Autoblog

1. Before this comment section is flooded by people who consider domestics to have two uses, rental cars and police cars I'd like to point somthing out.
GM's 3.8 is a great engine. Good power and great torque. It's strong, lasts long, and drives smooth.

Posted at 7:55PM on Mar 13th 2008 by SPG

2. I keep hearing how great this motor is. I really don't think its all that powerful with 210 hp, 235 lb·ft natuarlly asperated and 260 hp 280 lb·ft supercharged. This is the current rating for the genIII the genII before only had 200hp! So really its a boat anchor ment for cheap large sedans.. As for long lasting its definitely had its share of issues ranging from fuel pressure regulators that can cause it to catch fire to leaking coolant that can hydro lock the motor and leaking valve seals that kill the alternator. If this is what's considered a good modern motor I'm really confused.

Posted at 9:22PM on Mar 13th 2008 by Alpha

3. Performance-wise, this engine is outdated by today's standards because it has hardly been updated in the last 15+ years. It is, however, quite impressive (fuel economy listed in 2008 terms with pre-2008 ratings in parentheses):

1997 Toyota Camry V6:
17city/24hwy (19city/25hwy)
194hp
209tq

1997 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800:
17city/27hwy (19city/30hwy)
195hp
230tq

2008 Pontiac Grand Prix 3800:
18city/28hwy

2008 Toyota Camry:
19city/28hwy

The fact that an engine over 10 years old can hold its own next to a modern Toyota V6 as far as fuel economy and be down less than 20 lb ft of torque is nothing to scoff at. Horsepower is down about 70, so it won't be winning any drag races, but the rest is pretty relevant considering the 3800 makes do with 2 valve/cylinder and a 4 speed where the Camry has 4 valve/cylinder, variable timing, and a 6 speed auto.

I drove a 1992 Series I 3800 supercharged for a while. For it's time, it was seriously fast and I have no doubt the engine will outlast the car around it. I'm pretty sure the reason the Japanese makes all went to 3.5L and larger V6s over their old 3.0L and less setups was due to the solid torque and MPG performance of this motor (and to a lesser degree, other large 6s).

The Achilles heel of these motors has been intake gaskets (or so I've heard) and it sounds like the plastic valve covers they used can warp, causing this oil leaking problem. Not great, but hardly the cost of a rebuild if you catch the problem before it gets out of hand. The internals, the block, the heads, are what people are talking about when they say it's reliable. It's just a shame that they cut corners with the intake manifold and the valve covers.

Posted at 11:47PM on Mar 13th 2008 by Eric Biran

4. Don't compare by peak horsepower boiling at 6000+ rpm, these aren't sports cars.

The 3.8 gave 220-230 ft-lbs from just off idle to a little past 4000. Further than that it noisily falls on its face of course, but consider the part of the tach you use in the real world (the one with traffic and police radar and other people in the car).

That was and is a major step up over every other affordable sedan engine prior to the 02 Altima, and within the lower rev range it's not as far off the new wonder 3.5s as their 6250 rpm brochure horsepower numbers would have you believe.

Great engine, can't say the same about the cars it went into.

Posted at 4:02AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Dan

5. I agree, great engine. I have a 99 GTP, and currently have 152,000 miles on it, and it runs as strong today as it did when I got it. My father also has a Bonneville with the same engine with nearly 400,000 miles on it, and not a problem. My fuel mileage varies anywhere from 22 - 30 mpg depending on where I'm doing my driving. Certainly nothing to complain about for a decent sized car.

Posted at 7:34AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Joe

6. I run a retail store and was called to the parking lot two weeks ago for a fire. When I got out there it was a 1998 GrandPrix. The girl had just exited the vehicle when some one pointed out she had smoke comming out from under the hood. She raised the hood and it went up in flames.

Posted at 7:58PM on Mar 13th 2008 by dwain white

7. You know, at one point it was just ford, now GM ?fire recalls can never be good,how many recalls have the big 3 have since the start of this year?anyone counting?

Posted at 8:50PM on Mar 13th 2008 by Thedevil

8. I'd like to know how hard braking can cause oil to leak on the exhaust manifold, that's what I'd like to know. Leaking valve cover gasket or what?

Posted at 9:30PM on Mar 13th 2008 by Kevin

9. "Before this comment section is flooded by people who consider domestics to have two uses, rental cars and police cars I'd like to point somthing out.
GM's 3.8 is a great engine. Good power and great torque. It's strong, lasts long, and drives smooth."

