Oil in Radiator! 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo 3.8 Manifold Leak!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
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One of my daughters performed this same surgery on her Malibu with the 3.1. She was just 21 years old and it was her first big maintenance project. My only involvement at all was showing her how to properly use a beam torque wrench. When done she handed me the keys to try it - "NO", says I, "You did the work, you do the first start.". She did and it was perfect. Job done.
Wow
Much respect to your daughter
The fear at the first key turn after major car surgery hasn't gone away for me and I've been doing it for 7 years.
intake manifold gaskets on a 98 monte carlo was my big car maintenance project as well
Great to see an owner do the work. There should be more fathers like you teaching their children to maintain their vehicles.
Nice
As a recently retired mechanic of 47 years I have to say your vids are the best, we constantly look for and find more efficient ways to preform our tasks. Love your commentaries. If I had to return to the workforce I would definably like to work in the next bay from you.
That is one awesome compliment.
Only if ur names peeter
I have tuned into a lot of mechanic videos and Ray's filming is right on. His audio is spot on and he has a pleasant voice that is easy to listen to. Plus he has developed the gift of gab over time. Early videos were more of a monotone explanation of what he was doing and expecting to do.
Lately, he talks about a lot of different subjects, and touches on many unrelated to the job at hand. It's kind of like spending the day sitting in his shop and just talking story between each other, but it's only him.
Sort of like the old show Taxi and reminds me of an elderly retired man in San Fransisco, whose day revolved around sitting at his friends shop and talking or maybe helping his friend clean the shop.
I want to be the guy that gets to work on the car after Ray got to work on it. That way I know when I get it it's been treated right.
@@domt3874 You mean Peeta? Ha ha, I wonder what ever happened to him?
I keep a box of cheap sandwich bags in the shop with a note pad. On complex jobs, every component gets it's bolts and small parts in a bag with a quick note. "Water Pump, long bolts at 2 o'clock and 10" for example. When bags are all empty, job is done, have a beer.
I had a 96 Buick regal with the 3.8 . Brings back memories of having to do this exact repair
Somebody please get this man a parts washer 😄😄😄 Greetings from Lake City 😎😎😎🌴🌴🌴🌴🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
My grandfather got one of these Monte Carlo ss back in the day. He got pulled over going 140mph. The cops asked why he was going so fast. Grandpa told him it was a beautiful day to go fast.
very satisfying to watch a master mechanic at work
I enjoy that you love the cars that the interiors are made completely of plastic and are known for dashes cracking constantly 😂 gotta respect a man that knows what he likes no matter what Respect my friend
That yard actually looks like a salvage yard full of junkers ready to be shredded.
This was a walk down memory lane. Did so very many of these back in the day. GM 3.8L was a good engine, but it had some serious weaknesses. This was the main one.
This was an amazing clean one though, considering the age. The owner lovers this car, and wants to keep it pristine. Good to see.
Oh the memories. I've torn down and rebuilt over a dozen 3800s. Most were supercharged, but a few were N/A. I kinda miss them. So simple compared to the DOHC turbo motors we have now.
My son REALLY wanted a Monte Carlo SS for his first car(6 years ago). Since I was the guy buying it and I knew him well enough, he got a Prius. LOL
I own an '05 Grand Prix, 3.8L super charged. Last summer in my driveway over about 3 days I did the upper, lower intakes, both valve covers, plugs, injectors. Very easy to work on motor. I ended up with no bolts or nuts left over! No more burnt oil smells!
Heeeeey, a Shop Vac ! Such a GOOD idea!
Finally ...a straight forward job where you tackle one task after another, WITHOUT having to melt some bolt off with a blowtorch for two hours.
And, thanks for saving that sweet car.
...It's a classic...don't see to many of these anymore.... I remember when these first came out! :)
No engineer ever thought that us Mechanics Would use the Wiper Cowl as a Catch all for all parts nuts and bolt during a repair, disassembly, Reassembly @Rainman Ray's Repairs
I think a parts cleaner just possible will pay for itself at this point, LMAO.
Brake Parts cleaner Mania, I Love It!!
