Lifespan of 3800 Series II

[Dmitriy]

My '96 Firebird now has 94000 miles on the odometer, and I'm beginning to wonder how much longer the engine will last.

How many miles can these engines usually take (provided regular maintnance and synthetic oil) ?

[JML97-3.8]

Mine has 92,000 and runs strong like the day I bought it, I am confident it will run to at least 160k w/out an overhaul.

[3400Camaro]

3800 Series II? Take care of it and your car's wheels will fall off before that thing gives. IMHO it's the best engine GM makes. The only prob. you might have is an upper intake leak, other than that, you should hit 200k at least, if you take care of it. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[Bliggida]

125,000 miles on mine. Race it all the time, never question if its going to hesitate or not start.

Still as fast as the day I bought it.

[Dmitriy]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 3400Camaro:
3800 Series II? Take care of it and your car's wheels will fall off before that thing gives.<hr></blockquote>

Are there any non-traditional ways to take care of it? I mean other than regular oil changes and tune-ups.


Dmitriy

[Camarorulz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Are there any non-traditional ways to take care of it? I mean other than regular oil changes and tune-ups.<hr></blockquote>

Not really. You could change your plugs and wires often, make sure your air filter is clean, that sort of thing, but that is all part of a tuneup if I'm not mistaken. Oil changes are very important; get your oil changed earlier than scheduled even. Your 3800 II can go for 7k miles without an oil change and not be adversely affected in the short run, but why put the engine through that kind of abuse consistently? Change it every 3k and keep up on maintenance, don't abuse the engine.

EDIT: Don't the '96 f-bodies have the Series I? I thought they did, but I think I may be mistaken.

[ March 22, 2003: Message edited by: Camarorulz ]</p>

[Tyler]

definately mistaken.

i got 42k on my car. its a 96. never missed an oilchange. even tho i got some LOUD ticking when i drive in the morning. (cold engine)

i cant figure out what it could be...
it goes away after it warms up.

maybe injectors?

[venom]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> Don't the '96 f-bodies have the Series I? I thought they did, but I think I may be mistaken.
<hr></blockquote>

my 96 firebird has a series II 3800

it has 130,000 miles and still runs as tight as the day I got it, no smoke or hesitation. Regular maint will keep the 3800 going until around 200,000 ( just my 2 cents worth)

[navyblue2000]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Tyler:
definately mistaken.

i got 42k on my car. its a 96. never missed an oilchange. even tho i got some LOUD ticking when i drive in the morning. (cold engine)

i cant figure out what it could be...
it goes away after it warms up.

maybe injectors?<hr></blockquote>

yep, it's injector pulse.

[RamAir95TA]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by navyblue2000:


yep, it's injector pulse.<hr></blockquote>

Injector pulse is only the duration for the injector being open to spray fuel for the given duty cycle.

My guess would be noisy rockers/valvetrain.

[camaroincal]

Hey Venom, I would suggest putting your mas air flow sensor screen back on after reading through this sites VERY informative technical database....

[F1GT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Dmitriy:


Are there any non-traditional ways to take care of it? I mean other than regular oil changes and tune-ups.


Dmitriy<hr></blockquote>

There are other things you can do besides regular maintenance for prolonging the life of your engine. Besides oil changes, the other very important thing to do is WARMING up the car. Don't ever get on it when it's still cold. Don't sit and idle to warm up either, that's the old school way and will run rich for a longer period of time. Drive it moderately until it reaches normal temps. This warms up the car faster and warms up the rest of the drive-train too.

[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[F1GT]

Oh, and the life of the engine depends on how you take care of it. I expect 300k+ out of mine. Not sure on the rest of the car!!! lol

A couple of years back. There was this guy who owned a '94 or so Boneville that wrote to an editor. Aside from maybe a water pump and another repair, the engine gave him absolutely hassle free ownership. He states the car has 325,000 miles at the time of his writing to the newspaper.

My previous car, a 1988 Beretta GT(2.8 V6), went up to 230,000 miles the last time I saw it. I sold it at 191,000 miles after an accident where a truck backed up onto my right door. The only thing wrong with it mechanically was oil leak, around the valve covers and oil pan gasket. Also the bushings were on its way out. But the car still ran GOOD. I bought the car at 110,000, with a girl owning it. And you know how girls are, they don't warm up the car. They just get in and GO!!

[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[F1GT]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by 3400Camaro:
3800 Series II? Take care of it and your car's wheels will fall off before that thing gives. IMHO it's the best engine GM makes. The only prob. you might have is an upper intake leak, other than that, you should hit 200k at least, if you take care of it. [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] <hr></blockquote>

Back around 1998, Wards Auto World declared GM's 3.8 V6 one of the world's 10-best engines. Guess that's why we see it across the GM line up eh?

Not sure how many years the Buick 3.8L V6 got top honors. But the LS1 also made it as the TOP 10 engines in the world too. Again, not sure how many years running.

The Nissan Maxima's 3.0 V6 earned top honors as well, for a few years in a row too!!! And I can see why, as I drove my co-workers Maxima. Very Smooth and Powerful engine. A little better than the 3.8, in my opinion.

[img]graemlins/burnout.gif[/img]

[pvtschultz]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr> quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't the '96 f-bodies have the Series I? I thought they did, but I think I may be mistaken.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<hr></blockquote>

1995 first saw the 3.8 as an option and was the last year for the 3.4. All 95 and up V6s are series II. As for longevity, I just reached 140,000 miles and still going strong. Well, I'll need the replace the rear main seal for the second time, but other than that, no big probs with the engine. Just the suspension getting a little shaky.