new member and owner of 06 3.8..few questions

**coldsteel** · 05-13-2014

Hey guys.

Bought my first car, a black 2006 grand prix 3.8 . It has 99k miles on it now. I own a truck and wanted a car for better mileage and maneuverability.

I am somewhat mechanically inclined and do a lot of my own work, but I am a dodge fan and these Pontiacs and cars themselves are new to me. Ive researched them and I guess the series 3 3800's don't have the major intake gasket problems like the series 2 did, is this correct? I looked at my coolant and its low and brown...looks like someone mixed dexcool and green universal antifreeze together.

Also it is leaking transmission fluid from the cooling line or the fitting. I cant tell if its coming from the line itself or from the fitting that goes to the transmission. I got both new upper and lower lines, but could I put thread sealer on the fitting and screw them back in and attach new hose? I got 3 qts of dexron VI fluid for whatever leaks out once hose is removed.

Other than the leak, the car rides and handles great and is in great shape.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 05-13-2014

Look between the head and intake. There is a gasket there, it's either black or silver. Likely it's silver but it could be black. I saw a early 06 buick lacross at work today with black gaskets still.

As for the lines, yeah you could take the fitting out and use some of that white thread tape and re-install. I'd just do the lines anyway aswell, they will leak on you someday.

As for anything else, at 100k the plugs are do and the MAF sensor and throttle body should be cleaned up.

**Slick2500** · 05-13-2014

Yeah if the intake gaskets were ever changed by a shop they will replace them with the plastic ones. Check them and like Cam said if they are black change them out to the metal ones, I would check that before changing your coolant. And while you are changing your coolant go ahead and get rid of the Dexcrap.

**coldsteel** · 05-13-2014

Are the black gaskets the ones that caused the intake leak problems? I will check in the morning which mine has, but it is the series 3. after doing some research to become more familiar with this car, shouldn't there also be metal elbows the go from the tension pulley instead of plastic? mine are black and look plastic, but they look dry.

**BillBoost37** · 05-13-2014

Plastic elbows were stock. Dorman came out with metal elbows later. Funny part is guys think the metal elbows are going to cure all their issues. It's the same o-ring and .. if you don't do the job right, it'll leak even with metal elbows.

**coldsteel** · 01-13-2015

Originally Posted by BillBoost37

Plastic elbows were stock. Dorman came out with metal elbows later. Funny part is guys think the metal elbows are going to cure all their issues. It's the same o-ring and .. if you don't do the job right, it'll leak even with metal elbows.

you are right. bought the dorman metal elbows and installed them. Still have coolant seeping out from the upper hose, as the front of the engine looks wet. looks like I get to do the job over again. I want to keep the aluminum elbows, but what 0-rings should I replace them with? Im also thinking of putting some black rtv around the O-rings next time I do this.

I also have the black intake gasket. are the intake gaskets an easy job? if I do the intake, I want to put rtv sealant around the intake gasket as well.

After having the car for a while now and getting familiar with it, I notice when parking or stopped that when I turn the wheel there is a shuttering noise. It only does it when slowly moving or pulling in/out of parking spaces. Sounds like the steering is pulling too much power and engine idles way down. Anyone have experience with is issue? Also when it started getting cold out, there is a clunking from both sides of the front end going less than 10 mph. didn't do it when it was warm. did some research and crawled under it and checked the end links, wheel bearings, etc and everything felt tight. only thing that I noticed make a noise was pulling on the driveshaft as it moves in and out. The noise is rather annoying, but only does it when its cold out and less than 10mph going over bumps.

Other than those problems, I like this car, as does my wallet. I used to drive a full size pick up, but its been parked for the past 6 months since I got the grand prix. It also does better in the snow than I thought it would. I was hoping it would snow so I would have reason to drive the truck again. hehe

**stocker** · 01-14-2015

I am not one of the experts on here but I can try to regurgitate some of what I've learned on my own and on here:

In regards to the metal coolant elbows, I think you just need to ensure that the surfaces the O-rings are seating against are clean (in the engine). I used a green scrub pad or steel wool to make sure and built up coolant residue was removed. When reinstalling your metal coolant elbows, apply coolant to the O-rings to make sure they slip into place without rolling or bunching. I think some have applied rtv and had success. There are a write-ups floating around with more detail.

There are write-ups available for the Lower Intake Manifold (LIM) gasket replacement. I've never done it but it sounds very doable.

