing the gaskets. I did the intake gaskets at the same time but you don’t have to take the intake off. ua-cam.com/video/kM7kQ7MqbR8/v-deo.html
Pete's Garage I own a 2002 Buick Regal also has the 3800 Series II but once a month I check the oil level & sometimes the level keeps going down I always keep up with my oil changes but once a month when I check the oil level it keeps getting low I feel like I am Burning Oil it’s not leaking, the oil pan underneath is a bit rusty but I believe that it is burning oil what could it be?
I have a question I just purchased a 2000 Buick LeSabre runs good drives good I drove it over an hour away and it's not overheating is there a way to tell if the intake gasket is leaking
Usually you’ll see oil/coolant stains that run down the heads. Also make sure the coolant doesn’t have sludge or oil in it. That’s an indication that the gaskets are leaking on the inside parts. Thanks for watching.
GM had a fire related recall on the Series II 3.8 V-6 engine. The recall was for the front valve cover gasket leak, and to remove the plastic engine cover he tells you to remove and throw away. There were some engine fires due to the valve cover gasket leaking. When there was a fire the plastic engine cover also caught fire and burned. I had the recall work performed, and they also had a new and revised front valve cover as part of the recall. There are many 3.8 Series II engines still in cars that are still on the road today where no recall work was done waiting to catch on fire.
I also have the same engine and I put the green antifreeze 100k miles I had a GM Master mechanic tell me it was the DEX COOL that caused corrosion and tuned ti acid and ate the gaskets. I The GM garage flushed all the DEX Cool, out and put green antifreeze and it runs better on the green 100k miles coolant. DEX COL is crap. GM has a lawsuit pending on Dex Cool antifreeze issues.
Dexcool works well in engines that don’t have coolant running through the intake. On engines that used the intake as a crossover from head to head, GM had gasket leakage issues. These same gaskets leaked before Dexcool came around. However, Dexcool and oil don’t work well together.
I’m pretty new to cars and genuinely curious. How does the engine beauty cover and the spark plug holder lead to the leaks? I also own an 00 LS and it still has both of those on it.
Good observation. They don’t directly. But what happens is that many of these vehicles with the 3.8 are still running. As you can imagine, they’re high mileage, cheap, and leaking from the valve covers, intake, and oil pan. Many people just ignore the valve cover leaks and over time the leaking oil accumulates as sludge on that spark plug wire holder. Right above the hot exhaust manifold. Then a fire can occur. I think they pitch the cover because it holds in heat. Really GM wouldn’t have had to recall the valve cover if people would just fix their leaking valve cover. But I guess it was probably in their best interest to just bite the bullet and take care of it instead of having lawsuits on their hands when the car catches on fire in the garage and kills a family. This is all just my opinion though.
Have you started the repairs? I am in need of information about the tools and procedures to remove the entire cradle from my 2004 Pontiac grand prix GTP. Got bad advice from a mechanic about a lifter ticking .Followed the advice even though the other indicators were pointing to a gasket failure. I was advised to change the oil ,add the engine oil treatment. So I changed the motor oil & filter ,then put new oil&filter on and added a engine cleaner product. Ran the engine for 30 minutes and drained it. Then did another oil change with filter. Drove it home36 km hoping that the lifter would ungum but it didn't. Drove it back 36 km to the shop . Asked about if the engine might have an coolant leak. Gasket failure possibly. Was told that the lifter might need a different chemical product to loosen up the lifter .But now the engine light came on ,so he scaned it and said that the o2 sensor was giving a code .(That is the same thing that happened to my other car which ended up with a blown head gasket )So I asked him about that previous experience,, he said it will be fine. 2 days later he went on a 1 week holiday and I was doing minor things .On a Friday I drove back to the mechanic shop,to check on other things . I was going to the big city to help a friend. So I checked the oil dipstick and the oil felt wrong . I asked his son about this . He said that it looked fine . So I drove it to a friend's house to help him out with a plumbing problem. I fixed his problem (took 2 days) and left for home (a 2 hour drive each way ). So 1 hour into the return trip the engine overheated. I pulled over and let the engine cool down. 2hours later I checked the radiator and there wasn't any coolant. So I had a jug of water in the trunk and put it in the radiator. Started the engine and drove to a town .5 minute drive. Stopped at a convenience store. And had to let the engine cool down again. Checked the coolant and it was gone . Added some more water ,started the engine and it was hydrolocked . So I turned the engine, called a tow truck and towed it back to the mechanic shop. So now I have drained the oil pan and removed the filter . So now what was a simple supercharger removal to get to the lifter valley and replace the lifter and investigate the conditions, has resulted in a blown motor. I can understand that people make mistakes BUT even after all the indications were pointing to another issue I now have to remove the entire cradle. Can you offer any advice based on experience with the 2004~2008 Pontiac grand prix?
I did this job a couple of years ago. In your case, I would find out which cylinder was hydro locked by removing the spark plugs and seeing which one was full of coolant. The coolant is probably coming from the lower intake gaskets. I guess you could have a blown head gasket or cracked head. If you’re doing intake gaskets, it’s not that much more work to pull the heads off. Hopefully your bearings are ok and not scored due to coolant in the oil.
Thanks for the videos I have a 2001 grand prix I been looking for a oil leak and it seems like it is coming from right above my trans axle where my oil filter screws in there is a electrical wire and its coming out of where the wire goes is that my oil presser sensor.so I'm asking is that a common problem I got 160000 plus on it
@@dreadred92 it because they change out the oil cap..and the plastic piece that it screws into..and go with a new one..and the new one is a different set up..and its funny..my old oil cap says use 5w30 oil..and now the new oil cap says 10w30..jus sayen..and also because ive been having issues with it still leaking oil still..err
@@PetesGarageandperformance hey pete..iam not sure..but i know when i look down onto the oil cap opening with the new recall setup..i see a pool of dark oil..darker then my dipstick...and its steaming like it jus sits there and burns...beacuse all i know is that i burn a half court of oil somewhere around 400 miles..its crazy..i got 63k..so iam like..what? And it leaks all around those seams u pointed out on ur vid...maybe i need new gormets i think the mechanic said he replaced 3..but that was it...iam jus stuck on this oil consumption
Hey Pete, do you have any videos about the CV axle replacement? I have all the issues above and I've seen your other videos on the gaskets. Im not much into cars but I dabble here and there when I need to. Your videos are super helpful. I look forward to this work(kinda) with your help. Thanks in advance!
