GM 3.8L common coolant leak

[@125sm3]

Work smarter not harder, You certainly win an award for thinking outside the box. Great fix.

[@themechanic6117]

Saving time and making the job easier is the name of the game 👍

[@wendwllhickey6426]

A shorted bulb will do this

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

I had the exact same on my '89 Buick LN3 3.8L, except mine has stupid steel pipes that rust out. I have already purchased the tools & parts to upgrade and eliminate this problem. The photos of mine leaking are on my channel. Horribly poor design, and GM's "upgrade" to plastic was worse! Dorman to the rescue!

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

Thank you so much for another video, Jonathan.

[@themechanic6117]

You're welcome. Thanks for watching

[@SteveRobReviews]

Dorman for the win 👍 Nice job buddy.

[@themechanic6117]

This is the one product I trust from dorman 🤣👍

[@azarahwagner2749]

Good old 3800 😊 I had a Pontiac Bonneville and yes I had to replace those plastic connectors. Oh and I use a rotary tool when working. It works great at cleaning rusty threads before removing the hardware , makes a huge difference and time saver .

[@themechanic6117]

So you know what's up💪 it's a tool worth having

[@Nando_989]

KNIPEX makes some good tools. I like the cable cutter (9511200). Works great for cutting battery cables and plastic airlines . Doesn’t crush it like typical diagonal cutters do, leaves a flush cut. Great repair video! I bought a similar drill adapter specifically to use on my Milwaukee 1/4” ratchet. Got tired of using 1/4” socket with a hex drill bit, gets a little wobbly.

[@themechanic6117]

I'm really liking the knipex tools. From now on if I need a new plier I'm looking at knipex first ! 👍💪

[@rohankansagara848]

When you mentioned your genius innovation at 6:59, it reminded me of the Jeremy Clarkson quote: "sometimes my genius is...it's almost frightening." xD. Love the content. Keep up the great work!

[@themechanic6117]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching. Great quote also! 🤣👍

[@m.merriman7692]

I immediately went and bought a set of the 3/8" drive tap adapters after watching this video. Brilliant option to have when needed.

[@alanmiller2250]

I like the way you did it. It was the quality that shows you were there, wire brush, shiny, silicone grease all clean. Looks good for another 100*k miles.

[@themechanic6117]

Thank you! 👍

[@spelunkerd]

Volkswagon went through the same thing with their Jetta coolant hose flange, plastic into the engine block, with the same result. Dealers had no interest in upgrading to steel so their OEM repair is just to replace it every few years.

[@themechanic6117]

I'm not surprised. Why have a permanent fix when you can keep charging for the same repair over and over . Thanks for watching! 👍

[@OneLegged-honda-mechanic]

Yep! I have the Milwaukee brand cordless dremal and i keep in on my workbench as a quick grab whenever i need it

[@themechanic6117]

I had a milwaukee one. It gave up the ghost a few years ago. Been with the dremel ever since

[@CravinMorehead420]

I have a cordless Dremel, connectors got corroded only used it a handful of times. I do use my corded Dremel a lot though.

[@themechanic6117]

I had a milwaukee cordless rotary tool. I rarely used it then it died. I switched out to dremel and it's been a work horse and it's still kicking! 👍 if I ever need another rotary tool I'm going with dremel for sure

[@i-will-get-you-there]

These elbows looks as they were after though. Remember, they put same engines in everything they can to save cash and you end up with crap everywhere. These engines were pretty reliable to a point! Shame they went to different ones. Now everything they make is like polished shit boxes. Good video man! Keep it up. At least this one is not pile of crap, still can go for a while. Cheers

[@themechanic6117]

These engines can be reliable, unfortunately the ones I've worked on have all been neglected

[@ozzstars_cars]

Dang! All that hole cleaning reminded me to take a shower. Thanks Jonathan. 😁 Nice job and Dorman came to the rescue. I remember those 3.8L engines they were very smooth and have plenty of torque. Throw a turbo on there and ya got yourself a homemade Buick Grand National.

[@themechanic6117]

🤣👍. If maintained they seem like decent engines. I've my fair share of these engines with major problems but I'm sure those owners didn't take very good care of them.

[@wm973]

Been using a corded dremel for years. It came in a plastic molded box, and like mentioned below it has the flex cable. It would be easier to use the cordless one only for my convenience. I'm getting older and lazier. Another great vid.

[@themechanic6117]

I need to pick up a flex cable

[@wm973]

@@themechanic6117 When ya need it.. ya need it. I've only used mine once and it was really helpful.

[@themechanic6117]

Even if you only need a tool once a year, you appreciate that you have the tool 💪

[@wm973]

@@themechanic6117 Bad enough that during a job you realize you need a certain tool.. worse.. we had a chance to buy it and didn't! Your right, we don't have to use a tool everyday to make it valuable to us.

[@christopherhendricks4369]

Replacing the elbows again on a 1998 park avenue. Not doing plastic this time. Great engine with a couple of flaws which are easy to fix.

