Hey guys. I've been considering getting a Grand Prix or similar for around town use for a while now. I'm planning to buy this summer and am looking at years 1999-2003 mostly. I want one with the 3.8L since they are so well known for reliability, but would you trust one with high mileage? Most are 155K-185K. Would it still be a worth while buy? like I said it would be mostly for around town just so I'm not pumping gas through the f150 as much. Thanks!
Buying a high-mile 3800
- Thread starter renegade_987
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The 3800 is pretty much a bulletproof engine, once the intake gaskets are addressed.
I've seen many examples with 250,000-300,000 miles on them.
Around here, insurance agents and adjusters loved LeSabres and Park Avenues with the 3800 engine. They'd just pile the miles on them.
I've seen many examples with 250,000-300,000 miles on them.
Around here, insurance agents and adjusters loved LeSabres and Park Avenues with the 3800 engine. They'd just pile the miles on them.
As long it was somewhat cared for, I'd say you should be fine with the engine. Car itself might nickel and dime you though. My neighbor down the street has a 2003 sedan with the 3.8. He is doing it for the same reason, but his truck is a chevy.
I want to say he has around 200k on it now, and the engine is only burning like a quarter quart in almost 5k miles. I know he replaced a few things on it, but he still enjoys driving it...
The engine will run a long time with proper maintenance. It's the trans or those plastic coolant elbow's that will kill it. Prolly not worth putting a trans in it and when the coolant elbow's break you most likely will burn up the engine.
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That will most likely be a Series II 3800. Excellent engine. If previous owner took decent care you can see plenty of miles past the 185k mark.
Enjoy your hoopdie! I have one for the same reason you do...keeps the miles off my 04 F-150! and more dollars in my pocket in gas money.
Enjoy your hoopdie! I have one for the same reason you do...keeps the miles off my 04 F-150! and more dollars in my pocket in gas money.
I sold a 2001 Grand Prix GTP last year with 103,000 miles so there are some creampuffs out there. Nice car. Any car over 150k miles will have some issues but hopefully they are minor. The car you are looking for has an owner with most of the maintenance receipts. You get a feel right away about how the car has been treated.
Originally Posted By: tig1
Lower intake manifold gaskets are a serious problem on the GM V6 engines. Outside that they should be fine.
By 180K+ should the intake manifold gaskets have been replaced?
Lower intake manifold gaskets are a serious problem on the GM V6 engines. Outside that they should be fine.
By 180K+ should the intake manifold gaskets have been replaced?
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I`d LOVE to find a low miles late-80s era Delta 88 or 98 Regency for my daily driver!!!!!
Originally Posted By: renegade_987
like I said it would be mostly for around town just so I'm not pumping gas through the f150 as much.
You might want to figure what actual dollar savings you will get by purchasing, maintaining, insuring another vehicle. How much will the Gran Prix actually save versus the F-150 in fuel costs. Then how long will you have to drive the Grand Prix and gain the small amount of savings to break even with the cost of the Grand Prix, insurance, license plates and maintenance?
Sounds like a bad financial decision to me. Maybe you need to trade the F-150 in on a more fuel efficient car. I traded in my 2008 SUV on a 2012 car that gets 25-29 mpg and the savings are more than the car payment.
like I said it would be mostly for around town just so I'm not pumping gas through the f150 as much.
You might want to figure what actual dollar savings you will get by purchasing, maintaining, insuring another vehicle. How much will the Gran Prix actually save versus the F-150 in fuel costs. Then how long will you have to drive the Grand Prix and gain the small amount of savings to break even with the cost of the Grand Prix, insurance, license plates and maintenance?
Sounds like a bad financial decision to me. Maybe you need to trade the F-150 in on a more fuel efficient car. I traded in my 2008 SUV on a 2012 car that gets 25-29 mpg and the savings are more than the car payment.
