Thank you, and a question.

[dannydestroy]

I'm amazed at what I learn and the information that is available and thankful for those who share. There are so many issues that get addressed so quickly on forums like this that make difficult tasks possible. Shared knowledge that is invaluable. I'll try to keep it to short, but being my first post i figure i'd give some background.

I just bought a 2000 grand prix gt. 105,000 clean title. I did some test drives and checks and everything checked out. I drove it for a week at regular pace. It lost all gearing on the way to work about a week later, i did my reading and have all the tools, so i came to the conclusion; after hooking it up to my handheld diagnostic that it needed a tcc solenoid and maybe a pcs. Luckily for me I went through the forum and printed what i needed and spent a couple days and gained a couple tools, and it now shifts properly. Thank you forum posters. It was a big job but i was delicate and took the advise. I am now happy with that aspect.

I have stayed posted and wanted some advice.

I was looking around through posts, and while i checked the coolant when i drove the car, it does seem like someone mixed dexcool and green coolant. I searched and saw a few major problems. When I purchased the car the owner said he just had a hose replaced that you could obviously see. Didn't worry much because it looked like an elbow coming off the radiator. Right on the top had the sticker fresh from the shop.

After what I've read with some of the gaskets should i flush this system and refill and not worry provided the place i choose is reliable? I know they used to make kits to flush but it used to blow everywhere and i haven't found that, plus disposal.

I like this car and I think I've learned over the years but is this a problem car? It depends on who owns it i know. I looked into it but i'm feeling like maybe this isn't the deal i thought it was. If you've read this far you might as well read what i have owned for reverence.

1986 ford thunderbird. 1990's bonneville. 1990 buick century. 1994 honda civic. 1994 buick park ave. 2001 ford sable All of these cars lasted me 3 years at least with minimal problems. All used mostly junky but did my own work. a couple were nice and did nothing but pass them on. In the meantime i have bought and helped a few friends with cars that all did very well.

Thank you again to the forums and everyones information. We live in in an era that highly benefits from this kind of communication. Only thing you can wish for is some new tools and congrats. Thanks Dan


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[QUICKSILVER462]

It would be a good idea to change the LIM gaskets if it has not been done so already. At the same time you have the chance to completely drain the cooling system and flush out any dexcool and switch over to green or yellow coolant.

[mudneck4]

Now what's the difference to our motors on the color? Cuz I'm running green right now at 165k don't wanna go tits up

[BillBoost37]

The coolant isn't the issue with the gaskets ...all manufacturers ran into the plastic gasket issues.

Since you had a Bonneville, Century and Park Ave, likely you are pretty familiar with how GM put their cars together. The Grand Prix is simply a newer version of the 3.8L motor in your PA and Bonne. Century would have had the 3.1L and pretty much the same. The 3.8's are nice to work on vs many of the motors. Things are simple and common tools work well. IMO these cars aren't commonly lemons, those are the exception. The majority can benefit from an intake gasket job and normal maintenance.

[dannydestroy]

Thanks for the help. I have had an eye on the engine and I don't think i'm going to do the gaskets yet. No leaks or problems and it looks to be decently maintained minus the owner didn't seem to know much about cars. I just wanted to know what kind of job the coolant flush was. I thought about taking it somewhere because of the mess and waste. I also wasn't sure whether it would flush as well as getting it done. They want 120 at the dealer and 80 at a local oil change. The oil change said it was a non pressurized flush.

Thanks. Dan

[BillBoost37]

Non pressurized means that it still flows though. The water pump is pushing the fluid. That's flushing as good as say me with a hose etc. For $80..that's not a bad deal. Figure it's what..about $25 in coolant, then time etc etc.

[02NavyBlue]

As long as you have a driveway, garden hose, and a few gallons of empty containers to dispose of old coolant, doing the job yourself is the best way to go. You can flush better and for cheaper on your own.

You basically drain all coolant from the rad by disconnecting both hoses (lower first), the top at the t-stat housing, and the bottom at the rad. Remove the overflow tank and empty it, and rinse. Then flush the rad, and engine block with the garden hose until clear water flows out. You leave the drain pan under until it gets clear, then let the clear stuff run on the ground. All that comes out after that are particles. You can back flush by putting the hose on the opposite rad hose, and even flush the heater core separately by removing it's two hoses that are easy to get to as well. Replace the t-stat(and gasket) and rad cap if you'd like. Install all hoses/housings and fill the radiator with pure antifreeze until full, then bleed the system of air. The total capacity is 13 quarts, and I only used pure antifreeze. I added about 6 quarts of pure coolant before it wouldn't take any more, so no need for 50/50 unless you're topping it up after cooling system work.

I want to make a write up of this method eventually, I've flushed 2 3800's this way while converting from dex to green. It's the best method to use. There's literally not an ounce of the old stuff left afterwards, and you will get all loose particles out. If you were really strict on flushing, or had mixed coolant resulting in sludge, fill with water completely and some powder tide to clean the system, and drive like that for a week (in climates above freezing). This will dissolve a lot of the sludge. After a week drain, flush, and refill with pure antifreeze.