Coolant elbows on the 3800 series engine

[richport29]

Just had both coolant elbows replaced on my 3800 series 3 engine. Very concerning that the "plastic" was so brittle. Both ended up breaking off inside. What was GM thinking?
How long can I expect these new elbows to last?
Purchased a set of aftermarket elbows off amazon if/when these fail (made out of aluminum)

 

[01rangerxl]

The aluminum ones are supposed to be improved, but Dorman makes them, so who knows? I never had a customer bring the aluminum ones back when I worked for a chain that carried them. It is one of those parts where a customer would come in and say something like "I need an elbow for a 3800" and I would just walk right to it and get it.

How long will the new ones last? Unknown. Keeping an eye on them is really all you can do.

 

[richport29]

Is it true the o-rings on the Dormans aren't as good as the OEM ones?

 

[Merkava_4]

Either get the OEM plastic elbows from the dealer or get the new aluminum ones made by Dorman. The plastic elbows made by Dorman are said to be junk, but the aluminum elbows are good. Mine had a piece broken off in the intake manifold and they were the factory elbows. Coat the o-rings with RTV before you install the elbows.

 

[Chris142]

the aluminum ones should last forever unless you let the coolant turn to mud

 

[The_Eric]

The only (and big) issues with the aluminum elbows is with the o-ring. It will be every bit as cheap and low grade as ALL the other Dorman o-rings.

I can't tell you how many Dorman products fail because of their JUNK o-rings. Sure, they work fine for a year or two, but eventually the o-ring rots out and coolant will leak.

 

[Merkava_4]

In that case what I'll do is take the aluminum elbows over to Central Supply in Fresno and have them match them up. They're my o-ring supplier.

 

[Kruse]

About 10 years ago, my brother started his 3800 engine one morning during the middle of winter and left it idle to warm up. A few minutes later he looked out the window to see a cloud coming from his engine compartment. The elbow had broke and spewed coolant all over the engine. Luckily, he just happened to see it and ran outside to shut off the engine. I do remember getting the replacement from the GM dealer and it was made of metal. So the dealer no longer has the replacement part made of metal? I only remember that it was metal because I gave the parts man a humorous jab that GM should have replaced it on their dime because they obviously realized that the plastic was a junk part and the replacement was metal. So is the replacement part from GM now made of plastic?

 

[Merkava_4]

As far as I know they've always been plastic. Aluminum is a new Dorman thing.