Part 1 HERE! Oil in the Radiator! Top End Internal Tear Down! GM 3800 3100 3400 3.8 #mechanic https://youtu.be/A_MSlMsaZgU
Part 2 HERE! Top End Assembly, Lower Intake Reseal 2002 Pontiac Firebird Gm 3800 3.8l https://youtu.be/XSHZspMoHtw
Take care of your engine's oiling system with premium synthetic Amsoil Engine Oil!
Do you perform your own maintenance? Get premium synthetic Amsoil gear lube and oils HERE!
https://www.amsoil.com/?zo=30606222
This is a 2002 Pontiac Firebird with the GM 3.8l 3800 Series II Engine. This vehicle came in with an large oil leak on the engine and an oily substance in the radiator. The antifreeze was mixing with engine oil. The problem is common with this series of engine. The lower intake manifold gaskets deteriorate and case coolant to leak into the engine oil, oil is also allowed to contaminate the cooling system resulting in the fouled coolant and soft radiator hoses. This is multi part repair and is somewhat difficult in this particular car due the firewall and wiper cowl location. We will remove the intake plenum and lower manifold valve covers, and the engine accessories such as alternator, belt, and the tensioner. In this case the belt tensioner also has a heater core bypass built into it so there is engine coolant in the belt tensioner as well. Part one will be the teardown, part two will be engine assembly and the final part will miscellaneous assembly, fluids, cleaning and final inspection. This video is part three of this series. As mentioned in the video this vehicle was featured before due to catastrophic A/C system failure. See links below for all past A/C videos.
Check out our Website/Merch HERE: https://www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com Look for links to our other channels, appointment and contact info, and our new merch lineup with custom T's fitted hats and MORE!
Wife Unit unveils our custom tumblers and mugs https://youtu.be/5Q2DWBes258 also found at https://www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
Videos on the A/C System Replacement HERE!
Part 1! About to EXPLODE! Pistons Coming Apart Pontiac Firebird! https://youtu.be/-sR2_tNhY6M
Part 2! Compressor Damage took out the whole System | Pontiac Firebird Camaro S-10 Buick https://youtu.be/4N1UsUrjQAI
Support the Channel with a Like and Subscribe!
Become a Channel Member or visit Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/RainmanRaysRepairs
Visit our Second Channel on YouTube, RainmanRay Off Duty https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop'>https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop
Follow on Twitter (X): @RainmanRay4Real
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Located in Florida? Need work done? Visit www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
Check out my Merchandise shop for Men's and Women's Apparel, MUGS and Stickers at http://www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
Mountain 5-Piece Metric Double Box Universal Spline Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Set; 8 mm - 18mm, 90 Tooth Design, Long, Flexible, Reversible; MTNRM6 https://amzn.to/3OJTRp2
Astro Tools 78450 HD Harmonic Crank Pulley Puller - GM LS, Ford Coyote, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge & Jeep, Black https://amzn.to/3STBrX9
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Also, I personally use or have used the products featured in my links and only recommended them if I feel they are of good quality.
#mechanic #repair #autorepair #restoration #wifeunit #brakecleanmafia
”Intro Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio”
Thanks to Jesse for making the intro and graphic for us to enjoy!!!
ABOUT OUR CHANNEL
Our channel is about general automotive repair and maintenance . We cover a large variety of automotive services and repairs in a privately owned independent shop.
Check out our channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/ @RainmanRaysRepairs
and the Off Duty Channel here: RainmanRay Off Duty https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop'>https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop
Don’t forget to subscribe!
Part 2 HERE! Top End Assembly, Lower Intake Reseal 2002 Pontiac Firebird Gm 3800 3.8l https://youtu.be/XSHZspMoHtw
Take care of your engine's oiling system with premium synthetic Amsoil Engine Oil!
Do you perform your own maintenance? Get premium synthetic Amsoil gear lube and oils HERE!
https://www.amsoil.com/?zo=30606222
This is a 2002 Pontiac Firebird with the GM 3.8l 3800 Series II Engine. This vehicle came in with an large oil leak on the engine and an oily substance in the radiator. The antifreeze was mixing with engine oil. The problem is common with this series of engine. The lower intake manifold gaskets deteriorate and case coolant to leak into the engine oil, oil is also allowed to contaminate the cooling system resulting in the fouled coolant and soft radiator hoses. This is multi part repair and is somewhat difficult in this particular car due the firewall and wiper cowl location. We will remove the intake plenum and lower manifold valve covers, and the engine accessories such as alternator, belt, and the tensioner. In this case the belt tensioner also has a heater core bypass built into it so there is engine coolant in the belt tensioner as well. Part one will be the teardown, part two will be engine assembly and the final part will miscellaneous assembly, fluids, cleaning and final inspection. This video is part three of this series. As mentioned in the video this vehicle was featured before due to catastrophic A/C system failure. See links below for all past A/C videos.