You do a great job, Ray! As a 50 yr. master tech for GM, oil in the coolant is usually a leaky head gasket. Coolant in the oil is a leaky intake gasket. If an engine overheats, the head gaskets get damaged. Stay tuned folks for the next video: "Replacing head gaskets 2003 Chevy Monte Carlo 3.8". P.S. Dorman makes aluminum elbows for the bypass, use genuine GM o-rings and chuck the Dormans.
I did the coolant elbows, water pump and lower intake on my GS a while ago, but didn't know about the Dorman O rings. I only drive it in spring summer fall as a third car. How long do you think the Dormans will last?
Those 3.8's were notorious for Intake gasket fails, Had a 2001 Buick 2001, had to have the intake replaced in 2010, head gasket failed in 2018, junked it!!
@@wallychambe1587 Hey wait a second, I thought the GM 3800 V6 was supposed to be a really dependable engine??
@@wallychambe1587 gotta get the good (read expensive) gasket. Doesn't really take that long to do. I've never seen a good one go bad twice. Sorry you did.
@@LA_Commander I read numerous stories about the intake gasket, people tried to get a recall started because there were so many failures from the factory gasket! In 2010 I had the intake replace because it was sucking air, in 2018 I had water in the oil and oil in the radiator!😢😢
This was a really good video. Don't know how mechanics just got at it and tear things apart but are able to remember how to put it all back together again. Mind boggling.
Never been a problem for me LOL must be the wiring
It's actually quite easy. When you do things like this for a living, you develop a sense for how things come apart/go together as well as develop a system for disassembling/reassembling. It's the same as any job that a person does repetitively. Not trying to make it sound simple but for Ray to sell stocks would be difficult for him as that is not what he knows. The same for a stock broker trying to install a starter on his BMW.
I use zip lock bags with numbers and description
@@MykeyG84 I've always found putting bolts/nits back where they came from to be the best way, same as Eric.
@@HueToobBlows for sure another great habit.
New Rainmain Ray motto: Keeping the brake cleaner distributors in business since 2022.” 😂
A lot of that looks so familiar. I had several cars with engines very similar to that: 1990 Pontiac 6000, 1994 Cavalier Z24, and a 2007 Monte Carlo. The Pontiac 6000 made it to 240,000 miles, where my dad drove it for 100,000 as a company car before I got it, and I drove it for another 240,000 until it became too expensive to repair. The Z24 made it only 160,000 before the transmission quit shifting out of gear when braking or stopped and was too expensive to repair. The Monte Carlo made it to 100,000 miles before I traded it in on a Subaru Legacy in 2015. I replaced so many of the more simple to replace parts. They were great cars, IMO.
I watch every day I wished we had Auto Repair men like you out here in California like you Ray. You a do a great job I like the gravity great mechanic.
I did this on my 3.1l several years ago and wish that I had this video before. There are several things I would urge everyone doing this job. 1st replace the plastic elbows with the aluminum replacement. 2nd. Do the fuel pressure regulator. 3rd replace the EGR valve at this time as it is totally open and easy to do right now. 4th test the injectors for spray pattern and volume, replace-clean them as need. 5th Replave the valve cover gaskets (again this is the best time to do them as everything has been removed). 6th. Lastly Water pump, serpentine belt and all hoses. I know this is a massive add to the expense but it is 100% preventative and MUCH easier while the whole top end is off.
The old “while you’re there” is sage advice!
@@rwinstanley8668when I had that car I lived in Minnesota. I did all that work during the summer and there was no way in God's green earth. I wanted to do any of the other stuff I did during the winter
Smart idea.
yep maybe the thermostat as well on the 3.1. Cleaning the throttle body should be done too. The 3.8 one thermostat is gravy. Great advise. I've done both types of motors. 3.1 in a century. 3.8 in a lesabre. water pumps are never a bad thing either. So much to consider
I do the same with any auto I have. As long as you are there,--------. It's cheaper in the long run, and I haven't replaced a vehicle due to milage, and I trust my fleet to get me there and back anytime.
I've been watching a bunch of older videos of yours with my infant son. It calms him down immediately, and i get to learn things!
They make a upgrade kit for the coolant bypass elbow, that replaces the plastic elbow with a metal one. Should be done on every 3800.