MY wife took her 2003 Impala into a GM dealership because the oil light went on. It was a quart low with 2700 mile since the last oil change. It has 123,000 miles on it. The dealership charged her $80 to do an assessment on it and needed to put die in the oil to try to track where oil was leaking out. Now they want to charge her $300 to change the valve cover gasket. First, I heard in this video that there was a recall to fix this...is that correct? Is it still valid? Second, there is never any oil on the garage floor and for a car worth $2500 is it worth worrying about and just add a quart between oil changes? Can there be any other damage done to the car if i ignore it and add the oil when needed?
Jerry Svoboda only certain vehicles with the 3.8 were recalled. They were W body cars and the impala is a W body. I’m not 100% sure on what years though. Usually they don’t leak that much oil. The valve cover gasket would have to be puking oil all over to be low on oil. I would get a second opinion on the oil consumption. But if the valve cover is leaking then it should be fixed anyway.
@@PetesGarageandperformance the danger is oil leaking under the valve cover onto the front exhaust manifold and igniting. Under Hood Fire is the recall reason. Just had a fire on my 2002 grand prix 3800. Dealer repairs for no charge I have learned.
@@PetesGarageandperformance yeah when you drive regularly the engine eventually won't start. but if you leave it for a while it will start up again. water in engine but not overheating. can see little water when I open oil cap.
@@ItsaRomethingeveryday which brand did you get? The OEM ones are good they don't leak until they get brittle with the dexcool. Alot of people switch to green coolant to avoid issues with intake gaskets and plastics. I kept the the dex in. 250k and going strong, might put intake gaskets in just for grins. I'd throw a supercharger in but that 65e trans definitely won't have it.🤕
i put the oil cap back on so nothing falls into the oil reservoir fill. also, sometimes if you catch the oil leak early enough, you might be able to just tighten the valve cover bolts. Only sometimes this will work. the other thing about throwing the plastic engine cover away, is now the engine looks UGLY!!!!! LOL>>> They build cars like crap anymore, almost everything is plastic and aluminum.... Just does not last at all. I am so glad i grew up and saw and worked on, Easy work on, great cars in my life until the early 1990,s. After that, CRAP CARS MADE!!!!!!
I have an 01 Buick with a 3800, also with a number of slow leaks, but why the wax (crayon on the baseboard heater) smell ?? I guess oil and wax are both petroleum products. Still seems a bit strange. It is, however good to know that’s its oil not wax, in terms of diagnosis. Thanks
Yeah the first one was to just toss the spark plug wire rails and install clips. The rails would hold the oil that the valve cover was leaking. This obviously didn’t stop the leaks so it was pretty pointless.
I have a 99 Regal. Of course it has the 3800 Series 2. The gaskets seem to be ok right now but at what mileage do most of these engines show failure? Mine has about 160K original miles. Thanks.
2004 pontiac grand Prix gtp SC 3.8L. But the whole driverside fenderwell is cover in engine oil. You see engine oil dripping off the CV axle boot any idea.
Hi there this is my 1ft time watching your video. Question. Do you have a bulletin in regards to this recall for the front valve gasket and cover?? I have a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville SE with the 3800 series Il engine. It currently has 74,000 miles on it. I’ve heard lots about this as well and I even called GM regarding about this recalls. This said the recall is vin number Specific. Once I gave them my vin number they told me I have no recall or open case for my particular vehicle. What are your thoughts about it.
For some reason the recall is only for the W body vehicles (impala, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, etc). Even though you have the same engine, your vehicle is an H body (4th digit in the VIN). It doesn’t make sense to me that they would only recall one body type, but it’s what GM did.
I tried to get that cover off of there but I wasn't able to. After I took off the filler cap, there's a flange around the filler nozzle and all that cover does is swivels around. Do I cut it off? Is that valve cover plastic, could it break if I try n force that cover off?
Yeah this recall really doesn’t make sense. They only recalled the W body cars even though other platforms used the exact same engine. Also the valve cover gaskets had always developed leaks after about 100k miles. It’s just some people don’t ever fix the leaks and just let the oil constantly drip onto the exhaust manifolds. Then they sue GM when the car catches on fire. There are other vehicles that are notorious for valve cover gasket leaks but never got recalled.
Great videos! I have a quick question I was hoping you could answer for me. While I understand this is a Series ii 3800 I am currently looking at a Series iii. The question I have is do you know if the Series iii has aluminum (not plastic) Intake Manifold Gaskets? I know the Series 3 has an aluminum Intake Manifold, just not sure about the gaskets themselves. Any help you could provide me with would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
I have a video on the valve cover replacement and yours should be identical to that one except you don’t have to remove the intake to do the valve covers.
I chose to have a mechanic apply JB weld to a pitted area of lower intake instead of a new one for $500 or my bill would of been 1700 ..I hope it holds..but now 3 days later I see oil on my cardboard after 3 days of no spot..hope it's not the lower Intake where they JB weld..idk..2000 buick regal with 80000 jus had upper n lower Intake gaskets replaced with a new plenum..its leaking right in center below oil pan...
Probably shouldn’t leak for a while but that was 5 years ago. When the recall was put out, I think a lot of techs were just slapping the new covers and gaskets on and not really cleaning up the head surface or even torquing the bolts. You might want to just buy a new gasket and redo the job. Or check to see if the bolts are tight.
hey Pete's Garage, if my 3800 is leaking a quart or more a week could that be from the valve covers and LIM?? Or should i be thinking rear main? the starter was covered with oil when i changed it so thinking it might be towards the front of the engine but not real sure...??
I got 2008 Buick Lacerne 3800 CLX and I had a valve job done on it now I leak out of the filler tube or filler cap I took it back to the same person they said the PVC is good on it and I need to probably another O-ring so I got O-rings well it still leaks after driving it real hard for about a hour yeah also it’s got a new tube oil filler tube..Can you help me out let me know your thoughts
Now I got another problem all of a sudden I don’t wanna start -the starter will keep turning or it won’t work at all but it won’t start I think it’s a control module for the ignition but I don’t know any ideas
@@PetesGarageandperformance i know most hondas and 4 cylinder engines have the spark plugs on top of the valve cover and also have O' rings to prevent oil from getting into the spark plugs but this engine has a different set up that's why i asked
There was no neglect on my part.There was no signs of leaking..no oil burning smell.I had the valve cover gaskets replaced a year before it caught fire..and i had the lower intake manifold gaskets replaced too cause it went bad..there was oil in the radiator..and it was relplaced with o.e.m gaskets.I was on my way to work..parked..walked into the building and it bursted into flames..The fire dept. came and put the fire out..and the one fireman told me he has put out multiple 3800 engine fires.
Alex S I wonder if the fuel line where it connected to the fuel rail was leaking. I have seen many of those leak. I would’ve thought there would have been a recall on that before a valve cover and gasket.