Check out our Website/Merch HERE: https://www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com Look for links to our other channels, appointment and contact info, and our new merch lineup with custom T's fitted hats and MORE!
Wife Unit unveils our custom tumblers and mugs https://youtu.be/5Q2DWBes258 also found at https://www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
Videos on the A/C System Replacement HERE!
Part 1! About to EXPLODE! Pistons Coming Apart Pontiac Firebird! https://youtu.be/-sR2_tNhY6M
Part 2! Compressor Damage took out the whole System | Pontiac Firebird Camaro S-10 Buick https://youtu.be/4N1UsUrjQAI
Support the Channel with a Like and Subscribe!
Become a Channel Member or visit Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/RainmanRaysRepairs
Visit our Second Channel on YouTube, RainmanRay Off Duty https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop'>https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop
Follow on Twitter (X): @RainmanRay4Real
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/ @rainman_rays_repairs
Located in Florida? Need work done? Visit www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
Check out my Merchandise shop for Men's and Women's Apparel, MUGS and Stickers at http://www.RainmanRaysRepairs.com
Mountain 5-Piece Metric Double Box Universal Spline Reversible Ratcheting Wrench Set; 8 mm - 18mm, 90 Tooth Design, Long, Flexible, Reversible; MTNRM6 https://amzn.to/3OJTRp2
Astro Tools 78450 HD Harmonic Crank Pulley Puller - GM LS, Ford Coyote, GMC, Chrysler, Dodge & Jeep, Black https://amzn.to/3STBrX9
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Also, I personally use or have used the products featured in my links and only recommended them if I feel they are of good quality.
#mechanic #repair #autorepair #restoration #wifeunit #brakecleanmafia
”Intro Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio”
Thanks to Jesse for making the intro and graphic for us to enjoy!!!
ABOUT OUR CHANNEL
Our channel is about general automotive repair and maintenance . We cover a large variety of automotive services and repairs in a privately owned independent shop.
Check out our channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/ @RainmanRaysRepairs
and the Off Duty Channel here: RainmanRay Off Duty https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop'>https://www.youtube.com/c/RainmanRayOutoftheShop
Don’t forget to subscribe!
Nice video series Ray as always
Ray ignore the BG haters!😂
Love your videos. Coolant vs water. The liquid in the radiator is put there to cool the engine. Water works well as a coolant but causes corrosion and freezes in cold climates so antifreeze is added to the water. So, it is okay to call the water in the radiator coolant even if there is no antifreeze added. Technically antifreeze is not coolant until it is put in the radiator.
What! that don't look like a Fiero to me? 😉
A car where an owner cares is amazing to see. While I don't care for the bird or similar car, this car looks great and you have to give the owner props for taking care of a car. It is not normal for someone to care for their car like this owner does. I try to.
I love strut bars, i get one for every car that I get. My car states 5w30, I use 10w30 in the summer and 5w30 in the winter here in quebec, canada.
Pop-eye likes spin-age…
I like the squirrel commentary… 🙂
This has been a very interesting series of videos on this engine. I don't want to know what the cost of this repair would be, but thinking in the thousands. I did own a 99' Buick Regal with the supercharged 3800 series 2 engine. What a phenomenal powertrain, smooth and quite fuel efficient too. I really beat the hell out of it, so I didn't have it very long- about 8 years. Oh well, thanks for the vids keep em coming.
I'm so glad the "reee" got explained. I've been wondering forever!
Ray is the red bar touching the alternator?
Well hello from Michigan then….lol Love the videos!!
Hands down the GREATEST MOTOR EVER!! The GM 3800 Series-3. Mine is in a 2009 Buick LaCrosse. It was the last year for the 3800 in the Buick LaCrosse. It is an unstoppable work horse and parts have an average price of less than $100.00 and are sold everywhere!
You got it backwards, Ray. If you were somewhere cold, you'd want a 5W-30. 10W-30 is better for warmer climates.
Fiero??? Huh ray I think it’s break time? It’s been a long day? Do u mean fire bird? Or trans am?
That body style is similar to both.
Ray, is it your opinion that it’s ok to spray water on a warm engine? I would like to clean my engine but I’ve always been told not to spray cold water on a hot engine. I trust your advice on this. Thanks.