*The Dorman gaskets are utter trash and will fail prematurely. OEM ones if you don't want to do this job twice*
OEM is what failed in the first place@@ICantBreve
@@edubb2491 sure
Must buy bulk brake cleaner and wobbly sockets. I was wondering why I struggled so much as a DIY wrencher by not having these must have items.
It's amazing Ray, how you knew about that plastic elbow joint. You are a true master of your trade. The way you educate us, you should be a teacher of all things automobile. As always, fantastic content, can't wait for the next video.
The plastic elbow is a failure point on these. I had one blow out at 170,000 in a Buick Park Avenue. There is a replacement version that is not plastic but metal. It was a dumb factory decision to use plastic in that heat cycle hotspot. They’ve since corrected it with a better part.
@@ericgelinow Yea the one part the bean counters got their hands on.
Ray worked for Chevrolet before all of this.
@@TheFrenchPug that’s apparent given the ridiculous familiarity with this motor especially. I bought my Park Avenue specifically because of the 3800 series II. One of the best decisions I ever made. On more than one occasion of distances from 300 miles to 600 miles, I’ve averaged over 34 miles per gallon, including flatlands and mountains averaging 75 miles an hour. Hard to find any full-size American car that seats six adults and weighs close to 2 tons that can pull that one off. Outside of those two little elbows, one water pump and the normal consumables, I’ve spent only a couple hundred dollars in the last seven years of ownership, in the Northeast of the country. But just appointed out, I’m not a brand loyalist either, I’ve got a 97 4L Ranger, and a 2005 F250 6L power stroke with a quarter million miles on it that hauls a huge RV via a fifth wheel. Ray is part of my morning routine. I watch his videos every day to completion. One of the best finds on TH-cam!
@@ericgelinow That's just fricken' amazing!!! Congrats to you.
when you reinstall that plastic elbow joint, lube that o-ring with coolant....
any time you install an o-ring, lube it up.....
i learned this hard way with a radiator drain plug.... 👍🏼
My First Monte was an 81. it was poop, but in 1999 I drove it from Des Moines, IA to Parkersburg, WV with no AC, Radio, or Cruise. but DAMN that one looks NICE! I've seen it in many vids.
Hi Ray much respect bro, I have done several of these repairs and few tips I have is to pull the alt. and replace both v/c gaskets and spark plugs also you will be replacing 2 plastic elbows there with updated metal ones, only use fel-pro gaskets that are metal and rubber and for god sake please replace that plastic upper plenum with the Dorman or OEM! It is probably warped and will leak coolant into the engine, It happened to me in my 3.8 Grand Prix after I did this same repair and started knocking 2 weeks later because it leaked coolant into the engine and went through the bearings and caused a knocking noise☹ It cost me a motor because I was uninformed about those plenums being a problem! Almost every repair I did after that I advised the customer to replace it and I haven't ever had a return repair since.
I'm doing this repair this weekend(first time), after a lot of research the ATP manifold has a metal insert by the EGR chimney to help it not warp over time.
These engines were in the holden commodore in Australia from 1988 to ~2005 in rwd platform ... good fun for what they were 👍
Meticulous attention to keeping the engine shiny parts shiny (the shop floor, not so much), video skills (those lights and camera angles make Ray's presentations the most revealing on TH-cam and that takes significant time and effort), a clear and concise running commentary with seemingly effortless mentioning of why certain things are, or are not done on points that could be easily overlooked but are, nonetheless significant, e.g. coolant temp sensor replacement is easily overlooked, why he went from abrasive fingers to abrasive pad, why oil change is a "must do" with this job and many more) are what sets Ray's offerigs apart from all others on TH-cam. All of these factors along with Ray's upbeat approach to everything and articulate verbal content cause me to proclaim him the "Master of TH-cam Automotive Repair Videos". We need more mechanics like Ray, but we also need more instructors in out technical schools like him as well. If you ever get tired of doing Ray, please consider a switch over to teaching others your trade. You are a natural teacher.
He Certainally changed since not working 'at ButterFinger's Automitove'....
I've had to replace the coolant elbows on a 3.8 impala ls they were a pain to get out completely but found the local parts store had a doorman direct replacement set decently priced that are made of aluminum
I had a 2000 Monta Carlo when that design came out. The 3.8 was one great engine. Chip eliminated the rev limiter so could easily cruise at 120 mph. Mine was a emerald green SS.