Pete's Garage. I suppose that's possible..I've heard of those fuel rails leaking. The engine compartmant was toasted so it was hard to determine where it originated at. My work building had security cameras and i watched the footage.it was early in the morning still dark and the asphalt under my front bumper was glowing red when the fire initially started which led me to think it was coming from the very front of my engine.not towards the back by the fuel rails. but who knows for sure.
So if I was driving and suddenly lost all power, pull over and all my oil is on the ground and it looks to be leaking from the front valve cover, should I replace that first? I'm not positive but I believe after that my oil and coolant mixed together after whichever gasket blew, does that sound more like head gasket? Although I put a backup quart in and it's clearly leaking from the valve cover?
This really doesn’t sound good. I don’t see a valve cover leak causing this issue. Are you sure it didn’t throw a rod through the oil pan to cause that bad of a leak?! If it’s mixed with antifreeze then you either have a cracked block, head, head gasket or intake gasket leak. But it sounds like the engine may need a ton of work if it died and now there is a massive leak.
@@PetesGarageandperformance I'm not positive that it didn't throw a rod, but there was no loud noise and my car wasn't overheating before it happened. It's only leaking from the valve cover that I can see, what test should I do to determine the true issue before I go wasting money on all this other stuff? I bought the car at 154K miles has 172K now, I know it didn't have the best maintenance from previous owners but I flushed it and change the oil every 3K miles, changed plugs, wires, all filters, maf sensor, cleaned idler control valve, replaced cool packs etc, engine really had some go and never had any issues in 8 months of atleast 30+ miles a day driving.
@@sykrss9534 ok just clean off the valve cover area with brake cleaner (engine off). Then drive it a little bit and see. You should be able to tell where the new leak is coming from. As far as dying... it could be unrelated to the oil leak. Check fuel pressure. Also check for spark with a spark tester. If you don't have any spark, it's possibly the crankshaft position sensor. I bet the intake gaskets are toast too if they've never been done.
Great vids man! Subbed. I just bought 1990 Olds 88. I have the spark plug rail and VIN shows no recall. Would it be wise just to get rid of it anyway and clear/secure the wires? Thanks
Replaced valve cover gaskets now I have blue smoke what would the issue be? It comes at operating temperature while idling when you drive it’s fine!! And there’s no smoke until it heats up
That’s not good. Sounds like either the PCV valve is messed up and it is sucking oil into the intake and burning it. Or your piston rings are worn causing it to burn oil. Blue smoke is burning oil.
Yeah replaced Pcv valve no joy my buddy added seafoam when we changed to gaskets since the the oil looked gunky at this point no clue has 168k on the clock thought maybe the lower intake might of caused it but other than that runs smooth with lots of power computer scanner showed a misfire on cylinder 3 but never heard or felt a difference
My Mercedes smells like a burning candle when I come to a stop I knew it was valve cover gaskets. That's the only one I've run across that smells like a candle though maybe it's a certain oil type
about $450 including lower intake manifold gasket, upper intake manifold gasket, valve cover gasket, and aluminum heater elbows. Na dont get a whole new engine. The orange gasket would have to replaced either way. Use the fel pro metal gaskets. Dont use the same orange ones.
Yes. They will leak oil and coolant. Depends on which part of the gasket fails. The gaskets seal oil at the China rail of the engine and where the intake meets the head. It also seals coolant at the ports where the coolant flows from each head to the thermostat and the crossover ports in the lower intake where the elbows hook to the belt tensioner.
@@PetesGarageandperformance Hm, I put full synthetic in last oil change and shortly after it sprang a very slow leak somewhere. It's like a quart a month so not a huge problem yet. It's not the oil pan or filter. Puddles are under the passenger side of the engine, I don't see anything in the front of the engine, can't really see in the back. Fun times lol.
Yeah it sounds like you need to get the vehicle into the air so you can see where it’s coming from. It’s hard to see with the vehicle on the ground. It could be one of the valve cover gaskets too.
@@PetesGarageandperformance I'm hoping it's a valve cover, cause it's easy to do lol. Upper intake wouldn't be too bad either but I don't see any oil around that. Worst case is lower intake.
I know this is an older video hopefully someone sees this. I just bought a used 05 Pontiac G6 Im starting to work on. Everything I look up online brings up this GM 3800, is this the same engine?
I got a 2005 Buick custom and when I start it sounds bad I'm leaking coolant my battery gage is jumping from 11 to 13 volts idk what's wrong sometimes it starts n runs sometimes it won't start and when it dose the rpm gage is jumping from 1000 to 3000 rpm if you can help me I would appreciate it
One of the accessories is locked up. Try spinning the alternator, water pump, a/c compressor, tensioner, and idler pulleys by hand. One will be locked up. Then replace that part.
Is it ticking inside the engine? Or does it have an exhaust leak? If it has been run low on oil too long, there may be internal damage. Depending on what all is leaking on your engine, it may cost around $800-$1000 to fix them. That’s still cheaper than a new engine. If you got a used one from a junkyard, you would probably have to do these repairs anyway.
That oil cap was poorly placed and has a high risk of falling into the engine bay. Also I'd highly recommend a recall be preformed by a certified GM technician. lol
I think the 3800 is one of the more reliable engines GM made. It takes a lot of neglect to get to the point the oil leak will catch fire. If you smell burning oil every time you park your car for years you should probably have the leaks fixed!
I have a 96 Olds Eighty-Eight, man I love that car. Went through a rough time and wasn't thrilled at first about settling with a 90s car, BUT the car has 170k and still drives like new. I am currently battling a couple leaks. Trans fluid, leaking from the radiator connection and coolant, which I thought was the pump (changing the pump anyways) but it was those little plastic hoses that feed through the tensioner to the heater core. Its has been really weird as the reservoir will deplete, but always have enough coolant in the radiator. Meh, just rambling, but yeah I have a newfound respect for the 3800. Super reliable and super easy to work on with a basic set of tools. And strangely it really isn't all that outdated. Some of the features seem way before its time. Besides under the hood, the only other thing that needed an update was the radio and speakers. Everything else is good.
Check out the description for parts information for these repairs.
How do u replace that
I have two Buick’s with the 3800 engine. Most common repairs are upper and lower intake manifold gaskets and valve cover gaskets. The engines have 167 k and 272 k miles on them . MPG on the 167 k engine is 41 highway and the 272 k engine still gets 31 MPG. The 1999 has a crappy paint from the factory; but the paint on the 2001 still looks like new. I want to be buried in one of them, I just can’t decide which one.😎. I love your UA-camvideos 💪
Thank you. 41 mpg. Wow that’s awesome.
no way 41mpg I believe the miles but that car never got 41mpg
@@smdog66 The 41 MPG is achieved by increased tire pressure, not using the A/C and only driving it on the highway. From a ranch in Wyoming to a ranch in Nebraska; with no stops, towns, or visits with either state patrols. Never, ever attempted to use ethanol gas. Only the best octane gasoline, I can find. Super slick wax job on crappy paint job and rain X on all the windows.