Glad to see that solvent tank working!
You ever look at Rock Auto for hard to find parts.
Agree with Pat. I'm a FORD guy, always will be.
Man I'm in Louisiana wish I could get you to work on my 2006 envoy…inline 6 motor..ac blower motor won't turn off..even after removing key…and my main harness has splices because a rat chewed through most of it and that's just caused a plethora of issues
I was going to ask how it changed from brown to amber. That strut bar talk helped a lot of people trying to use a crowbar or strap. That is a purdy car AND NEVER DRIVE A CAR IN THE RAIN
This customer will be a lifelong customer and more than likely everyone they talk too.
Ray, did you use an evacuator or the drain plug for the extra oil? The sensors and electrical connectors don't like water. Playing with fire, introducing corrosion…
Still a sell out
That heater hose /tension assembly is such a bad design! Who in their right mind designs plastic clip in hoses? thinking that they will not leak🤷
my 1998 Dodge Dakota had 5w-30 put in my 318 at a local shop and with in a week the hydraulic lifters started talking to me, I had to drain the oil pan and put 10W-30 and in, a short time the lifters quitted down . The lifters didn't like the 5W-30.
GNX? Oh damn nm! 😂
A lighter oil should improve mileage, slightly.
You can bs the fans but not the players… shill.
REEE, Ray has the chipmunks all jacked up on Mountain Dew. It's critter abuse! 🐿
Nice job!!
Great job Ray..
I’ve found a whole lot more of those funky clamps leaking than I’ve ever seen with the screw bands
YAAAAAAAARRRG, you splashed water in my monitor eyeeeees….😡
So now every time Ray sprays water on a running engine he reeeeeeelives that one guys comment
In my opinion BG products are the BEST I have have ever used!, esp. the intake cleaner. Great job Ray!
CRITICAL STEP NOT SHOWN OR NOT IN THE VIDEO??? Gotta ask… you went through the process to reseal the intake/lower etc. But I have an old school I would have done way before adding either oil or a coolant flush…I did not see you perform a pressure test of the system to verify the intake gaskets/seal was verified.
TO me it seems a critical step, especially when oil/coolant mix is deep within the block and drips on the floor is only one indicator. I have done about a dozen similar head/intake gasket replacements and have been bitten more than once.
As I said, just asking…
Not to be critical, but did you finish tightening that bolt behind the "nator"?
Ray, you have said you are not an engineer, so you should put the proper weight oil into the engine. That said, you don't know more than the engineer. Period. If that was my vehicle, I would make you put the correct viscosity oil in, whether you liked it or not!!!!
PSA
Video approved no gravity, click.
Didn't they used to make an acid flush i guise if you didn't have anything else you could dump a gallon of vinegar in it with water
Vinegar works pretty good at desolveing oil plus you car would smell like a fresh salad!
Thanks for donating your toothbrush to the parts washer.
Id like to see you work on a 05 or later Grand Prix GT…
This Ferrari-bird is going to have an identity crisis. Today Ray called it a Fiero!
Ray speaking of advertising you tube made me watch 4mins.30seconds of advertising on car stuff before i watched your vid i hope you are making money for these adverts mate or you are being robbed
I notice you withheld the required calibration of the modial phase inducers. For shame, sir!
Love it when you go Chipmunk mode.
wow. if my mechanic put those plastic crap in my car..i would FIRE HIM.. theyh do not last 12 years.. i know. i have a 2001 pontiac grand prix GTP.. those fail fast. and leave you walking.. i would have waited for you to order them from another state.. and wait a few days for the haslte of haveing to reinstall those in a few months to 2 years … PATHETIC this really PISSED ME off.
We haven’t had an “impact gun cam” in a long while hoping to see a ANOTHA soon 😂
We missed ya, i hope you got some well earned R&R rest andc recouprate because 2 days in a row hunched over that motor in the frt trunk had to be a pain in both the back and neck.
Ray 1 of the best engines GMH, General Motors Holden Aussie was the 253 cub inch motor was a bullet proof motor and very economic on fuel at the time mate, cheers
Wife Unit needs to quit worrying about mandatory appearances and post some new video on her channel.
I laugh and look forward to when you say rrrrrrréeeeeeeee 😅
A Fiero with the popular front engine swap?
Speed up Ray sounds like Chipmunk! Love it. Do you think Alvin will let him in the band?
At 29 minutes wasn't there a good drip coming off the pulley during start up ?