Yes it is a very good engine. That being said GM cars have two uses, rental cars and police cars! Sorry... I just had to.

Posted at 9:31PM on Mar 13th 2008 by oby

10. This is the first time I was happy that I just have a "GT" instead of the GTP. To the prior responder back in 97 a sedan with 200 HP was "fast" and with 240 HP it was almost getting Mustang GTs. So the 3800 is outdated now, but in its heyday it was one of the best engines made.

Posted at 9:42PM on Mar 13th 2008 by chad.dawkins

11. I need some info, I hope some of you can help. OUR '98 REGAL LS (Not supercharged) CAUGHT ON FIRE IN OUR GARAGE YESTERDAY, PRETTY MUCH DESTROYING THE CAR AND GARAGE. Car was pulled in garage and about ten minutes later, it was Flambe. Does anyone know if GM has had a problem with the regular 3.8's in the buicks and pontiacs with this same problem? It sure sounds like exactly the same problem as what is described above. Any input or feedback would be great. Thanks.

Posted at 10:30PM on Mar 13th 2008 by WetheSheeple

12. but yes i also think that this problem is finally showing its nasty head, because car owns never open the hood themselves and look for an oils leak....owners need to be doing this, of course i also have ownd 2 grand prix gt, with the non-superchargded 3.8 in them and i never had a problem with fires, its all about paying attention to ur car, and checking for these things, it would prevent alot of these problems. and the ppl that have the supercharged 3.8's neeeed to run premium gas, cause it keeps the temp down in ur engine. ( just a little tip).

Posted at 5:46PM on Mar 21st 2008 by Bizz826

13. I had a 92 Buick Lesabre with the 3.8L and it was fantastic. Original engine and it made it to 190k before the body rotted out from the MI rust...

Posted at 10:38PM on Mar 13th 2008 by Pete

14. As the owner of a 1998 Grand Prix GT I think I need to step in to clear some things up. First of all it's not uncommon to hear about these cars with 225K miles or more and still running strong, bad fuel pressure regs cause the car to die out not catch on fire and are easily repaired, the 3100 engine in the Prix's are the ones that leak coolant not the 3800, and I've never heard of valve seals(?) causing alternator failure. As for the recall we as community knew one was coming for engine fires but expected it to be related to fuel injector o-ring failure and not this valve cover thing so WetheSheeple that may be your problem as many 3800's (N/A and S/C) have burnt up because of worn o-rings.

Posted at 10:49PM on Mar 13th 2008 by FordMatt21

15. You know you're a 3800 fan when you brag about 200k miles like it's unheard of and unexpected.

Posted at 11:23PM on Mar 13th 2008 by Chris

16. I have a '98 Bonneville with a 3800 in it that has 350,000 miles on it, had it since '99. Not one single problem with it, and it gets driven pretty damn hard. I did have to have the transmission rebuilt last year, but the engine still runs smooth and quietly.

This is the third car I've had with a 3800, and I have to admit, it is indeed a great engine. Sure, it's outdated by todays standards, but in it's day it was probably one of the best engines available.

I very rarely hear of any problems with the 3800.

Posted at 12:21AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Pokey

17. I wonder why it's just the Regal GS and Grand Prix GTP that were recalled, and not the Park Avenue Ultra, Riviera, Impala/Monte Carlo SS, and Pontiac Bonneville SSEi...

Posted at 12:07AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Papi L-Gee

18. I gave my ex a 1997 Grand Prix GT with the 3800, i bought it new (got ripped off) and i liked the car, for its time, it was a fantastic engine, does it holds its weight to the new engines? No, Not at all, in fact, the 3.5 at GM right now (a little underpowered but i hear it averages 25mpg mixed) can smoke it..........My ex still has the damn car and it has 145k, has had one issue thats happened a lot and thats fuel lines.(she left it in her garage for a family member and now drives a Maxima which with the 2.5 gets around the same economy as the 3.8 as she describes.

My point, the 3800 was a great mid 90's engine...but my that was so long ago...long live the 3.5, 3.6(my fav) and the soon to be dead 3.9!

Posted at 2:05AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Esprit bird

19. So is this the same 3.8 Litre engine they put in the Commodore here in Australia? The same one that was in my Commodore that spontaneously combusted a few weeks ago? Would be interesting to know.

Posted at 2:19AM on Mar 14th 2008 by Smeagle

20. Yes and no. Holden started making their own 3800 a few years ago, but I don't know if this is a supplier issue, design flaw, or just a manufacturing goof.

Posted at 5:48AM on Mar 14th 2008 by elprogramer