3800 SC Series II faulty?

[skorpio1975]

Hello all,

Im a new owner of Park Av and I have heard about some horror stories about hydro-lock, but I have a Park Av with supercharger so maybe Ill be in luck.

I have anotherquestion with this engine. I have bought a 97 Ultra off my friend for 500 bucks with seazed engine. I have thught that he was driving with no oil in the motor and this is why it seazed. When I dropped the oil pan I observed that center main cap was dry and blue from heat and friction. This is why it seazed. So I have bought new motor and swapped it in garage. Even tho it only had 45k miles on it, it was leaking oil terribly, but I have replaced valve cover gaskets before installing it. Now after driving for about 1000 miles I have decided to replace oil pan gasket also. So yesterday I have dropped oil pan I was little scared. The middle main cap and the on from timing chain are dry where the one from trans is swamped with oil. I would hate to seaze this motor also.

There is an onboard computer which monitors oil level and perssure so now Im thinking that it would be almost impossible for my friend to drive with no oil. He says he didnt see any warnings when the motor seazed.

Do these motors have oiling problems? It seems like it. I hope Im wrong!

Regards, Bart.

(still puzzled by grinding noise when car tilted to left)

[aarcuda]

the series II's built before 2004 or 2003 had a problem with the intake manifold where the egr tube comes up from the bottom aluminum manifold through upper plastic manifold. it would burn out the upper manifold to the antifreeze passage going to the throttle body. the antifreeze would then fill the maiflod and when it gets bad enough, it will flood the engine and hydro lock it. it happened to me.

I am not sure if its also a problem with the ultras

[Jed Rule]

Do any of you GM techs have the bulletin # regarding this problem?
Where can I get a copy?

[aarcuda]

This happened to my 95 PA and when I went to get a replacement upper intake manifold, the parts guys was well aware of the problem and told me that this antifreeze into the manifold problem was common.

He also told me the new vehicles (either 2003 and 2004) corrected this problem by using a smaller tube for the egr giving the manifolds more meat near the coolant passages.

He said the only way to really solve the problem was to purchase a newer (2004) upper AND lower intake. I couldnt just buy a 2004 upper because it would work with the older lower. At $650 for the pair, I went with just a replacement upper off EBAY for $125. Figure I'll change it out again in another 100000 miles. (maybe try and get a pair from a 2004 or newer from the junkyard)

[Jed Rule]

Was the replacement manufactured by Dorman? I saw an add for them in a trade magazine.

[aarcuda]

Dorman makes a part for it and I guess you can get these at auto parts stores. I believe these are replacements for the older design (up to 2003 or 2004)

GM (or whoever makes the part for GM) is selling the redesigned uppers and lowers and they are standard equipment on new cars.

I'm not sure if the Dorman also sells parts for the new (fixed) design or not.

Call the GM dealer and ask about the manifolds and they should be able to tell you about the change and when it took place.

[Jed Rule]

As you said, the dealer told me about the problem...$600 worth. I'm with you. I'll use the Dorman replacement and hope to get 100,000 miles or untill the lower half starts to leak too.

[Flatrater]

The supercharger engine does not have this problem. The upper mainfold in not made of plastic therfore it cannot melt. This only applies to vin K engines and not vin 1 engines. look at your plate at the base of the windshield the 8th digit is your engine code.