You'd want the 5w in the northern states for cold weather starting. The 5w is the equivalent viscosity of a straight weight at 32degF and the 30 is the equivalent straight weight viscosity at 212degF.
Here in Australia they put that 3800 Buick V6 in the GM-H products from 89 to 96 & they are still going without much repair work required the water pump & alternator are in different positions most likely why they do not suffer like that Fire bird.(Probably the best engine built by GM).
So why didn't GM build all their engines this good? This a serious question.
Opinions are like assholes. Everyone's got one and they all stink
2002 Pontiac Fiero??? No post production fix?
👍🏻🇬🇧💂🏻
Hey Ray I'm scared.
Are you trying to get a job I thought you were independent now? I'm going indie too in my profession and if you have to go back to daddy corpo I'm getting wet feet. I heard you were talking to Mavis.
That's a pretty ride that seems well maintained. I bet its owner really loves it.
I sorry to ask this now a while ago u had a gm ac Schrader valve socket can u tell me the info.
I have been watching since your dealership days
What if he goes to Michigan not being a pest just wantin to learn
So REEEEEEEE
OMGOSH you actually used a parts washer 😮
3.1,3.4,3.8s I beleive are some of GMs best engines. When I was a kid I had a 92 Grand Prix for like 10 years by time I had to get rid of it it had over 400k on the thing but I live in Michigan so the car became unsafe.
Brings back memories. Did a RH Cyl Head /and new Intake gaskets on my 2000 Firebird 3800. 2 weeks later A/C Compressor replacement. All tight fits!!
Was the stabilizer bar a factory part or aftermarket?
Ray, can you recommend a decent obd2 scanner that plots data?
I thought reeeeeee was for reeeeee-action in the comments.
I have a 1998 Buick Riviera with the supercharged 3800 Series II V6. It had 140,000 miles on it when I bought it in the summer of 2011, today it has 280,000+, still runs like a dream. Have kept up with all maintenance, swore loudly at the GM engineers who parked a motor mount right in the middle of the main serpentine belt. My dream is to someday go on a cross country trip, place it in the loving, knowledgeable hands of Ray, and pick it at some later time when all the humorous glitches, it has have been chased away, and maybe fresh paint from the shop that did the big, gorgeous, now Silveryado grey paint. One can dream, right? Greetings Ray, Lauren, and kid units, from the snowy Northwest. 😊
Just use 5W-40 in every petrol engine and you will be fine
I have this engine in a Buick Lesabre Limited 1997, and they are indestructible! One of the best 5 engine ever made, except for that coolant thing with it. I love my car and this engine! From Montréal, Québec. No my car do not have northern rust. I do not drive it in winter.
Black and tan oil.
Did we ever check to see what sin is under that duck tape?
My God; I can just imagine how much oil is in that cars entire cooling system, The oil just clinging to the walls of the engine, every nook and cranny and port. and the radiator. would take some serious flushing.😮
The Alvin and the chipmunks fast forward method 😂😂😂😂
5/16 cause the 8 doesn't fit? yer a nut
Those hose clamps will leave you with a fingernail bruise that will last for a while. Ask me how I know!
We want more Wife Unit in the shop. Ray, I agree with everything you did on/to this car. I had a 99 Grand Prix with the 3.8. Loved that car.
If my car I'd want to drive it 50 miles with cleaner in system, then drain and do it again………..
That was a great video, I feel my soul purifying as I see that nasty shit bubbling out of the radiator. BTW can we get more brakes jobs? Those are my favorite!
Was wondering about the benefits of a strut bar, and there it is with a simple demonstration. Bravo! However if I get one for my car, I don’t think I’ll use an old handrail!
That poor car is having an identity crisis. Now it's a Pontiac Fiero?
Ray, actually the only opinion on the oil weight that counts is the owner's.
You called it a Fiero. Might as well have called it a Ford Tempo.
In the words of Vice Grip Garage, " bring the thunder."
Great series of videos,thanks for proving the strut bar I put one on my 2016 5.7 challenger and some people said I was waisting my money.
over the years , I have had 2 cars fitted with this engine model, Holden VS Berlina and a VY2 Commodore . both reliable, strong and good touring cars , easier to access than the Firebird
Ill send you a BG rattlesnake from Arizona😁
HIGH GRADE HELIUM RAY…😊
did you say Fiero? lol. a fiero with a 3800 is fun, howmany drain and fills did you do?
Yes… I DID notice you not zip tying that wire back up… ya got me LOL… minireee
Just wondering what happened to that bracket on the back of the pass side head that you had so much trouble removing
Love the editing on this one Ray!!😊