I have a strong hate for buick 3.8
#1
06-05-2012, 05:06 PM
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Harrisburg,PA
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a strong hate for buick 3.8
Well recently my dads buick started to overheat while I was driving it.. I got it pulled off the road in time that i thought no major damage occured. When I towed it home the whole intake was full of coolant.. I checked the oil and there was no mixture showing that the head gasket was shot. I read up about it and the 3.8's are known for the intake manifold gaskets going.. Well today I did both the upper and lower intake gaskets. I knew there was coolant in the cylinders cause entire intake was full.. I pulled the plugs and rotated the motor for about 10 minutes by hand just to make sure that there was nothing left inside the cylinders. I then drained the oil and replaced it with some cheap 5w-30. I refilled the coolant and triple checked everything. Went to crank it over and nothing... Pulled the plugs again and there was coolant in the cylinders once again..... 
My guess is its time to rip back into this turd....
My guess is its time to rip back into this turd....
#2
06-05-2012, 05:31 PM
My wife had a 2002 Buick Century with the 3.1L V6. It had grown some issue's, we finally spotted water leaking out of the intake manifold and it had hesitation after 1st. Traded it in, they found out what was wrong with it, wifey can't remember the name of the part but it was something to do with the fuel that cost $800. I've no clue..... Oh well..... And I don't know what they did for the water in the intake....
Last edited by stewie01; 06-05-2012 at 05:33 PM.
#3
06-05-2012, 05:36 PM
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Harrisburg,PA
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
#4
06-06-2012, 12:26 AM
Champion
#5
06-06-2012, 01:10 AM
Head gasket and probably heads as well. Not good news for sure. Your dad should have traded it last month!
#6
06-06-2012, 09:18 AM
Grand Champion
#7
06-06-2012, 11:18 AM
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Harrisburg,PA
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Trending Topics
#8
06-06-2012, 11:30 AM
#9
06-06-2012, 12:26 PM
Veteran
My mom special ordered a 1990 Buick Riviera with the 3.8. She still has it to this day, over 320,000 miles, only thing replaced has been fluids, filters, brakes, batteries, plugs, wires, 1 belt, and 1 alternator.
I will always swear by the Buick 3800 Series I engine.
3800 Series II, mehhh not as much.
I will always swear by the Buick 3800 Series I engine.
3800 Series II, mehhh not as much.
#10
06-06-2012, 03:00 PM
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Harrisburg,PA
Posts: 3,574
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It was the aluminum gasket.. I want to do head gaskets and replace the plastic upper manifold since they like to warp. But I have a feeling that when we tried to start it yesterday for the second time that it did some damage...
It started up the first time and ran for about 30 seconds and kinda just shut off. No rude noises or anything just sputtered and stopped. Went to restart it and nothing... that's when I pulled all plugs and manually turned the motor over just to see coolant come out...
It started up the first time and ran for about 30 seconds and kinda just shut off. No rude noises or anything just sputtered and stopped. Went to restart it and nothing... that's when I pulled all plugs and manually turned the motor over just to see coolant come out...