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there have been an abnormal amount of 3800s dying lately on various forums...
normally, you will have issues with the LIM gaskets(just like every other GM V6 in the past 2 decades), the coolant elbows break/rot, on the N/A engines upper intake can warp and throw coolant into the oil...... and for some reason, they are still self-igniting, even after GM did recall fixes.
after the engine itself, dead/dying trans and body rust(especially the rockers and strut towers on a W-body) will be something to take a good look at.
that being said, there are some really high mileage units out there that don't have problems. for some reason, 3800s NEED really high oil pressure to stay happy... not sure what the reasoning is behind it, but if you see less than 20PSI at a hot idle, i wouldn't expect the engine to last much longer, compared to other engines of the era where 10PSI is still quite normal.
normally, you will have issues with the LIM gaskets(just like every other GM V6 in the past 2 decades), the coolant elbows break/rot, on the N/A engines upper intake can warp and throw coolant into the oil...... and for some reason, they are still self-igniting, even after GM did recall fixes.
after the engine itself, dead/dying trans and body rust(especially the rockers and strut towers on a W-body) will be something to take a good look at.
that being said, there are some really high mileage units out there that don't have problems. for some reason, 3800s NEED really high oil pressure to stay happy... not sure what the reasoning is behind it, but if you see less than 20PSI at a hot idle, i wouldn't expect the engine to last much longer, compared to other engines of the era where 10PSI is still quite normal.
I sold my wifes 2000 Impala (3800 V6) about a month ago with 190,000 miles on it. Never had to add oil between oil changes, got 28 to 31 MPG highway all the way to the end. I did replace the intake manifold gasket. Nice engines.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Grand prix's love to rot their rocker panels out. Most have sunroofs and the sunroof drains add to the problems of beer can thick metal.
Also consider Olds Intrigues. What? Exactly.
Wow, GrandPrix had a better sister.
Grand prix's love to rot their rocker panels out. Most have sunroofs and the sunroof drains add to the problems of beer can thick metal.
Also consider Olds Intrigues. What? Exactly.
Wow, GrandPrix had a better sister.
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Was there any difference between the mid-late 80s era 3800's and the late 90s era Series II 3800's?
Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
Was there any difference between the mid-late 80s era 3800's and the late 90s era Series II 3800's?
The LG3 and L36 are two very different engines despite being in the 3800 family. The L36, IIRC, has a higher compression ratio and a redesigned intake/exhaust, along with a lot of other smaller changes I can't recall right now. GM also moved around the accessories on those engines. As much as I hate to recommend Wikipedia as a source, they do have a nice writeup on the 3800 V6.
Was there any difference between the mid-late 80s era 3800's and the late 90s era Series II 3800's?
The LG3 and L36 are two very different engines despite being in the 3800 family. The L36, IIRC, has a higher compression ratio and a redesigned intake/exhaust, along with a lot of other smaller changes I can't recall right now. GM also moved around the accessories on those engines. As much as I hate to recommend Wikipedia as a source, they do have a nice writeup on the 3800 V6.
Your not going to be saving a dime just blowing money on a 10 year old car.
The best way to save on gas is to drive your current vehicle less, or to sell it for a more efficient vehicle.
The best way to save on gas is to drive your current vehicle less, or to sell it for a more efficient vehicle.
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
Your not going to be saving a dime just blowing money on a 10 year old car.
The best way to save on gas is to drive your current vehicle less, or to sell it for a more efficient vehicle.
I tend to agree, although I'm not sure what the city milage difference between the F150 and the 3800 will be. I'm guessing what, 13-14mpg on the F150, while the 3800 might squeeze out 20 under the same conditions? Big difference, but only if you drive lots of miles under those conditions. If it takes more than a few years of gas savings to pay for purchase + repairs + maintance, is it worth it?
OTOH for just running to Walmart in a beater that you don't care about (aka getting door dings won't bug you) it might be worth it just for that. Plus ease of parking.
Your not going to be saving a dime just blowing money on a 10 year old car.
The best way to save on gas is to drive your current vehicle less, or to sell it for a more efficient vehicle.
I tend to agree, although I'm not sure what the city milage difference between the F150 and the 3800 will be. I'm guessing what, 13-14mpg on the F150, while the 3800 might squeeze out 20 under the same conditions? Big difference, but only if you drive lots of miles under those conditions. If it takes more than a few years of gas savings to pay for purchase + repairs + maintance, is it worth it?
OTOH for just running to Walmart in a beater that you don't care about (aka getting door dings won't bug you) it might be worth it just for that. Plus ease of parking.
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