Is the 3800 Series II V6 THAT GOOD of an engine?? Why?

3.8 engines have a pretty good reputation. Bad intake manifolds are a known issue.

Yeah I have experience with that. I have replace my upper intake manifold because the other one exploded. At least it got me more familiar with my car though!

I own a 1999 Chevy Lumina LTZ I bought it brand new. It has the 3800 series II engine. I put 1,000,000,000 miles in 6 years, now it has 1,331,560,423 the only things I've changed on it is the oil, the transmission fluid, the brake fluid radiator flush. It still runs great. Now it need power steering pump changed and rack and pinion. I drove the car too rough but it still runs great. I set my lighter that comes with the vehicle and put it on the center of the engine, then started the engine and the lighter never moved, that's how well those engines are built. So my answer to your question is you have a great engine, it's no luck it's just built great.

The 3.8 (3800) is junk! I've had approximately 8 cars with this engine (2)81 Grand Prix's, 83 & 84 Cutlass Supreme's, 83 & 84 Buick Regal, 90 Bonneville SSE & 92 Bonneville SSEi Supercharged & every one of them either misfired, leaked coolant through cracked timing chain cover, lost oil pressure as soon as they reached normal temp & spun 1st bearing closest to oil pump! Junk junk junk!!!

@ GuruHMJYF7. 1 billion miles in 6 years? So it's been traveling around 19000mph for a straight 6 years. Which Galaxy's have you made it to?

Alex-LMAO. Seriously though in my opinion it’s a phenomenal engine. It’s unfortunate their production was forced to cease (an EPA issue I believe). I bought my 2001 Buick Park Ave in 2004 (with 36k miles) shortly after its original owner had traded it in when the warranty expired. I drove it daily for 14 years and when I finally traded it in it had almost 260,000 miles and the engine was still going strong. Over the life of the vehicle we replaced the main belt and several other items that are basically regular maintenance (battery, wheel bearings etc.) My husband works at an auto service center and he’s meticulous about maintaining our vehicles with regular oil changes and other inspections. I only traded my car because it was dated looking, needing new engine mounts and since it wasn’t worth much due to age and miles I decided to invest in something newer. But I was insistent on finding another 3800 with low miles. It took me from February until June 2008 to find the perfect replacement and when I did it I paid $10,000 cash for a 2006 Lucerne, also with a 3800, with 36000 miles. Not bad for a barely broken in luxury vehicle. I found papers in the glove box and traced the original owner to an 85-year-old guy in Florida. (The place where I traded gave me 300 bucks for the Park and sold it for $1000). Two years and 20,000 miles later I’m still happy with my decision to get the Lucerne. I will say we had to replace the water pump last week and in January there were some lines leaking oil because the fittings were made of plastic so we had them replaced. We’re lucky to have a good mechanic who works where my husband does (although he repairs most cars at his home as a side gig). If you buy a car with a .38 I’d recommend also having a mechanic you trust. Have them go over it, preferably before you buy. I also suggest spending the money to have the main belt replaced right away (that goes for any used vehicle of that configuration) unless you know it’s relatively new. I’ve had 2 cars where the main belt snapped and was lucky both times to be on flat ground where I could roll to a stop, because when this happens the power steering and power brakes stop functioning. One of those times I had just got back from Hocking Hills in Ohio where the roads curve around steep hills with sheer dropoffs. Sorry this is long, and I realize the original post from the asker was a few years ago, but I hope my comments are helpful.

Whoops, in my comment I meant to say “2018” where I typed 2008.

I put a 2006 Pontiac 3.8 in a 2001 monte Carlo SS have had trouble with the seals but fixed it I have put 100000 miles on a used engine and the spark plugs look like new after 30000 miles of use and the money I spent saved me from going broke driving the car I want a Chevy SS so I can save a little longer

if you dont mind going thru a few transmissions the 3.8 will last forever. it is very hard to blow the head gaskets. change the plastic coolant elbows every 100.000 miles, change the oil and they run hassle free about forever. my 2004 park ave looks brand new if i open the hood because the only time i open the hood is to change the air filter or battery.my 93 bonneville had 340.000 miles when the tranny quit and the motor ran like new for every day i had that car. if the 3800 aint the best engine ever made i dont know what is. if i were buying a car with high miles i would not consider a vehicle that does not have a buick 3800.

I have a 2001 monte Carlo ss I brought it back from the dead it had a blown engine found a 2006 Pontiac 3.8 with only 40k and completely refurbished this car top to bottom and 4years later I'm still driving and runs like new everything works it has 215000 on the odometer and it averages 20 miles to the gallon,

Pretty sure he ment 1,000,000 lol...Its still alot of driving, 457 miles a day, every day, for SIX years! That's not much better lol

@Doc. Remember that kid in the 6th grade that had the uncle that jumped 85 school buses on his big wheel when just 4 years old?... Same kid

the 3800 engine in the 80s cutlass and grand prix's are not the same as the front-wheel- drive 3800 in monte Carlos, impalas, and buicks that said I have had problems with keeping antifreeze in the engine and I have had the intake replaces, manifolds replaced the lower gasket and I have gone thru 4 thermostats and have never had good heat in the 2001 monte Carlo ss but that being said I still like driving the car and for what I paid 3000 and how long I have been driving it 4 years and 6 months and it still passes most cars except the high-end v8s and it can never catch my 2016 chevy SS

Just bought a Buick Lesabre 2001 Christmas Day. Did'nt get any details on maint. It has 64,000 miles I have put around 1500 miles on it. My quest. is I have noticed the oil has dropped about a half quart on the stick. I wanted to go with synthetic when I change any sugestions. This car is as clean of a 20 year old car as you will find. I just wanted to do the right thing putting synthetic in it because I have read where that could be a bad move, especially if regular oil was used before. Thanks