I think turning the wheel at slow speeds draws a lot of power - I experience this vibration too.

My best guess for your low temp clunk would be strut mounts. Before I replaced all my suspension last year, it would get very noisy with clunks and bangs when it was really cold.

Hopefully some of the more knowledgeable characters will chime in.

**coldsteel** · 01-16-2015

Thanks, I bought some coolant elbows for the o-rings and will replace when I do the LIM gasket, and I will add rtv sealant on the ends of the elbows. the engine is all wet in the back and around the front, and all along the valve covers.

does anyone know a link to a write up for the lower intake gaskets, I tried searching but all I got was the upper intake? Whats the best replacement gasket to use, and should I put some rtv. Felpro? And does anyone know the torque specs of the intake bolts or the shock bolts? I appreciate the help.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-16-2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ZbFwTNjhg

**stocker** · 01-19-2015

I think the coolant elbows i bought came with new orings

**coldsteel** · 01-21-2015

Thanks for the link. I got the felpro permadry gasket set but it doesn't come with the upper plenum gasket, so Im going to pick that up this week. Does anyone know what the little blue plug is for in the gasket set? Should I use a thread locker/sealer on the intake bolts? the 0rings did come with new, but the ones on the aluminum ones still leaked.

Also, where can I find the strut mount torque spec?

Thanks

**luckyg817** · 01-21-2015

Here ya go http://www.gpona.com/forums/post478949.html#p478949

**coldsteel** · 01-26-2015

thanks for the link. pulled the fuel rail up and one of the injectors came apart. the bottom half was stuck, not nozzle part, but the plastic sleeve part. is it broken? is it suppose to be two pieces? thanks

**coldsteel** · 01-27-2015

got the LIM off and the coolant ports were clogged. took a wet-vac and got all that crap out. The manifold itself is pitted out and had a lot of corrosion, so I am going to buy a new one. I was looking at 1A auto, they have one for 199$ and its not Dorman. I thought about putting some epoxy on the pitted areas and sanding it down, but a new one sounds better to me. Does anyone know about the fuel injector? when I pulled the fuel rail off, one of the injector sleeves got suck in in the manifold. I pulled it out and pushed it back onto the injector, but I don't know if they were made to come apart like that, or it broke when I pulled up the fuel rail.

**HighOctaneRacing** · 01-27-2015

Originally Posted by coldsteel

thanks for the link. pulled the fuel rail up and one of the injectors came apart. the bottom half was stuck, not nozzle part, but the plastic sleeve part. is it broken? is it suppose to be two pieces? thanks

No. it's fine. Same exact thing happened to my injectors when I did the LIM gaskets on my 06 as well.

**BillBoost37** · 01-27-2015

Originally Posted by HighOctaneRacing

No. it's fine. Same exact thing happened to my injectors when I did the LIM gaskets on my 06 as well.

And someone was very worried IIRC. All good. Just push it back together.

**coldsteel** · 02-02-2015

update: So the lower intake manifold I ordered from A1 auto is a Dorman and made in china. Its junk, it wasn't machined right and the bolt holes did not line up. I test fitted it multiple times with and without the gaskets just to see how the holes line up and they do not. So... WARNING: if anyone needs a new lower intake manifold for a 3800 engine....DONT BUY A DORMAN. A1 auto does not say who the manufacturer is on their website, I didn't know until it arrived at my doorstep. I will be sending it back. Also, One of my injectors broke, just the sleeve part where the oring goes. Can I just buy a new sleeve instead of buying a new injector? please let me know if and where I can get one at? see pic of injector below.

In the meantime, I cleaned and used a JB high temp epoxy on the pitted areas of my manifold. Im letting it cure for 24 hours before I file/sand it smooth. Im also going to junkyard tomorrow to try to find a more decent one. You can see in the picture where I applied it and how my manifold used to look. Im still not sure if its a good idea to use it with the epoxy like that, Im afraid it might break off and get into the cooling system. A new intake is $450+.

Dorman junk:

broken injector sleeve

**coldsteel** · 02-04-2015

I pulled one from a Buick for $30 that wasn't as bad as mine. Took a thorough cleaning though. I got the lower intake manifold installed tonight. Next step is let the rtv cure for 24 hours and then flush all the deathcool from my engine and rad.

Does anyone know if I can buy just the sleeve for an injector?