ON MONTE CARLO EVERYTHING IS VERY NICELY, VERY CLEAN, I CONGRATULATE THE OWNER OF MONTE CARLO, AND IT'S THE SAME LIKE ME I KEEP EVERYTHING CLEAN ON MY 08 GRAND MARQUIS LS, AGAIN CONGRATULATIONS TO THE OWNER OF THE MONTE CARLO AND KEEP IT CLEAN AND KEEP MAINTAINING IT
Ray, that was a brilliant job. I can’t see why people would complain about that. If they were smarter they’d complain that you’re too efficient and you’re not working on a Ford or a Lamborghini. I also didn’t see you bleed… how can the job be done when you isn’t bleeding? 😂 nothing but respect.
Amazing execution Ray! You’re the man!
Doooooooodddeeelleeeeedooooooooooo In case anyone was missing them 🤣🤣👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Ray’s grammar is exquisite. I love it!!!
1989 baby blue Mont Carlo 2 door V-8 5.3 liter engine!!! Loved that car!!
Brings back memories! Good Ole 3.8!! Remember the earlier ones with the EGR tube burning a hole in the upper manifold ?
Be Well!
Yeah I enjoyed this video. Thanks Ray!
Two venture vans, 1 rendezvous and I was enjoying the dickens out of this. You sir, are very entertaining with this bugger of a job.
I had a 1998 Oldsmobile Intrigue with the 3800 V6. Same kind of very low mileage vehicle. I bought it in 2011 with I think 45000 miles. I know they're solid engines but man did I get every 3800 problem in the book. Lower Intake Manifold gaskets were first like a year in. That coolant elbow cracked one winter and left me stranded 100 miles from home several years later. The Crankshaft Position Sensor failed too and again left me stranded 100 miles away from home several years after that. Oil leak around the Exhaust Manifold Gasket (but I never bothered fixing that). It was pretty much the text book engine one "here's all the things on the 3800 that will fail and leave you stuck". It was one of my first cars and got me started in life, but I didn't miss it at all when I get it to Rawhide after it turned 21.
Love your intro, plus your half audio 'gravity' at the end. popin Z back to the video, Cheers to you an the Wife Unit.
IMO best engine ever made... series II was my favorite as it had all the upgrades from the series I but GM on the later versions of the series II into the series III cheapened these engines out with subpar gaskets and plastic intakes and with that this once great bulletproof engine spanning over 30 years was gone and ushered in the junk known as the 3.9 V6 .
We love thy break cleaner and brake cleaner
Well, you really soaked that valley up with some “Robitussin” boy!!! 🤣
Lol, "Tussen" that one never gets old. Was a bigger fan of the 70 Monte Carlo but the GM engineers did a good job on this body style also. Every time I see one I think of Dale Earnhardt.
In my 1970's-80's childhood, it was Robitussin, Bactine, and Vicks Vapo-rub.
I notice that a lot more of your customers give the go-ahead for repairs now that they’re coming to you directly
I liked the old Monte Carlos with the V shape back windows
I had a 99 Grand Prix with 3.8. Great car and great engine. Needed to garage for winter as it was always getting stuck in the snow.
Rays use of brakekleen....."Good to the last drop"!! 🤣🤣👍👍
Funny you mentioned the coolant in oil requiring mandatory replacement of oil.
My sister was adamant it was fine because 'oil cools the engine', it took some time but eventually she realized her mistake when her car died, didn't matter because it was a very old car anyway but the main thing was she realized I was right!
I think they are great engines. I got a 3.1 in a 2000 malibu bought it 17 years ago with 70k on it. I still drive to this day body isn't looking so great but runs like the day I bought it with 317,000 miles on it. Factory engine and trans. I replaced intake gaskets once at 130k. Getting ready to do a oil pan reseal on it but I plan on running it until it quits. Like always Great Video Ray.
Wow these 3.8's are way different to the Australian variants for the LIM upwards (mainly due to the fact they were used in a RWD configuration here), we never had a plastic intake plenum was always an alloy plenum and redesigned LIM to have the thermostat towards the front of the engine (except in the L67 (Supercharged) where it remained at the back of the engine and they're a total PITA to change the thermostat as you have to take a lot of the intake components out to change it)). Saying this though, I love the GM 3.8L (or as we Aussies call it - the "Mang" (Sound they make when bouncing off the limiter LOL)), such a stout little engine that can take a hell of a beating.
