I may not be correct about this........but I might be in the market for a new engine. I have been noticing little things going on with this one, but with 161,000 miles on it, I guess it was time for something to happen. I have been noticing the oil consumption between changes and today after siiting at a red light for a few minutes, I go to pull off and I swear I saw smoke from the rear.....I have let it idle at home and can not duplicate it. Anyhow if it does go to that, what year 3800 will still be a plug and play, and not have the cursed plastic intake issues.....!! Does it matter if it is Chevy, Buick Olds etc. or do they interchange with everything else???

Thanks....

You should be ok with any 96+ NA Series II. Chevy, Buick, Olds, or Pontiac. Just remember that 97 was the first year for the 4T65E trans, so if you plan a full drivetrain swap, 96 would be the only year for simplicity.

Have you done a compression check yet? That'* WAY early for your engine to start acting up.

I haven't done any real testing yet????What range is the compression for these? What else should I check for the oil consumption, and for the smoke from the tail pipe when I pulled from the light today.....?

Hmmm......have you had the dreaded upper intake failure yet?

Hmmm......have you had the dreaded upper intake failure yet?
I seem to recall you going through that about 6 months ago. You may have some internal damage caused by the migration of dexcool.....into the oil......Don????

I did have some coolant leak from around the EGr valve area. I tore it all down replaced the gasket and did not see any evidence of mixing oil and dexcool. This car has forever concerned me though with the way the oil gets really black, really quick. It has been that way for what seems like since new. The motor seems to run much better cold than hot, When you start it hot, or when you are sitting idling (like in traffic or a drive thru) it seems to be VERY weak when start rolling again. I may be buying a compression gauge to check things out a little further................ideas or imput anyone???

Ok, this is what I did this afternoon..........I looked in my log book, checked the oil for the level and color.....820 miles into a new oil change, I am down a quart, it looks kinda like a dirty brown, not milky or grey, still transparent on the dip stick, but kinda dirty looking none the less......but a friggin quart low !! What gives ??

You need to do a wet/dry compression check. Do you have a manual for the car? Chiltons, Haynes, Clymer, or a factory manual?

I have a Chilton'* manual, I have been looking for a factory manual on Ebay for what seems like forever, but I have seen every year but mine. I guess who ever has a 96 must be needing theirs more than other years......

I have a compression gauge now to check out the cylinders. Does anyone have info on the correct way wet and dry? Do I do them all dry and then wet or what? Also what should the readings be, should I be looking only for consistency or is there a range I should know about?


Thanks