2001 Buick LeSabre - Valvoline Advanced 10W-30 - 8,372 mi

[JGmazda]

This report is from my 2001 LeSabre which just turned approximately 80k-miles. The 8,372 miles was from a trip across country and then daily driven for awhile.

I'm pretty happy with the report! Love the 3800 series engine and wish GM kept it going. Averaged about 28 mpg (70mph) on the highway also.

Thanks!

 

[Furious]

That 3800 probably has another 300,000 miles left in it before it dies, great engines.

Valvoline Advanced did great, stick with it.

 

[JGmazda]

That 3800 probably has another 300,000 miles left in it before it dies, great engines.

Valvoline Advanced did great, stick with it.

Thanks! No reason to change really! And agreed, I'll most likely have this car forever... They don't make them like this anymore!

 

[fantastic]

Results are good & BS's flashpoint test is working it seems. Interesting to find such a low mileage example but they did sell a lot of these to the older generation. I can see 27 MPG if speed was kept in check & long highway run. Thanks

 

[Lubener]

That's a great report and a good dose of moly in that oil. I had one of those engines and really liked it. Good to see you have low levels of potassium and sodium in the oil which tells of no coolant in the oil.

Did you ever have to replace the notorious intake gaskets?

 

[himemsys]

Impressive. Only 80k miles in 24 years? Has it been driven regularly the whole time, or was it in storage for some of that time?

 

[Glenda W.]

These are fantastic engines!

 

[53' Stude]

Great report. Thank You

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Those are really great wear metal results for a V6.

 

[facility1]

good example of a snout oil ,the 3800 engine was a better engine to add.

 

[JGmazda]

That's a great report and a good dose of moly in that oil. I had one of those engines and really liked it. Good to see you have low levels of potassium and sodium in the oil which tells of no coolant in the oil.

Did you ever have to replace the notorious intake gaskets?

Yes! Replaced the gaskets myself along with just about the kitchen sink! Elbows, New plenum, and of course, gaskets all around. It took me awhile but I like to do things right.

I also ditched the DexCool and went with another coolant (Peak 10x). That happened around 55k miles.

 

[JGmazda]

Impressive. Only 80k miles in 24 years? Has it been driven regularly the whole time, or was it in storage for some of that time?

Thanks! Yes, the Buick has been in our family since my aunt purchased it in 2001. She was the proverbial "LiL' Old lady" that hardly drove around. Garage kept and maintained by me for years until she passed and left the car to me. It's been my pride and joy and great remembrance of her. It's got low miles basically because she just drove it to the store and doctor appointments. Recently, my wife and I decided to take it across country on a long drive and it drove splendidly.

 

[Lubener]

Yes! Replaced the gaskets myself along with just about the kitchen sink! Elbows, New plenum, and of course, gaskets all around. It took me awhile but I like to do things right.

I also ditched the DexCool and went with another coolant (Peak 10x). That happened around 55k miles.

Once those items are replaced, it's a bullet proof engine.

 

[JGmazda]

Once those items are replaced, it's a bullet proof engine.

That's really great to hear! From what others are telling me... the engine will outlast the rest of the car!

 

[JoelB]

Results are good & BS's flashpoint test is working it seems. Interesting to find such a low mileage example but they did sell a lot of these to the older generation. I can see 27 MPG if speed was kept in check & long highway run. Thanks

My 95 Lesabre with the series 1 3800 got 30mpg commuting to work every day. Very impressive for such a big car. The bench seat (couch) was amazing.

 

[fantastic]

My 95 Lesabre with the series 1 3800 got 30mpg commuting to work every day. Very impressive for such a big car. The bench seat (couch) was amazing.

Yep, "fuel efficient" front wheel drive "land yachts of days past"
Only Lesabre I had was I think a late 80's or early 90's where the hood flipped up opposite direction like an older Corvette.

 

[addyguy]

I’ll nit-pick here…
Silicon is high for the miles, and the corresponding lead from bearings is higher than it ‘should be’…yes, it’s single digit at 8k miles, but lead is usually lower than iron, and here it is higher.
I’d check the air filter and ducting for leaks.

 

[JavierH19]

The odd thing about valvoline advanced is that the 5w-20 and 10w-30 have 760 zddp and 660 phos but the 0w-20 and 5w-30 have more at 940 zddp and 800 phos so I think I'd rather use the 5w-30 in this case. But it's also a 3800 and will run for a half million miles regardless.

 

[JGmazda]

I’ll nit-pick here…
Silicon is high for the miles, and the corresponding lead from bearings is higher than it ‘should be’…yes, it’s single digit at 8k miles, but lead is usually lower than iron, and here it is higher.
I’d check the air filter and ducting for leaks.

Interesting... I'll check the air and ducting.

 

[robburrow5150]

This was the plain Valvoline Advanced? I knew Valvoline Extended Protection had a lot of moly, but I didn't know the advanced did too. Wow. No reason to run the EP, then.