@@smdog66 i never got over 19 mpg
... im lucky to get even 10 mpg in my 06 Grand Prix 😂
Took my plastic cover off too. Just blocks inspection, and adds another step during repairs
3800s are also in Intrigues. Your comments were insightful. I see those fixes needing to be done.I didn't know about the cover, which I diligently cleaned, and learn from yourself GM suggests tossing.
Also elbow on belt tensioner cracks. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for watching!
OMG i now have this problem on my 2002 buick only 75K miles but couldn't figure out what it was causing this burning plastic/oil smell. Thank you so much i hate to have a fire with my kid in the car.
The 3800 in my 2005 Pontiac Grand Prix has 307k miles. I'm starting to see these same problems. Thanks for the heads up!
Pretty common issues on these. At least they’re cheap to fix.
@@PetesGarageandperformance Mechanic told me that the rear seal needs to be replaced.
370k Starting to see problems lol that’s funny you know what .
I just had my head gaskets replaced on my 2002 Buick LeSabre. It cost me a lot of money. I had the same smell when I came to a stop as well. I thought that's what it might be so I popped the hood and I saw oil all over the side of the engine. I'm not a mechanic and I knew what it was. I can't believe that the guy took his car to 2 shops and couldn't figure it out. That's crazy. BTW my LeSabre has 101,000 miles on it. It runs very well. I have owned the car for almost 7 years. I bought it from my grandmother.
matt gilmore yeah I couldn’t believe that he took it to two “shops” either. When he told me that I was thinking it would be something far less obvious.
Thanks 4 the show of removal.of sparkplug wire holder deal
Subbed for the engine cover throw ‼️
Thanks Pete. I have the same problem with my 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix gt.
Good luck with the repair if you’re tackling it yourself.
I did my upper plenum and lower intake gaskets at 70K..the 3800 is still going strong at 230K now
what if a small piece of the coolant elbows (tensioner pulley elbows) dropped into the lower intake manifold. I used a hook tool to get the o-ring out, but a small plastic broken part of the elbow dropped down in on me. Should I worry about that or would it not cause any problems. Thanks!!
@@dabneyoffermein595 there has been some people that the same situation has happened without any problems, but I would try to get it out. You can try to vacuum it out or flush it out with a hose. Also make sure to replace the elbows with the new metal ones
Thanks for this video, I been smelling burning oil for my 98 Grand prix but the mechanic cannot find any leaks, I will have him look at this video
Best how to I've seen thank you for posting this
Matthew Gunter no problem. Are you trying to fix a leaky 3800?
@@PetesGarageandperformance yes I made the mistake of putting full synthetic in an older engine. Hopefully some castrol gtx 10w30 and some STP oil treatment with stop leak will fix it. The car started having that candle burn smell when I put the Mobil 1 full synthetic. My wife and I both have these bucks. They are practically bulletproof but they do have their quirks.
Matthew Gunter don’t put any kind of stop leak product in your oil. If it leaks with synthetic, it was about to fail anyway. Just replace the leaking gaskets for a couple hundred dollars and have a reliable engine that doesn’t leak anymore. I also have videos on these repairs.
Plz make videos of replacing the intake gaskets!
I have a whole 4 part step by step series on my channel.
Thank you Pete . I needed to find you.
Those 2000-2005 lesabre didn’t have any recalls for the valve cover gaskets. It was mostly the W body cars with the 3800 that have the recall for the valve cover. My grandmas 2005 lesabre has over 200, 000 miles and still have the plastic engine cover on it
BrendenAerosmith Farr correct. Only the W bodies were recalled for some reason. It’s the same engine setup so I have no idea why GM would recall one and not the other. But they all leak and would need replaced at some point. At least they are easy to work on.
That plastic cover is a parts and tools tray because it's always being worked on. Just joking. gm guy here. Just bought a 97 lesabre and I've got more time under the hood than driving it. Owned it a year. Lol.
There is a recall out of this problem. Justice had mine done free of charge. Look up your vin before replacing anything yourself. You can’t go wrong with free service and/or parts.
The recall is only on some W body cars. I talk about this recall in one of my other videos.
They did my recall..took my cover away..supposedly fixed the valve cover gasket..leaks again after a year and and A half at 6k err..hey is there puddle of oil inside that oil fill..when they did the recall on mine..they changed out to a different oil cap and different plastic piece ...i noticed there was oil jus sitting down in there it would steam out when i took the oil cap off..and i think that is why my buick is burning so much oil! Is because oil is jus stiiting thete and not moving..and it burns..then more oil gets circilated and sits and burns.. Does that make sence..iam baffled on why my car burns alot of oil on short millage...its bad..i only have 63k i changed my pcv..didnt help
Be sure to check out my how-to videos on my channel for step-by-step directions on fixing these leaks.
Were are u located?
bobby childs Kansas City area
Why is there know videos on replacing the back valve cover gasket on 3.8 or 3.9 3.5 hell any of them ?
William Coleman here’s the video of replacing the gaskets. I did the intake gaskets at the same time but you don’t have to take the intake off.
ua-cam.com/video/kM7kQ7MqbR8/v-deo.html
Pete's Garage I own a 2002 Buick Regal also has the 3800 Series II but once a month I check the oil level & sometimes the level keeps going down I always keep up with my oil changes but once a month when I check the oil level it keeps getting low I feel like I am Burning Oil it’s not leaking, the oil pan underneath is a bit rusty but I believe that it is burning oil what could it be?
I have a question I just purchased a 2000 Buick LeSabre runs good drives good I drove it over an hour away and it's not overheating is there a way to tell if the intake gasket is leaking
Usually you’ll see oil/coolant stains that run down the heads. Also make sure the coolant doesn’t have sludge or oil in it. That’s an indication that the gaskets are leaking on the inside parts. Thanks for watching.
I about died when you threw that cover in the garbage. In no damn way will anyone throw mine away on my 03 monte carlo.
GM had a fire related recall on the Series II 3.8 V-6 engine. The recall was for the front valve cover gasket leak, and to remove the plastic engine cover he tells you to remove and throw away. There were some engine fires due to the valve cover gasket leaking. When there was a fire the plastic engine cover also caught fire and burned. I had the recall work performed, and they also had a new and revised front valve cover as part of the recall. There are many 3.8 Series II engines still in cars that are still on the road today where no recall work was done waiting to catch on fire.
