No Drain/No Spill 🌡 Thermostat Replacement | GM 3800 (and others...)
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- čas přidán 28. 06. 2024
- There's always a trick. In this video, I demonstrate a trick to easily change the thermostat on a GM 3800 V6 engine, without spilling any coolant, and without the need to drain any out. This trick also applies to any engine where you find a bleeder valve on the Thermostat housing near the top of the engine.
** Need to find a leak? Check out my recent (January 2024) video on how to properly use Ultra-Violet (UV) "Tracer Dye" with a UV flashlight to hunt down a cooling system leak:
* • Finding a Radiator/Coo...
W-Body cars include:
Buick Century
Buick LaCrosse
Buick Regal
Chevrolet Impala
Chevrolet Impala Limited
Chevrolet Lumina
Chevrolet Monte Carlo
Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme
Oldsmobile Intrigue
Pontiac Grand Prix
(Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General...)
The 3800, also known as the "Buick V6", is one of GMs best engines in my (and many others') opinion. More about this engine, its history and background, can be found here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V...
If you do require adding coolant, be sure to only use GM DexCool or compatible coolant. I know there's controversy around this but in my experience, going with the manufacturer's recommendations will ensure that the coolant is compatible with all parts, seals, hoses etc...
The thermostat itself is an inexpensive part. Luckily for us (if you have this engine), it's right on top and super-easy to get to. And using the trick in this video, it can be done with ZERO mess.
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For CZcams:
** Contents of this Video (aka Chapters):
0:00 - Introduction to the Problem
0:56 - A Little Bit about Thermostats
1:53 - Location on the 3800 V6
2:46 - The "Trick" (for no spillage)
4:54 - Start Up and Bleed the Air Back Out
5:28 - Take it for a Drive
5:49 - Reset the Engine Light
6:10 - Wrap-up - Auta a dopravní prostředky
This is hands down the best video for a 3800 thermostat replacement out there. Thank you so much. I was able to replace it thanks to you. $15.
I did spill a little dexcool though even after pushing the hose many times but a little loss is okay. That thermostat was stuck in there pretty bad I had to beat the crap out of it and its gasket to get it out. Works like a charm now.
Thank you!!
Thanks! I'm glad people are finding it helpful!
Great video. I’m replacing the thermostat tomorrow! Took a few days spraying penetrating oil on the 10mm bolts beforehand. They loosened up for me without much resistance! Thank you for the guidance
Great video Sir...I like the trick of pumping coolant back into the over flow tank ! I have "liked" & subscribed.
Very informative! I plan on changing out my thermostat soon. Just bought a 2004 GTP Comp G, and will do this just for piece of mind. It’s been kinda neglected, maintenance wise. 93,400 miles on it
Yeah when I bought my 2007, it was a neglecterino as I like to call it. Needed a little bit of everything but I'm happy to report it's been running absolutely great in the year and a half I've had it now 😀
Awesome video, very simple and well done explain 🤙
Great, informative and thorough video. Just changed this out on my ‘02 Grand Prix. All good after initial road test…and getting much better heat too. Totally worth DIYing it!
Yeah luckily I did this on mine just before it started getting really cold, it has done me well as far as having excellent heat. It's also nice seeing the temperature gauge stay in one place 😁
Glad I could help, and thanks for the feedback!
Not even five minutes into this video, you were covering so much useful material and so clearly, I stopped and subscribed.
Your visual and audio production quality is top notch-- I never had to re-run the video to discern what you said. Your professional mike surely helps, but the video is also exceptionally well-done, and the little colored arrows and inset circles draw attention instantly to the area being discussed.
And how many of us would know to ask for a new thermostat rubber seal? 😃
Thank you so much for the kind words! Comments like this make it worth the time and effort of putting together a video
I have to do this to my LeSabre once it is warm enough here in Minnesnowta. Thanks!
Awesome, hopefully you get a nice warm day. If it's a w body with a 3800, it should be a breeze.
I just caught Minnesnowta lol! I'm in Northwest Indiana, it's pretty cold here but I'm sure it's a lot colder up there
@@JustinNelsonsProjects Yup, 3800 Series 2. Rock-solid engine 😀
@@JustinNelsonsProjects Not too bad here now, sun is melting the 14" of snow or so we got.
It is sad that GM discontinued perhaps one of the best engines they ever designed. It's replacement, the 3.5 overhead cam V6, is nothing but problems. I'll be keeping my Grand Prix for as long as I can keep the thing running LOL
Great thank you
My pleasure, thanks for watching!
What about cars with no bleeder valve??
As far as I am aware, all 3800 V6 engines have the bleeder valve. Other vehicles, or other engines, often have the coolant reservoir at a higher point than where the thermostat is, in which case a bleeder isn't necessary.
A cooling system will always bleed out air at the highest point of the system. It's just that the large V6 in a medium sized car makes it to where you have to have somewhere to bleed it at the uppermost part of the system and in this case it happens to be the thermostat.
In other words, if there is no bleeder valve, you probably don't need it. You can just run the engine for a while and keep topping off the reservoir. It will naturally burp out any air trapped in the system
My thermostat gauge is fluctuating slightly after replacing the thermostat, no air came out of the bleeder valve, air did bubble up slowly backwards into the reservoir after first test drive. Any ideas on fluctuation of gauge?
You might be looking at a failing water pump. It's not too difficult to do on the 3800, but if you do find out that that's what it is, do yourself a favor and upgrade to the metal elbow connectors that go to your heater hoses because the plastic ones will disintegrate when you remove that pump.
Now if you're getting decent heat, then you might just still have air trapped in the system. In that case I would try cracking that bleeder after running it for a little while and see if air or steam comes out rather than liquid...
96 V6 Camaro 3.8 has a bleeder?
If that is a question, I actually don't have an answer for you. I've never had a V6 Camaro... I had a 1984 Camaro with the 305 V8 many many years ago LOL.
You should be able to tell just by looking though. Or, ask on different car forums if it's there but maybe a little more hidden.
Annie case if it has a bleeder it will be somewhere at the highest physical point of the cooling system.
I actually think that 3.8 is the older version before the "3800" series was introduced but I could be mistaken...
Just to follow up on my last comment, I did it on an older Buick regal that had the other version of the 3.8 engine, and it did not have that bleeder. But that's not to say the Camaro does not, I can't say with any certainty which engine specifically came in that car or it's orientation.
Usually on a larger car you don't have a bleeder because the reservoir sits higher than everything else. The only reason for the bleeder is when they cram a pretty large engine in a rather small engine bay.