Those plastic LIM gaskets are trash though, I have always replaced them with Alloy ones which last forever as they do not break down over time.
If you're doing this job and have the Series II, I would recommend replacing the upper intake manifold with the updated design that comes with the revised EGR standpipe that press-fits into lower intake manifold. The original design can deform the plastic upper and eventually cause an intake leak. Considering the mileage on this beautiful MC, it probably hasn't experienced that issue...yet.
Also, Dorman makes a great set of aluminum coolant bypass hoses. (Yes, I said "Dorman.") The caveat, and you knew there had to be one, is that the O-rings equipped with the elbows are absolute garbage and will melt within a year. Therefore, get a set of OEM O-rings to complete the deal. Parts are as follows:
Dorman coolant bypass elbow set 47065HP
ACDelco 24502846 large O-ring (qty needed: 1)
ACDelco 15-34066 / GM 25537068 small O-ring (qty needed: 3)
Ray, I didn't need another reason to like you, but our shared fondness of this engine platform certainly doesn't hurt. Great job, buddy.
I'm glad it wasn't me quoting or doing that job. I saw the oil in the radiator and immediately assumed either head gasket or cracked head! Your experience really paid off there. I'm only a backyard mechanic who mostly only works on my own gear and this is one of those times I'd have wound up possibly causing myself a much bigger headache than was it should be.
Goodness knows how you're going to remember where all that stuff goes back, but it looks like you're enjoying working on that car!
I was thinking the same thing. Ray's memory is amazing.
He is certainly not a tree mechanic where you have a pan of extra bolts, washers, etc.
Its not really too bad if you employ the same organization technique. Bolts with removed parts, usually aligned in order(what i do). Just a different way of doing things takes a lot of the guess work out.
I’ve made the same comment before on a couple of videos. Amazing memory & work process skills.
Having video to reference is a big plus also. That would be my protocol for a whole host of reasons.
Look back at the video. Great reference tool.
Love this.. got just 60k miles on my ser. III 3.8 in Grand Prix. Had the blown version L67 previously in my GTP. This is just so damn reliable! Deff. One of the bright spots of GM. Oh and lmao on the Moana reference! 😆
For all the solvent that Ray goes through, I'm surprised he doesn't buy it by the barrel and have a refillable sprayer. The guys in the shop have them, and seem to prefer them to the smaller cans.
Or get a parts washer.
I'm getting ready to do this on my 03 SS Monte.I've got coolant leaving a puddle on my upper intake. Going ahead to do the lower intake gasket as well. Glad you did video on this. The others I've seen leave some things to question.
Been there done that , fun job !
I love the sound effects Ray!!!
Up here in the Rust Belt, we would call that beauty Showroom new. Fix her well, Ray, and when the owner picks her up, give that Monty a firm but gentle pat on the rear quarter.
I have the same issue on my lesabre, I just bought it 3 months ago and the seller I guess forgot to tell me. It doesn’t overheat though, I’m able to run errands, under 10-20 miles a day, occasionally hour long trips on the highway. My mechanic told me just drive it until I can’t, not to put it a nickel into it, it’s not worth it. But you make it look doable to fix, thank you.
I jus had mine done for 1300$ ..2000 buick regal ..but I only have 80000 miles I keep it in good shape
Oh, I was going to bust your "R's" for know rag in the valley. But you heard me up. Hate that "7sec delay" fitting. Good job 2all 🥶🐲
Oh how many times I've done the LIM-seal job - use fel-pro problem solvers and be done with it! 3800 is an iron monster. I actually used to enjoy doing the LIMs on these, got quite quick at it. Got a great, quick coolant bleed procedure for these things too.. sometimes they can be tricky to bleed.
How do you bleed yours?
This is the first engine I ever pulled about a year ago. In my 2004 GrandPrix gtp. They are bulletproof. Had the ground of a spark plug break off and cause a chunk of piston to disappear. Ran it atleast 1000 miles through it until the knocking got too much😂. Pulling it again here soon.