I also have the same engine and I put the green antifreeze 100k miles I had a GM Master mechanic tell me it was the DEX COOL that caused corrosion and tuned ti acid and ate the gaskets. I The GM garage flushed all the DEX Cool, out and put green antifreeze and it runs better on the green 100k miles coolant. DEX COL is crap. GM has a lawsuit pending on Dex Cool antifreeze issues.
Dexcool works well in engines that don’t have coolant running through the intake. On engines that used the intake as a crossover from head to head, GM had gasket leakage issues. These same gaskets leaked before Dexcool came around. However, Dexcool and oil don’t work well together.
I’m pretty new to cars and genuinely curious. How does the engine beauty cover and the spark plug holder lead to the leaks? I also own an 00 LS and it still has both of those on it.
Good observation. They don’t directly. But what happens is that many of these vehicles with the 3.8 are still running. As you can imagine, they’re high mileage, cheap, and leaking from the valve covers, intake, and oil pan. Many people just ignore the valve cover leaks and over time the leaking oil accumulates as sludge on that spark plug wire holder. Right above the hot exhaust manifold. Then a fire can occur. I think they pitch the cover because it holds in heat. Really GM wouldn’t have had to recall the valve cover if people would just fix their leaking valve cover. But I guess it was probably in their best interest to just bite the bullet and take care of it instead of having lawsuits on their hands when the car catches on fire in the garage and kills a family. This is all just my opinion though.
Informative, thanks!
Thanks for watching. Hope it helps
Thank You! ! !
Have you started the repairs? I am in need of information about the tools and procedures to remove the entire cradle from my 2004 Pontiac grand prix GTP. Got bad advice from a mechanic about a lifter ticking .Followed the advice even though the other indicators were pointing to a gasket failure. I was advised to change the oil ,add the engine oil treatment. So I changed the motor oil & filter ,then put new oil&filter on and added a engine cleaner product. Ran the engine for 30 minutes and drained it. Then did another oil change with filter. Drove it home36 km hoping that the lifter would ungum but it didn't. Drove it back 36 km to the shop . Asked about if the engine might have an coolant leak. Gasket failure possibly. Was told that the lifter might need a different chemical product to loosen up the lifter .But now the engine light came on ,so he scaned it and said that the o2 sensor was giving a code .(That is the same thing that happened to my other car which ended up with a blown head gasket )So I asked him about that previous experience,, he said it will be fine. 2 days later he went on a 1 week holiday and I was doing minor things .On a Friday I drove back to the mechanic shop,to check on other things . I was going to the big city to help a friend. So I checked the oil dipstick and the oil felt wrong . I asked his son about this . He said that it looked fine . So I drove it to a friend's house to help him out with a plumbing problem. I fixed his problem (took 2 days) and left for home (a 2 hour drive each way ). So 1 hour into the return trip the engine overheated. I pulled over and let the engine cool down. 2hours later I checked the radiator and there wasn't any coolant. So I had a jug of water in the trunk and put it in the radiator. Started the engine and drove to a town .5 minute drive. Stopped at a convenience store. And had to let the engine cool down again. Checked the coolant and it was gone . Added some more water ,started the engine and it was hydrolocked . So I turned the engine, called a tow truck and towed it back to the mechanic shop. So now I have drained the oil pan and removed the filter . So now what was a simple supercharger removal to get to the lifter valley and replace the lifter and investigate the conditions, has resulted in a blown motor.
I can understand that people make mistakes BUT even after all the indications were pointing to another issue I now have to remove the entire cradle. Can you offer any advice based on experience with the 2004~2008 Pontiac grand prix?
I did this job a couple of years ago.
In your case, I would find out which cylinder was hydro locked by removing the spark plugs and seeing which one was full of coolant. The coolant is probably coming from the lower intake gaskets. I guess you could have a blown head gasket or cracked head. If you’re doing intake gaskets, it’s not that much more work to pull the heads off. Hopefully your bearings are ok and not scored due to coolant in the oil.
Great video.
Do you have a video on actually replacing the valve cover gasket on a gm 3800 v6?
Yes I do. It should be in my 3800 playlist
Thanks for the videos I have a 2001 grand prix I been looking for a oil leak and it seems like it is coming from right above my trans axle where my oil filter screws in there is a electrical wire and its coming out of where the wire goes is that my oil presser sensor.so I'm asking is that a common problem I got 160000 plus on it
Yes that is the oil pressure sensor. Also make sure it’s not coming from the oil filter adapter gasket which is the part that the sensor screws into.
Ok thanks a lot gonna Chang it tomorrow
I've got this same issue on my 2000 Park Ave, why is it a good idea to toss the engine cover? Trapping all the burnt oil against the engine block?
dreadred92 It’s what GM has the techs do as part of the recall on the W bodies. I would assume it’s about holding the heat in like you said.
I gotcha, thanks. Trying to do this job this weekend, I'm sure I'll be referencing your videos.
@@dreadred92 it because they change out the oil cap..and the plastic piece that it screws into..and go with a new one..and the new one is a different set up..and its funny..my old oil cap says use 5w30 oil..and now the new oil cap says 10w30..jus sayen..and also because ive been having issues with it still leaking oil still..err
Are you sure the oil isn’t coming from somewhere else? Maybe they didn’t clean off the surface good enough or torque the bolts correctly.
@@PetesGarageandperformance hey pete..iam not sure..but i know when i look down onto the oil cap opening with the new recall setup..i see a pool of dark oil..darker then my dipstick...and its steaming like it jus sits there and burns...beacuse all i know is that i burn a half court of oil somewhere around 400 miles..its crazy..i got 63k..so iam like..what? And it leaks all around those seams u pointed out on ur vid...maybe i need new gormets i think the mechanic said he replaced 3..but that was it...iam jus stuck on this oil consumption
Hey Pete, do you have any videos about the CV axle replacement? I have all the issues above and I've seen your other videos on the gaskets. Im not much into cars but I dabble here and there when I need to. Your videos are super helpful. I look forward to this work(kinda) with your help. Thanks in advance!
Sorry I lost part of the footage of the axle replacement so I couldn't make a video.
Dude, You're fucking Awesome. Thank you for the quick but not too quick, and Informative video!
MY wife took her 2003 Impala into a GM dealership because the oil light went on. It was a quart low with 2700 mile since the last oil change. It has 123,000 miles on it. The dealership charged her $80 to do an assessment on it and needed to put die in the oil to try to track where oil was leaking out. Now they want to charge her $300 to change the valve cover gasket. First, I heard in this video that there was a recall to fix this...is that correct? Is it still valid? Second, there is never any oil on the garage floor and for a car worth $2500 is it worth worrying about and just add a quart between oil changes? Can there be any other damage done to the car if i ignore it and add the oil when needed?
