johnnycnc
Member
On my way to work this morning and my cars temp gage shot up, idiot light came on..HOT! Pulled off on the interstate shoulder and there she blows! steam that is...
I drive a 2003 Buick Regal with the 3800 Series II engine. (non-supercharged)
Sleep deprived, I goofed and had left my cell at home. bummer.
Nobody really stops for you anymore, so I had to figure out a solution.
I did have a gallon of distilled water for my work coffee machine, by chance, so that got me 3 miles, gently, to an exit.
100.00 tow bill back home, and 27.00 in parts and antifreeze and a couple hours relearning to mechanic on a car later, here is what I discovered;
This engine has 2 plastic 90° "pipes" for the heater hose return system, they go in the manifold and water pump. They had rotted, went bad, and one was streaming really well..
Internet search turned up this to be pretty common, but of course I'd never looked for it since mine were good up until this morning.
So, my tip for anyone with one of these engines, is to do some preventative maintenance and replace these before they go on you.
The 3800 V6 are in more than Buicks, my wife had a Chevy Impala with this engine too.
Not sure if age or miles (178K) did my fittings in but they were in really bad shape even missing material inside them from (?) corrosion.
If you can do a tuneup, you can do this job. If not, consider a mechanic to at least check yours.
I figure at least one person here has one of these engines, so thought I'd share my ****ty experience this a.m. with you all!
P.S...I drove it like I stole it after the repairs to stress test it. I had to know it was going to hold, as I drive interstate and you all know how you have to hammer it at times to merge on, etc.
Refilling the gas tank from only 20 some miles since the last fill up..avg mpg: 9. I usually get 27.
goes to show what a heavy right foot can cost you in gas!
Granted, it did include some idling after the repairs, but..9 mpg. it must have thought it was a 454, LOL.
John
I drive a 2003 Buick Regal with the 3800 Series II engine. (non-supercharged)
Sleep deprived, I goofed and had left my cell at home. bummer.
Nobody really stops for you anymore, so I had to figure out a solution.
I did have a gallon of distilled water for my work coffee machine, by chance, so that got me 3 miles, gently, to an exit.
100.00 tow bill back home, and 27.00 in parts and antifreeze and a couple hours relearning to mechanic on a car later, here is what I discovered;
This engine has 2 plastic 90° "pipes" for the heater hose return system, they go in the manifold and water pump. They had rotted, went bad, and one was streaming really well..
Internet search turned up this to be pretty common, but of course I'd never looked for it since mine were good up until this morning.
So, my tip for anyone with one of these engines, is to do some preventative maintenance and replace these before they go on you.
The 3800 V6 are in more than Buicks, my wife had a Chevy Impala with this engine too.
Not sure if age or miles (178K) did my fittings in but they were in really bad shape even missing material inside them from (?) corrosion.
If you can do a tuneup, you can do this job. If not, consider a mechanic to at least check yours.
I figure at least one person here has one of these engines, so thought I'd share my ****ty experience this a.m. with you all!
P.S...I drove it like I stole it after the repairs to stress test it. I had to know it was going to hold, as I drive interstate and you all know how you have to hammer it at times to merge on, etc.
Refilling the gas tank from only 20 some miles since the last fill up..avg mpg: 9. I usually get 27.
goes to show what a heavy right foot can cost you in gas!
Granted, it did include some idling after the repairs, but..9 mpg. it must have thought it was a 454, LOL.
John