Annex garage is coming along well....another lift ?
Wife units garage ?
Not gonna lie; Ray picking that coolant elbow out reminded me of “One man, One jar”. Ye of olde internet dwellers remember…
One of my favorite engines. I had a 97 Firebird with the Series II and a 5-speed, what a fantastic combination. It was my mobile office and I retired it after 10 years and around 225k miles. In that time I did a water pump, clutch, belt tensioner and wiper assembly. I gave it to my SIL and he played with it for a few more years. One of the best engines of all time.
Beautiful job Ray 👍👍👍👍
It's such a pleasure to watch a guy perform a task he's done ten times before, starting with the diagnosis all the way through a complex field of plastic connectors. I might have struggled at each step, breaking at least one along the way.
I'd imagine he grew up working on these motors. His age and the vehicles age mesh up
I did this same job a few years ago on my 01 Lesabre. Wasn't difficult, but I recall replacing the plenum, elbow, and the egr / manifold tube. Those hidden bolts will fool you if you aren't looking. Great video!
I don't know how Ray can work for hours bent over the engine like that. My back hurts just watching!
Yep, a parts cleaning machine would certainly help you. Maybe one of those parts cleaning things that cleans with hot water and detergent.
Yeah - can't get away from it if you're a garage. I'm an advanced DIY'er and I have a parts cleaner I cobbled together.
Those parts washers are pretty pricey but they will clean things down to the bare metal in a short period of time. They don't need to be babysat load it up on the way out at night, ready in the morning.
He has one
Your partner had an hybrid theory craving NICE!
My brother had that same car but the Indy 500 version with yellow lettered tires. Was his baby for a long time.
"Scrapoffable" very gooood .. I like it. George from Indiana. 😂
Nice looking car. Looks well looked after.
I have a routine now. Every night after dinner, my husband does the dishes and I run to my TV to watch Ray's latest upload!!!😂😂😂
I support this message 😊
I love these engines. I have a supercharged 3.8 in my 2002 Holden commodore Calais. I have also have 5 other commodores with the 3.8 non supercharged.
I had a 2002 LS with the 3.4, that one looks pre 2005 though, 006 and 007s were 3.5, 3.9 v6s and 5.3 v8s in the SS. Just makes that sucker even nicer.
Ray, you need something, a t shirt, mug, something with Brake Clean Mafia, Another!
Good video @Rainman Ray's Repairs
My brother had one of these in blue. It was ok, but it had the cooling issues. I did this job, replaced the plastic coolant elbow with a metal one, flushed the nasty GM coolant, and replace it with Honda coolant. It never overheated again & ran like a top.
Overall the GM 3.8L V6 from GM is the V6 that made everyone respect V6 engines. Torquey Oldschool engine with some modern parts… amazing stuff.
Protip: Removal of the rubber intake-tube & coolant-elbow is made crazy easier if you use some tire silicone if you don’t want them to break/tear apart.
In the 90/00's, Chevy didn't call them super sport's anymore... The 'SS' was not short for anything...unfortunately...! They were just considered the 'SS' model or trim package... No more good old days... they're long gone...! Thanks, keep up your awesomeness and go enjoy some nature today... Also, don't forget to compliment someone today...
Ray doing this job = 6 hours, Doug doing this job = 6 months
Enjoyed that video! Watching from England
I have a 3.8 in my 2003 buick lesabre I love it easy to work on and reliable
Years ago I worked at a quick lube shop. Seeing a GM 3.8L with chocolate milk in the coolant overflow tank was a daily occurrence. LOL.
*reads the title*
Danger to Manifold!
@RainmanRay Aldo happy March and early St.Patrick day ☘☘☘
Made light work out of that elbow! Great job bud
Whenever working on a project with a multitude of fasteners, especially ones of different lengths and sizes, I place them back in their respective holes whenever possible to make installation easier.
This brings back good memories. I owned 2 1999 Olds Aleros with the 3.4L. Had to do the intake gaskets and head gaskets on both of them. It was definitely a good learning experience
miss those 3.8 engines. yup those common problem coolant and oil mix.
This was a really interesting video. A very clean engine bay too for the age, that car's been very well looked after 👍👍💯
Beautiful monte carlo.