speaking of coolant.....mine'* brown!!! -ish.....

dunno why....was like that when i got the car....low coolant light comes on at random times..but the temp stays around 200...it got a lil' warm here in jerzy {65!} and i noticed that it would go to the line past the 200 mark, but then it would eventually cool back down.....either way my car usually has that "hot engine" smell when i get out of it.....but i'm guessing its normal for a */c engine to be that way....

...but yeah, the coolant'* brown.....should i get that flushed?

well enpony, I'll have to say, that "I'm bettin' with Bill"

As he has already said, the normally aspirated (VIN K) Series II 3800 engines of those years are essentially guaranteed to start sucking coolant internally sooner or later. And just as Bill says, Man you better hope that you don't have a "hydraulic (-or liquid) lock condition occur,,,, -I don't even want to talk about how bad that can be.

ANYWAY, if you haven't done so already, PLEASE read (AND HEED) the many threads that have already been posted on the subject, here on the Bonneville Club.

-and for what it'* worth, I came #$%@ close to totally loosing the engine on my wife'* '99, when it failed. -it sucked all the coolant into the oil, in a matter of a couple of minutes when the Lower Intake Manifold gaskets failed. I was already aware of the Upper Intake failing, and even had the replacement parts on order. But, we drove it a couple of days longer than we should have. I did end up having to replace the crankshaft bearings too, because coolant tends to cause instant death to engine bearings.

Sheesh, man, I would not be wasting any time on getting the problem defined.

There'* the composit coolant elbow that goes from the passenger side of the lower intake to the tensioner/heater hose bracket that likes to break and spray cooland on to the lower intake where it boils away. That one eluded me for a while after my water pump went bad and my upper intake faled...

Yes. Good point. I replaced mine on my 99, too. $7.00 or so from the dealer. Good insurance since you're going to have it all apart anyway.

"speaking of coolant.....mine'* brown!!!-ish....Should I flush it?. "

Yes, right after you change the head gaskets. One or both is leaking combustion gases into the coolant.

I'd flush the system first, and watch it. Brown coolant could be a result of a low or no coolant mix. Have it professionally flushed.

Brownish looking coolant is also caused by GM cooling system suppliment tabs (Barsleaks tabs). The suppliment is required by GM and there is probably a sticker on your radiator shroud and mention of it in the owners manual and service manual. IF that is what is making your coolant brownish, it si normal and is not a concern.

I believe that'* only dexcool. His car should have the green stuff.

I could be wrong but I am pretty sure the cooling system suppliment was required long before Dex-Cool came out.