Jerry Svoboda only certain vehicles with the 3.8 were recalled. They were W body cars and the impala is a W body. I’m not 100% sure on what years though. Usually they don’t leak that much oil. The valve cover gasket would have to be puking oil all over to be low on oil. I would get a second opinion on the oil consumption. But if the valve cover is leaking then it should be fixed anyway.
@@PetesGarageandperformance the danger is oil leaking under the valve cover onto the front exhaust manifold and igniting. Under Hood Fire is the recall reason. Just had a fire on my 2002 grand prix 3800. Dealer repairs for no charge I have learned.
@@dasmiff1 I have a 2001 with front valve cover gasket leaking. Is this still covered??
I have a 3.8 v6 that getting water into the engine but it's not overheating so don't think it's head gasket. any ideas???
Is the water getting into the cylinders and hydro locking them or is water getting into the crankcase/oil pan.
@@PetesGarageandperformance yeah when you drive regularly the engine eventually won't start. but if you leave it for a while it will start up again. water in engine but not overheating. can see little water when I open oil cap.
I see the tensioner L pipe has already been changed from plastic to metal, also a critical leak point on these engines
Yes. They also leak. But those leaks will be an obvious coolant leak instead of oil.
@@PetesGarageandperformance for sure that
The metal ones are crap too they don't seal well esp. Dorman. Better off to get the OEM plastic ones again they should last at least another 4-5yrs.
@@c.anderson3444 the metal ones on our buicks are doing an outstanding job thus far
@@ItsaRomethingeveryday which brand did you get? The OEM ones are good they don't leak until they get brittle with the dexcool. Alot of people switch to green coolant to avoid issues with intake gaskets and plastics. I kept the the dex in. 250k and going strong, might put intake gaskets in just for grins. I'd throw a supercharger in but that 65e trans definitely won't have it.🤕
i put the oil cap back on so nothing falls into the oil reservoir fill. also, sometimes if you catch the oil leak early enough, you might be able to just tighten the valve cover bolts. Only sometimes this will work. the other thing about throwing the plastic engine cover away, is now the engine looks UGLY!!!!! LOL>>> They build cars like crap anymore, almost everything is plastic and aluminum.... Just does not last at all. I am so glad i grew up and saw and worked on, Easy work on, great cars in my life until the early 1990,s. After that, CRAP CARS MADE!!!!!!
I found oil leaking in between the engine block and front valve cover/head gasket on my 99 buick lesabre custom. Diagnosis?
Good stuff. Thanks
I have an 01 Buick with a 3800, also with a number of slow leaks, but why the wax (crayon on the baseboard heater) smell ?? I guess oil and wax are both petroleum products. Still seems a bit strange. It is, however good to know that’s its oil not wax, in terms of diagnosis. Thanks
Yeah it's exactly what this one smelled like. Thanks for watching.
hi petes i have 1986 3.8 v6 olds and the Achernar on the bottem Brock is it hard to take out from the engine ?
There was two recalls on this engine, the first one in 2009 and the second in 2014 because the first one still caused fires.
Yeah the first one was to just toss the spark plug wire rails and install clips. The rails would hold the oil that the valve cover was leaking. This obviously didn’t stop the leaks so it was pretty pointless.
GM engineers right. The first recall made it worse.
I have a 99 Regal. Of course it has the 3800 Series 2. The gaskets seem to be ok right now but at what mileage do most of these engines show failure? Mine has about 160K original miles. Thanks.
2004 pontiac grand Prix gtp SC 3.8L. But the whole driverside fenderwell is cover in engine oil. You see engine oil dripping off the CV axle boot any idea.
Sounds like grease from the cv boot being flung around as the shaft rotates.
Welp my 98 GP definitely has this issue as well and im probably just going to keep ignoring it 😎
Hi there this is my 1ft time watching your video.
Question. Do you have a bulletin in regards to this recall for the front valve gasket and cover?? I have a 2004 Pontiac Bonneville SE with the 3800 series Il engine. It currently has 74,000 miles on it. I’ve heard lots about this as well and I even called GM regarding about this recalls. This said the recall is vin number Specific. Once I gave them my vin number they told me I have no recall or open case for my particular vehicle.
What are your thoughts about it.
For some reason the recall is only for the W body vehicles (impala, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, etc). Even though you have the same engine, your vehicle is an H body (4th digit in the VIN). It doesn’t make sense to me that they would only recall one body type, but it’s what GM did.
I tried to get that cover off of there but I wasn't able to. After I took off the filler cap, there's a flange around the filler nozzle and all that cover does is swivels around. Do I cut it off? Is that valve cover plastic, could it break if I try n force that cover off?
The valve cover is thick plastic. I’ve never seen it get stuck. Just twist the tube 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull.
If only the recall actually told them to replace BOTH the front and rear valve cover Gaskets instead of one....
Yeah this recall really doesn’t make sense. They only recalled the W body cars even though other platforms used the exact same engine. Also the valve cover gaskets had always developed leaks after about 100k miles. It’s just some people don’t ever fix the leaks and just let the oil constantly drip onto the exhaust manifolds. Then they sue GM when the car catches on fire. There are other vehicles that are notorious for valve cover gasket leaks but never got recalled.
Who couldn't find an oil smell at a stop with oil leaking all over the exhaust manifold... seriously...who?!?
wage earner right?!
Great videos! I have a quick question I was hoping you could answer for me. While I understand this is a Series ii 3800 I am currently looking at a Series iii. The question I have is do you know if the Series iii has aluminum (not plastic) Intake Manifold Gaskets? I know the Series 3 has an aluminum Intake Manifold, just not sure about the gaskets themselves. Any help you could provide me with would be very much appreciated. Thanks for your time.
I’m pretty sure it still uses the same style injection molded plastic/rubber gaskets as the series II does.
Man I wish you can go over my 03 Chevy Impala 3.8
is it thetop plastic manifold that needs the gaskets or only the valave covers?
Valve covers and the lower aluminum manifold gaskets.
Two shops!!! Must not have wanted the work. Gravy train!
+Final Call Racing That’s what I was thinking.
My 97 pontiac bonneville leaks any oil i put it in. Having trouble finding out what it is
2003 monte Carlos ss smoke came from oul cap an stick???
Do you have a video on repairing and replacing the Rear Valve Cover Gasket on GM/02 Bonneville? Thanks.
I have a video on the valve cover replacement and yours should be identical to that one except you don’t have to remove the intake to do the valve covers.
