Thank you -First year and 10,000 miles in my Buick

[TmanP]

So I realized that I've had my Lacrosse for a year already. This is actually my first car.

I put about 10,000 miles on it, bringing it to about 146,000. It's white with a tan leather interior.

I've had to do a few things to it, but I knew about several before buying.

-new stabilizer bar
-new tie rod end
-rear brake job and one caliper
-transmission fluid change
-throttle body needed cleaning
-serpentine belt (scheduled), air filter, PCV valve, etc.

(Since this is an oil forum, I should probably tell you that I think I'll run PP 5w30 for the long haul now.)

On a recent 8 hour trip, she pulled 30 MPG with a loaded trunk and the A/C blasting. City mileage is in the low 20s.

It's been a great car thus far and I am planning on keeping it forever.

Thanks to you guys for all the help figuring things out. I've learned a ton about cars in the past year.
I appreciate all the help.

 

[bubbatime]

My first car had a 3.8 Buick. A 1982 model. Its amazing that those engines can pull 30-32 mpg on the highway. Great highway cars. The engines are robust and can last a long time.

 

[TmanP]

The 3.8 is what I looked for when I was shopping. Lesabres, Impalas mostly and this Lacrosse. The MPG and power are both quite impressive.

 

[dishdude]

That's one clean engine compartment! Very nice.

 

[bmod305]

Great road car with a fantastic engine. I have had a bunch of 3800's over the years. My son has an 07 Grand Prix with NA 3.8. One thing I would change if it hasn't been done already is the plastic coolant elbows. Change them out with the new metal ones. 45-60 min job-see youtube for help.

Was it the right rear caliper? On the third one on my son's GP. They leak out the parking brake adjuster bolt-known problem with the body.
Dave

 

[GMBoy]

I hated like [censored] that the 3.8L went away. It was a reliable, low tech engine that returned plenty of power and very good fuel economy. I've still got 2 cars with them...my 87 Buick Grand national (turbo) and my 2000 Buick Regal GS with the 3.8 Supercharged. Love them both.

 

[4WD]

I had three - all were trouble free - and good running cars for their day.
2/3 of those GM divisions are also gone
Ditto on your clean engine bay - "pride in your ride"

 

[Carbon12]

I have to say that is a very respectably clean engine you have there.

I would love to find a nice Buick someday once I wear out my Cruze, especially if you can get 30 mpg out of one. Does anyone know if this make/model/year/engine was affected by the dexcool issue with the intake manifold gasket?

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: Carbon12
I have to say that is a very respectably clean engine you have there.

I would love to find a nice Buick someday once I wear out my Cruze, especially if you can get 30 mpg out of one. Does anyone know if this make/model/year/engine was affected by the dexcool issue with the intake manifold gasket?


Good luck wearing out a Cruze. Mine's still got a lot of life left at 5 years old and 136k miles. Lordstown screws together some long-wearing small cars...

Enjoy that 3800! That Series III is the pick of the naturally aspirated 3800 litter. It won't suffer the Dexcool issues the Series II suffered. Revised aluminum LIM gaskets and a revised upper intake assured that the Series II's Achilles heel was fixed for good.

I regularly got 35+ mpg in a 1999 LeSabre. Once I pushed that car to 39.8 mpg going 55 mph from SC to PA. I had to stop for the bathroom well before the car needed more fuel. These cars easily hit 30 mpg on the highway.

 

[69GTX]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
That's one clean engine compartment! Very nice.


Spotless for that many miles. You must really take a shine to it.

 

[Rolla07]

Originally Posted By: dishdude
That's one clean engine compartment! Very nice.


Yeah..wow..impeccable

 

[TmanP]

I sprayed it down with Greased lightning, rinsed and let it dry. Then I wipe everything down with a wet cloth every time I wash the car.

 

[Merkava_4]

3800 Series III

 

[dan_erickson]

I've always have good luck with my 3800 powered cars.

 

[DriveHard]

great looking engine. One of my all time favorites!

 

[Benzadmiral]

I'd guess, from the mileage and the Series III 3800, that your LaCrosse is one of the first generation models? I test drove one, an '05 I think, overnight in 2007. Very serene and smooth car. I'd have bought it except for the dealer refusing to budge on price, and for the salesman's attitude of "D'ya want this car or not?"

Never mind. I got the excellent 3800 experience in the '03 Park Avenue I bought soon after that debacle, and drove it happily for some 6+ years. There's a good reason why Buicks are well thought of among car cognoscenti.

 

[HM12460]

Nice car. Hard to go wrong with a series 3 Buick. Should be good for another 100,000 miles easily.

 

[TmanP]

Yes, it's a first-gen Lacrosse. I really like it!

 

[JGmazda]

I have a 2001 Buick LeSabre with 45k miles. I recently drove it round trip (Up mountains and grades) and was often doing 75-80mph... Gas mileage "average was "32-33mpg"

How come NO ONE ever talks about the great MPG these cars get on the highway. That's even better than my Miata!