Any thoughts on whether the 3.6 L engine in a Buick LeSabre is as dependable as the 3.8 L?

Your post has been moved to Buick Non Specific.

To best of my knowledge the LeSabre never had the new VVT 3.6L V6 engine. It had the Series II 3800 VIN "K" V6 engine until it was discontinued. 2005 was the last model year for it and then the Lucerne took its place for 2006.

3.6 i never heard of one. i've heard of 31.00 or 3.1 or 3.3 but no 3.6 in anything. but the 3.8 or 3800 are good motors but the rides better than 3.8 when you get little over 100.000 mls on them thats when you start replacing parts but they will go 300.000 mls excepted there rear brake system they changed.

GM does have the 3.6L which is a newer design based on the high value VVT engine. It was used in the 2005-2006 Buick LaCrosse CXS. The LaCrosse replaced the Regal.

I think the OP is confused on the engines and models.

thanks for clearing that up. i just never heard of 3.6. so is a buick v-6 231 is it a 3.8 only one is steel and one is alumuan?

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't heard of a 3.6 either, so I called a GM dealership before I posted this question. I was told by the service tech that they did indeed put a 3.6L in 2003 model LeSabres. I have a 2000 model with 352,000 miles and I'm looking at this 2003. If I can get near the dependability out of the smaller engine, I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

I was told by the service tech that they did indeed put a 3.6L in 2003 model LeSabres. I have a 2000 model with 352,000 miles and I'm looking at this 2003.

:confused:

Not to my knowledge. For the 2003 year the Series II 3800 VIN "K". Maybe in the service tech's imagination. Any proof other than what the service tech said.


BTW - The GM 3.6L V6 engine was first introduced by GM in 2004. In only the 2004 Cadillac CTS and SRX and Buick Rendezvous Ultra GM model vehicles at the time of introduction.

Click Here (http://www.mlive.com/flintjournal/business/index.ssf/2008/07/gm_up_to_305_layoffs_possible.html) for an article that brought tears to my eyes back in July! The report said average build time is (was) 3.09 hours per engine.