When you guys do the lower intake gaskets, are you supposed to oil the new gaskets when you put them in?
No. Don’t put oil on the gaskets.
@@PetesGarageandperformance thanks so much for the quick reply.
I chose to have a mechanic apply JB weld to a pitted area of lower intake instead of a new one for $500 or my bill would of been 1700 ..I hope it holds..but now 3 days later I see oil on my cardboard after 3 days of no spot..hope it's not the lower Intake where they JB weld..idk..2000 buick regal with 80000 jus had upper n lower Intake gaskets replaced with a new plenum..its leaking right in center below oil pan...
If a car had been sitting for 2 years, does in need a tune up as well
Pete, my vehicle is leaking oil, but it was repaired under the recall.Should I be having an oil leak now?
Is it leaking from the front valve cover? If not then it’s going to be on you to fix.
@@PetesGarageandperformance Yes, it is leaking from the front valve cover. Should this be happening when it was replaced under the recall in 2016?
Probably shouldn’t leak for a while but that was 5 years ago. When the recall was put out, I think a lot of techs were just slapping the new covers and gaskets on and not really cleaning up the head surface or even torquing the bolts. You might want to just buy a new gasket and redo the job. Or check to see if the bolts are tight.
@@PetesGarageandperformance Actually it started leaking last year along with the lower valve leaking.
hey Pete's Garage, if my 3800 is leaking a quart or more a week could that be from the valve covers and LIM?? Or should i be thinking rear main? the starter was covered with oil when i changed it so thinking it might be towards the front of the engine but not real sure...??
I’ve also seen the front cover leaking by the oil filter. It will leak pretty quickly because it is under pressure there.
The engine cover fits with the new valve cover.
Yes it fits. But part of the recall was to throw the cover away.
@@PetesGarageandperformance yeah i know i took mine in and they wanted to throw it out. I said no!! And i put it back on
I got 2008 Buick Lacerne 3800 CLX and I had a valve job done on it now I leak out of the filler tube or filler cap I took it back to the same person they said the PVC is good on it and I need to probably another O-ring so I got O-rings well it still leaks after driving it real hard for about a hour yeah also it’s got a new tube oil filler tube..Can you help me out let me know your thoughts
If it’s leaking that badly then there must be a rolled gasket or too much crankcase pressure.
@@PetesGarageandperformance Not badly but is leaking
I change the valve cover and the oil filler tube and all is good it was a connection between the filler tube and the valve cover
Now I got another problem all of a sudden I don’t wanna start -the starter will keep turning or it won’t work at all but it won’t start I think it’s a control module for the ignition but I don’t know any ideas
Any idea of why spark plugs get oil in this engine?
Because it runs down from the valve covers leaking.
@@PetesGarageandperformance i know most hondas and 4 cylinder engines have the spark plugs on top of the valve cover and also have O' rings to prevent oil from getting into the spark plugs but this engine has a different set up that's why i asked
Were's your shop
I just do a little side work out of my garage in Kansas City.
There was no neglect on my part.There was no signs of leaking..no oil burning smell.I had the valve cover gaskets replaced a year before it caught fire..and i had the lower intake manifold gaskets replaced too cause it went bad..there was oil in the radiator..and it was relplaced with o.e.m gaskets.I was on my way to work..parked..walked into the building and it bursted into flames..The fire dept. came and put the fire out..and the one fireman told me he has put out multiple 3800 engine fires.
Alex S I wonder if the fuel line where it connected to the fuel rail was leaking. I have seen many of those leak. I would’ve thought there would have been a recall on that before a valve cover and gasket.
Pete's Garage. I suppose that's possible..I've heard of those fuel rails leaking. The engine compartmant was toasted so it was hard to determine where it originated at. My work building had security cameras and i watched the footage.it was early in the morning still dark and the asphalt under my front bumper was glowing red when the fire initially started which led me to think it was coming from the very front of my engine.not towards the back by the fuel rails. but who knows for sure.
So if I was driving and suddenly lost all power, pull over and all my oil is on the ground and it looks to be leaking from the front valve cover, should I replace that first? I'm not positive but I believe after that my oil and coolant mixed together after whichever gasket blew, does that sound more like head gasket? Although I put a backup quart in and it's clearly leaking from the valve cover?
This really doesn’t sound good. I don’t see a valve cover leak causing this issue. Are you sure it didn’t throw a rod through the oil pan to cause that bad of a leak?! If it’s mixed with antifreeze then you either have a cracked block, head, head gasket or intake gasket leak. But it sounds like the engine may need a ton of work if it died and now there is a massive leak.
@@PetesGarageandperformance I'm not positive that it didn't throw a rod, but there was no loud noise and my car wasn't overheating before it happened. It's only leaking from the valve cover that I can see, what test should I do to determine the true issue before I go wasting money on all this other stuff? I bought the car at 154K miles has 172K now, I know it didn't have the best maintenance from previous owners but I flushed it and change the oil every 3K miles, changed plugs, wires, all filters, maf sensor, cleaned idler control valve, replaced cool packs etc, engine really had some go and never had any issues in 8 months of atleast 30+ miles a day driving.
@@sykrss9534 ok just clean off the valve cover area with brake cleaner (engine off). Then drive it a little bit and see. You should be able to tell where the new leak is coming from. As far as dying... it could be unrelated to the oil leak. Check fuel pressure. Also check for spark with a spark tester. If you don't have any spark, it's possibly the crankshaft position sensor. I bet the intake gaskets are toast too if they've never been done.
Great vids man! Subbed. I just bought 1990 Olds 88. I have the spark plug rail and VIN shows no recall. Would it be wise just to get rid of it anyway and clear/secure the wires? Thanks
How can u tell a supercharger is goin out on a grand prix gtp 3.800 v 6 2004
Usually they rattle a lot.
Replaced valve cover gaskets now I have blue smoke what would the issue be? It comes at operating temperature while idling when you drive it’s fine!! And there’s no smoke until it heats up
Blue smoke from the tail pipe or blue smoke from under the hood?
Tailpipe
That’s not good. Sounds like either the PCV valve is messed up and it is sucking oil into the intake and burning it. Or your piston rings are worn causing it to burn oil. Blue smoke is burning oil.
Yeah replaced Pcv valve no joy my buddy added seafoam when we changed to gaskets since the the oil looked gunky at this point no clue has 168k on the clock thought maybe the lower intake might of caused it but other than that runs smooth with lots of power computer scanner showed a misfire on cylinder 3 but never heard or felt a difference
James Larkin I believe there is supposed to be an o-ring on the PCV valve. It’s easily overlooked and can cause this issue. Double check the PCV.
