Most Reliable Pontiac Engine?

I'm wondering everyones opinion of what is the most reliable pontiac engine. Don't say the 2.2L cause thats what i'm swappin out :banghead:

what is it out of a sunfire? grand am? id go with the 3.8 non or with supercharged my neighbor had a 99 GTP and it never ever broke down or had engine trouble once.

The 2.2 out of a sunfire, I'm on my second engine leaning towards a third. I don't race it but it seems like if you give that engine a little bit of a goring and boom somthin goes. I'm leanin towards the 3.8 supercharged because i've heard they're reliable and powerful. I know people think well its a sunfire but i love the car and it'd just be nice to have that much power under the hood.

my friend has a 04 sunfire with a 2.2L ecotec engine n he treats it like shit r u sayin hes engine is gona be done soon :]
its manual

The most reliable Pontiac engine in my opinion is the 3.8L V6.

I noticed in the poll that it was said the motor is more reliable without the supercharger....i haven't found that to be the case in my experience; in fact, the ones with the supercharger seem to have lasted longer in my experience.

Unfortunately that means having the supercharger replaced at least once, but that comes with the territory. :smile:

ah crap


i meant to put the 3.8 n/a, but hit the s/c one.



Id rather have the suprcharged one, but the n/a one is more reliable; fewer things to break, easier on the trans, etc.

3.8 NA here. 9 years on mine and Ive replaced the water pump, oil, belt, air filter, and PCV valve.

I have a 3.8SC and it has been reliable after 78K miles only oil changes and a tune up. The engine requires 92-93 octane and that still is over $2/gallon. I find that the need for the SC is a rare occurance in daily driving. But most 3.8s are very reliable.

The 3.8 supercharged is the most reliable. I have no experience with them, but it makes sense. Under normal driving the SC engine doesn't have to work as hard to move the not-so-small cars they're equipped in, as the N/A engine does. The only factor is...half the GTP's I see at the pump are getting 87 octane fed to them. They're both reliable engines either way. But if you'd trade 40-60 ponies for a slight edge in reliability...you're not the type of person Pontiac had in mind when they dreamt up the SC version anyways.

The 3.8 supercharged is the most reliable. I have no experience with them, but it makes sense. Under normal driving the SC engine doesn't have to work as hard to move the not-so-small cars they're equipped in, as the N/A engine does. The only factor is...half the GTP's I see at the pump are getting 87 octane fed to them. They're both reliable engines either way. But if you'd trade 40-60 ponies for a slight edge in reliability...you're not the type of person Pontiac had in mind when they dreamt up the SC version anyways.


I have to disagree, the supercharged 3800 is not as reliable, and is costlier to maintain... the n/a engine doesnt have the stress put on it by the supercharger, and doesnt have the supercharger maintenance to deal with. Neglecting the oil in the supercharger is common, causing them to break down between 80000 and 120000 miles. When driving normally, cruising along, the supercharger isnt making any significant power boost, that only occurs when you are accelerating.

I have a n/a 3800 from 1988. Its been in my family since new and has 251,000 km. Total reliability, no problems, no repairs of any kind. A friend of mine at work has an Olds 98 with the same engine. He got 500,000 km, no problems. That car rusted away around the engine. Another friend has 450,000 km on a 3800.

i'd vote mine, which isn't even listed, 3.3

I also noticed that there is no provision for selecting a 3800 series I or series II. It seems that the Series I units (at least according to a GM mechanic friend) are more reliable than the Series II units. I can attest to that... My 1994 Buick Ultra with the 3800S/C (series I) had over 200,000 miles before its first major problem (bad head gasket). My 1998 Bonneville SE with a 3800 series II needed a new engine the first time at 90,000 miles (cracked upper-intake manifold), then then again at 104,000 miles (same thing). If not for the repeatedly bad upper intake manifold, I'd say the Series II 3800... But because of that black mark I'll say just the Series I 3800.

the 3800s are incredibly reliable engines, not just withing the pontiac category, but with engines in general. With proper maintenance they will run forever 200,000 plus. Supercharged 3800s ted to take a tougher beating than naturally aspirated 3800s, but this is mostly because the people who drive them generally like to drive harder. Pontian and gm did take proper measures to ensure safe use of the supercharger (more vacume lines, well programmed pcm, better fuel pump, piston heads, compression ratio, and a stronger lower end. I wouldnt say that the engines are very much more reliable w/o the superchargers, but more so the transmissions in n/a 3800 tend to last longer, b/c even though the supercharges 3800 vehicles have a better tranny, for some drivers it is not enough.

^^^
wtf i posted that like 3 months ago and now all of a sudden it says i posted it today and brought it to the end...

None of the above? The 2.5L Iron Duke aka Tech 4 in my Fiero has been virtually trouble-free, and over 150,000 miles now. Only real problems were the valve cover gasket and a broken-off EGR valve (not the engine's fault, the previous owner's carelessness).

I prefer the 1.0L 993cc 61ci 55hp engine.....lol

too bad the 3.8 isnt a pontiac engine

I thought I should add something before you all start jumping down my throat.....

Technically speaking the 3.8 is a buick engine.....pontiac struck a deal with Buick engeneers in the early 90s to put it into a Pontiac......thats why it took so long to get a S/C Chevy...

Actually, the only two on the list that are really Pontiac designs, are the 3.1 and 3.4. The 400 is definitely the most dependable and most propegated Pontiac engine. Of course, it doesn't "fit" into this conversation... Just thought I'd stir the pot a bit!

