What Makes the GM 3800 V6 One of the Best GM Engines?? Let's Find Out!!

GM hey we have a great engine let's stop making them

It boils down to being "overbuilt and NOT over stressed". Unlike engines today everything is "under built and WAY over stressed!". Simple and reliable.....rare as can be.

Man I thought I was completely alone in my 3800 obsession, nice to have a kindred spirit! Personally owned 4 cars with all 3 versions and it's easily my favorite daily driver platform ever from any manufacturer, what I call the "mechanic's car".. Working on other people's stuff all day for a living and for not much money, the very last thing I wanted to waste weekends on was working on my own junk and these things just WORK! And work and work and work some more, all while easily pulling 26-29mpg with the AC running, all packed in a very soothing comfortable vehicle package.

Best engine ever. Had so many of these over the years.

MY BUICK LACROSSE CXL I LOVE DAT 3800 296000 MILES STILL RUNNING GREAT

These were put in Australian Holden Commodores in the late 80’s and 90’s, indestructible for young guys flogging them all day long

I have a 2000 Park Avenue with the supercharged 3800. Such a great engine I absolutely love it. Power, smoothness, reliability, cheap to maintain and repair. I think it goes to show what can be done when an already good design is continually improved upon over a long time. I'd like a newer car to use as a daily but there's no good reason for me to get rid of it for something newer and more expensive.

I worked in the dealerships when the 3800 was born, until then, I favored the 348,283 and 300 Ford truck 6....all tough engines. This 3800 V6 was probably one of the best engines that GM put on the street!! That and the 3.1

Just bought a 2005 LeSabre limited with 42K miles. So lucky. Saw it 4 sale and jumped right away. Paid up a bit but giving it to my son and he will drive it t/o his 20's for sure. Awesome engine, great ride.

I have a 1993 Holden Commodore ute with this engine mated to a T5 5 speed rear wheel drive. Super reliable, easy to work on, plenty of power and very fuel efficient. Drove from Adelaide to Melbourne 450 miles, got 33 mpg or 7 liters per 100 km, sitting on 68 mph most of the way.

Love your content about the 3800 as a used car dealer I've had many of the 3800 it is the best motor an easy to work on you're 100% correct.. sad that they don't make them like that anymore

I have a 2003 Buick LeSabre with the 3800 stage 2 V6. 31-32 mpg highway all day long. Love this car! Thank you for your information.

Great information. My 3800 (series 2 version) story begins after my older son bought a beautiful 2000 Park Avenue. Then I needed a car so I bought a very low mileage 2000 LeSabre. A year ago I did the gaskets (lower intake and upper intake plenum, and the actual resin intake plenum too) on the PA and now I'll be doing mine. But once you do them, you're Golden ! The old plastic GM gaskets failed due to the Dex-Cool breaking down the gasket carriers. That, I'd say, is the Achilles heel of this motor. But if u address it, you are fine. Plus the kits have improvements, too, like preventative steps so the resin intake is not damaged by the hot EGR pipe (stove pipe). The gentleman in the video says these are easy to work on. I can attest to that. I'm not a professional mechanic and I've never pulled an intake on any car, until I worked on the 3800. So take ur time and have a little patience and experience the joy of working on this engine and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Just be careful to follow the torque sequences on the lower intake manifold and the upper plenum, and use the right thread treatment for the lower intake bolts to prevent leaks. Don't wait for engine damage to occur. Do ur lower intake manifold gaskets and ur upper plenum and gaskets if they were not done, or if you are finding coolant pooling up on top of the lower intake manifold, or see white smoke out of ur tailpipe in conjunction with loss of coolant. Or oil/coolant mixing together. These are telltale signs your gaskets may need replacement. I like the metal Felpro ones for the LIM gaskets. Also, upgrade ur plastic coolant elbows to the metal ones too. And if they haven't been done, replace your valve cover gaskets. These engines are crazy smooth. I start my car and I don't even know it's running. That's why they put a tachometer in these cars. So you know they're running !!!

I have a 2000 LeSabre with about 51k on it, a guy at work has a 2005 LeSabre with around 170k....they run almost exactly the same. 3800 are slept on

Wife bought a brand new 2008 Grand Prix, and is still driving it today. Just turned 100,000 miles and runs out like new. Grand Prix is a solid car and it's a great car. Solid on the road as it's the wide body.

I had a 94 Olds Royale 88 with the 3800.. was the best of my first 5 vehicles, loved that car

I have this engine in my 96 Bonniville and 07 lacrosse bullet proof.

Awesome video. I'm in Australia and I own a 89 Holden Commodore, these Commodores has this engine ,only difference is we had rear wheel drive and we don't have that plastic cover, oh and our version has 3800 cast on the intake manifold ( I can send pics if interested) my 3800 has 460k kms on it as does the car (original engine) and it still goes and runs Awesome.

I have a 95 supercharged riviera. This dude ain't lying! I've had 2 newer cars since I bought the rivvy in 2017....and it outlasted both the other cars. This thing refuses to die.💪🏾

My wife and I at one time had a 98 GPGTP and a 99 GPGT. THey were absolutely phenomenal. Got 38 mpg in GT on a trip from Spokane to Eugene at 70 mph, decnt HP for its time, and actually very comfortable to drive. VERY underrated car.