My Mercedes smells like a burning candle when I come to a stop I knew it was valve cover gaskets. That's the only one I've run across that smells like a candle though maybe it's a certain oil type
How much does a job like this cost and or should I just drop a new engine...!??
about $450 including lower intake manifold gasket, upper intake manifold gasket, valve cover gasket, and aluminum heater elbows. Na dont get a whole new engine. The orange gasket would have to replaced either way. Use the fel pro metal gaskets. Dont use the same orange ones.
Do the intake gaskets leak oil?
Yes. They will leak oil and coolant. Depends on which part of the gasket fails. The gaskets seal oil at the China rail of the engine and where the intake meets the head. It also seals coolant at the ports where the coolant flows from each head to the thermostat and the crossover ports in the lower intake where the elbows hook to the belt tensioner.
@@PetesGarageandperformance Hm, I put full synthetic in last oil change and shortly after it sprang a very slow leak somewhere. It's like a quart a month so not a huge problem yet. It's not the oil pan or filter. Puddles are under the passenger side of the engine, I don't see anything in the front of the engine, can't really see in the back. Fun times lol.
Yeah it sounds like you need to get the vehicle into the air so you can see where it’s coming from. It’s hard to see with the vehicle on the ground. It could be one of the valve cover gaskets too.
@@PetesGarageandperformance I'm hoping it's a valve cover, cause it's easy to do lol. Upper intake wouldn't be too bad either but I don't see any oil around that. Worst case is lower intake.
I know this is an older video hopefully someone sees this. I just bought a used 05 Pontiac G6 Im starting to work on. Everything I look up online brings up this GM 3800, is this the same engine?
No the G6 does not have the 3800. Your car could have a few different engine combinations.
its a half ass fix i am keeping my 2002 cover as it came with the car,,mine do not leak the intakes are the ones that can leak an need recalled
I got a 2005 Buick custom and when I start it sounds bad I'm leaking coolant my battery gage is jumping from 11 to 13 volts idk what's wrong sometimes it starts n runs sometimes it won't start and when it dose the rpm gage is jumping from 1000 to 3000 rpm if you can help me I would appreciate it
Joey Fleer maybe the water pump is leaking coolant all over the crankshaft position sensor? Hard to tell from here.
Just put new water pump in got under the car today and seen water dripping off the oil filter
Joey Fleer could be coming from the coolant elbows.
Check out my intake gasket video and you’ll see the coolant elbows I’m talking about
@@PetesGarageandperformance there not plastic but the one under the alt has a leak think the o ring is bad?? don't feel any cracks gonna watch it now
I got a 2003 Monte Carlos ss smoke came from da oil.cap an stick not out da rail pip its da head gasket huh
Smoke out of the oil cap is usually a sign of worn out piston rings or a broken piston. How many miles? Does it consume oil?
@@PetesGarageandperformance bout 200,000
@@PetesGarageandperformance yea no smoke our da pipe not mliky
The engine won't start with the belt on take the belt off and it cranks any ideas
One of the accessories is locked up. Try spinning the alternator, water pump, a/c compressor, tensioner, and idler pulleys by hand. One will be locked up. Then replace that part.
Does this recall apply to a 2004 monte
I'm not sure. Contact your local dealership with your VIN and they will be able to tell you if you have any open recalls.
What leaks on the bottom end?
Oil pan gasket or oil filter adapter.
Wait a Minute throw that in the trash? Grand prix 2001 gt 3800 owner
That’s what the recall from GM says to do.
wish you were in louisiana lol
I can't not find my power steering location on my 08 lucerne
stack hester the pump is way down on the back side of the engine if you have a 3800.
It's part of the serpentine belt. It's low buy the fire wall
I'd pay you to look at my 02 grand prix
Just give me one hundred dollars and I'll burn the NFG POS.
Ok, now make an instructional video on how to fix them.
Grumpy Cat you’re in luck! I also have videos on the repairs!
I wanna see repair videos please!
Check out my channel. There’s videos of these repairs.
HOW MANY TIME I TOLD YOU WEAR THE CLOVE TO PROTECE YOUR HAND ?????????????? (SMILE) THANKS ANYWAY.
I hardly ever wear gloves. I can’t feel the bolts as good with them on.
After that the engine has a recall and you take it off and that also goes in the trash 😂😂😂😂
Mines leaks oil bad and I have oil slang all over my engine...!?
And its making a ticking sound starts up drives 50 feet then dies
Is it ticking inside the engine? Or does it have an exhaust leak? If it has been run low on oil too long, there may be internal damage. Depending on what all is leaking on your engine, it may cost around $800-$1000 to fix them. That’s still cheaper than a new engine. If you got a used one from a junkyard, you would probably have to do these repairs anyway.
That oil cap was poorly placed and has a high risk of falling into the engine bay. Also I'd highly recommend a recall be preformed by a certified GM technician. lol
Trenton Thompson I think we should hammer the torsion bar bolt with a half inch impact until the bolt snaps off! That would fix it!
Pete's Garage only if i can put the torsion bars in a bmw for no good reason
+Trenton Thompson lol. Aren’t you supposed to be in class?!
Pete's Garage aren't you supposed to be in a conference lol
There are support groups for men with busted vaginas.
Those 3800 engines are ticking timebombs to catch on fire.My 2000 grandprix caught fire from leaking valve cover gaskets..avoid those engines.
I think the 3800 is one of the more reliable engines GM made. It takes a lot of neglect to get to the point the oil leak will catch fire. If you smell burning oil every time you park your car for years you should probably have the leaks fixed!
I got GM covers for sale
😂
Nowadays you spend more time removing plastic crap than doing actual jobs it seems.
I agree. It takes about 10 minutes to remove the plastic covers on a c7 Vette just to finally see the actual engine.
I have a 96 Olds Eighty-Eight, man I love that car. Went through a rough time and wasn't thrilled at first about settling with a 90s car, BUT the car has 170k and still drives like new. I am currently battling a couple leaks. Trans fluid, leaking from the radiator connection and coolant, which I thought was the pump (changing the pump anyways) but it was those little plastic hoses that feed through the tensioner to the heater core. Its has been really weird as the reservoir will deplete, but always have enough coolant in the radiator.
Meh, just rambling, but yeah I have a newfound respect for the 3800. Super reliable and super easy to work on with a basic set of tools. And strangely it really isn't all that outdated. Some of the features seem way before its time. Besides under the hood, the only other thing that needed an update was the radio and speakers. Everything else is good.
Yeah we had a 96 Bonneville growing up. That was a great car. I think it had over 300k when we got rid of it.
Turn your intro music down
Thank you. I will on future videos.
Haha first comment..... haha
+Hart Vlogs caught everyone sleeping!