None of the above? The 2.5L Iron Duke aka Tech 4

I agree 100%, it doesn't make a lot of power, it's noisy and it leaks oil from the valve cover area but this engine is bullet proof. JMO

Actually, the only two on the list that are really Pontiac designs, are the 3.1 and 3.4. The 400 is definitely the most dependable and most propegated Pontiac engine. Of course, it doesn't "fit" into this conversation... Just thought I'd stir the pot a bit!

The 3.1 and the 3.4 are based on the 60 degree chev v-6's (same as the 2.8)

CR, the 2.8 has its "roots" in Pontiac Division. It was introduced as a "corporate" engine, found in ALL the X-bodies from '80-on, and later in the J-cars and P-body. They even used a derivative of it in the RWD F-bodies and compact pickups.
I say it's a Pontiac design by looking at the water pump/timing cover assembly. It is very much the same as the Pontiac V8, just scaled down a bit. The "open" valley and intake port are also remeniscent of the Injun.
For clarity, I agree it is NOT a Pontiac-specific design, just the main influence... It shares MANY more features with the Pontiac than it does any other GM engine family.

the 3.8l,3.8l supercharged are accually Buick engines.The 2.2l non eco,2.2 eco,3.1l,3.4l are Chevrolet engines.The quad 4 engines are probally Oldsmobile engine.In pontiacs,you will find a Buick,Chevrolet engine in the engine compartment

Years ago,it use to be engine specific to manufactor...since Chevy,pontiac,olds,buick all had there own style of 350 motor....know they will put a chevy motor in a pontiac,buick in pontiac and on and on.

~Larry~

I must agree that the 2.5L Tech IV or Iron Duke is the best engine. I had one in my '87 Cutlass Ciera and it never gave me a problem.

I'm gonna have to say 3.8 not S/C...and a word to the arguement about engine ownership, brand name engines ended with the 350's in the 60's...whereas if you bought a pontiac it had a pontiac engine...but General Motors now owns buick pontiac oldsmobile chevy saab hummer cadillac and gmc..unforutnatly with that ownership went company branded engines...most of the engines you guys claim to be argueing about...like the 3.8 being a buick engine...they were all made in the same factory anyway..as in pontiac may have struck a deal with buick..but GM owns them both...so go figure..

Thats why they refer to them as "corporate" engines. After they got sued in the late seventies.

I am old school and I will have to say the 400cid. (even though it is not on the list)
And if the truth be known the 3.8 liter (aka 3800) are both Buick engines they have set the example for others to follow the last true Pontiac motor was the 301 (last production year was 1981) but as far as the 3.8 liter that is Buicks baby not sure of the origin of the four bangers (2.2s and the alike) but they are pretty good engines if taken care of properly. but my vote for goes for the 400 cid.:grinyes:

Nice to see I'm not the ONLY old-timer out here... 400 Pontiac is a legendary power plant, to be sure!

'88 Fiero full-out chassis/suspension/brake mods
running Rally America class in Pikes Peak International Hill Climb,
and Solo class in SCCA
2.5L Iron Duke, 326,000miles; external mods ONLY, engine has never been opened (except for the large drain plug/oil filter case), all internals stock.(because those SuperDutys cost WAY too much)
on the third clutch, kinda hard on those.
still streetable (that's why the miles; driving to events, and cross country trips)
it is a shame you didn't have the 326 Indian or the 400/403 Chiefs in there.

chris
nrt racing

Well, 400, anyway. 403 is an Oldsmobile engine.

Well, 400, anyway. 403 is an Oldsmobile engine.


correct on the 403 Olds, but its main fame was in a T/A.
but yes, I've owned both; 400= GOBS of power, and no maintenance (except for those leaky valve covers, and that's probably because of the GOBS of power and overpressure in the block/heads)
:2cents: the 400 of mine cracked 100+K and the stock oil pump was STILL hammmering out 55psi at idle!

The valve covers aren't prone to leaking. They were probably tightened too many times, making the flange a bit on the flimsy side. Unlike Chevy engines, Pontiac had the valve cover rails milled flat for a good seal.
Yes, about 2/3 of the T/As from '77-'79 had the 403 Olds. Many of the "big cars" (Catalina, Bonneville) also had them. A decent engine for dragging around a stock autombile. Too much work to make good power AND live. A 400 Pontiac will eat one up under most conditions. There ARE some guys out there enjoying success campaigning the 403. They get near the same level of power as the Pontiac or Chevy 400s. But the changes to make them live are big money.
Did you massively overheat the 400? They too, aren't prone to cracking heads OR blocks unless something goes drastically wrong.
Just curious.

Jim

4th gen Trans Am count?? :icon16:

3.4 in my Grand Am GT is hanging GREAT at 71,500.

I would have to say hands down that the 3.8l is the most reliable..Properly maintained it will last well over 200,000miles..

I will say the 2.5L Iron Duke is very reliable. My 88 grand am has 126K on the dot, and still runs like a champ... with many more to go with no engine repairs yet. I also can say the 3.0L was also a very good engine. My father had a 3.0L in his 87 Grand am, when we gave it up it had 127K on it, and the engine was never touched or had to be repaired.

now if these are actual "Pontiac" engines or not, or just a GM production I have no clue... but they were supplied in pontiacs.

wow this is over a year old!