[@djambrosia]

I have a dremel that has a flexible attachment for those tight spots. A must have tool as you say.

[@themechanic6117]

I thought about getting one of those. I might just do that lol

[@JourneyToTheTruthandTR]

That's funny, I immediately thought about using an electric torque wrench when you said your Dremel wouldn't fit. My 2nd idea was using those wooden cylinders you can buy at craft stores. Just cut off what you don't need and wrap in sand paper. They sell multiple diameter sizes.

[@themechanic6117]

That's a pretty good idea 👍

[@BruceLyeg]

I've replaced a lot of the elbows. Duralast is what I think we used. Nice job. What do you do with the car while it's running for an hour or more? do you close the garage door and use an exhaust hose? do you leave the door open and freeze your butt off for over ans hour. I mean, I assume you don't leave them running unattended

[@themechanic6117]

When I let it sit the car isn't running. Just let it sit turned off and about after a hour I'm come check on it and put the cap back on. 👍

[@jt8280]

Nice work ! Does this apply to the GM 3.4 engine ? I can't see it on mine.

[@themechanic6117]

I'm sure someone can correct me but I believe these aren't on the 3.4 . I've only ever changed them on the 3.8

[@HUBBABUBBADOOPYDOOP]

Awesome tool mixture.👏🏻

[@themechanic6117]

Thank you 👍 💪

[@datnewnewshiiii5665]

Will a leak In those connectors caus the car to run hot

[@themechanic6117]

Yes because if these are leaking, eventually the coolant level will get low enough for the engine to overheat

[@win2race]

your video lacks the installation of the two tubes and alt bracket being installed to the block. other wise great video.

[@flolou8496]

? I'm confused about the ''O-Ring'' being the problem: If it was an O-ring that was the problem, why does changing the coolant elbow the fix ? Is the o-ring your talking about part of the coolant elbow ?

[@robertfox8654]

Very nice video my friend! Side note: I did not buy a Dremel...😳

[@themechanic6117]

Thanks for watching

[@TeresaVenegas-yt7nm]

Than you it helped me a lot.

[@themechanic6117]

You're welcome

[@AdamntiosDANNYFragiadakis]

GENIUS is right!!!

[@snoopy5736]

Duralast also has the metal coolant elbows

[@themechanic6117]

I didn't know that. I wonder if they're made by the same company

[@snoopy5736]

@@themechanic6117 Probably the same sweat shop in China 🇨🇳, get in the zone

[@themechanic6117]

🤣👍

[@Willalvers]

Anyone who owns this GM 3800 3.8L Model Engine should stop using the pastic elbows, 2 i have installed both have failed, getting them out can be quite difficult if they break....so overall i have upgraded to the aluminum elbows and have not had a problem since, 1 month in no leaks from the affected area.

[@themechanic6117]

Metal parts is the way to go 👍

[@rrmech11]

👍👍

[@themechanic6117]

Thanks for watching

[@frankkalbacher]

Yikes! Do not use silicone on rubber 0 rings. Always use plumbers grease. It will not destroy rubber.

[@m.merriman7692]

The plumbers grease I'm seeing at the big box stores is 90% silicone and is marketed to work with rubber o rings. Why would other kinds of silicone grease be different?

[@joeberg9823]

Does anyone else replace these doorman elbows orings before they put them on. Every one I have used the oring turns to mush and fails in a year or two and they leaked again. The aluminum pipe is fine but the orings are not up to the task.

[@Standing_Liberty1916]

Have you figured out what O rings to replace them with? I see everybody saying you should use ACDelco rings but I’m not sure what specific ones they’re talking about.

[@tbskirk]

One of the few times dorman got it right! 👍🏽

[@themechanic6117]

Pretty hard to mess that up 🤣👍

[@tbskirk]

2000 Accord V6 alternator brackets came in clutch too for my old Honda Accord when the stock one rusted out and broke in half. I suppose I shouldn't hate on them too much 😂

[@themechanic6117]

Once in a while dorman saves the day but in general they're trash 🤣

[@tbskirk]

@@themechanic6117 yeah I know right they should just stick to what they good at doing which is upgrading plastic to aluminum 🤣

[@themechanic6117]

It's their true calling lol

[@singleCamTrackEF]

"...I'll put an update in th-" I take it they never came back xD

[@themechanic6117]

Exactly 🤣

[@johnmorrow1628]

I might go get a Dremel for smaller jobs but I have the M12 right angle die grinder. I can't believe I lived with out it. I put cut off wheels, 3 inch twisted Braid wire wheel and roll lock discs. Really nice tool I want to get the straight one too. The tap socket on the ratchet never thought of that. It aint stupid if it works lol I put a 1/4 drill bit in a right angle die grinder because I didn't have a right angle drill lol worked mint

[@themechanic6117]

I wanted to get one of those right angle milwaukee but when I normally need them it's in tight places. They aren't more compact than a pneumatic right angle . That's why I went with a set of astro grinders rather than milwaukee

[@angieghostuforick1645]

Kool

[@samuel2985]

Ahaha! NO! You Use a cloth to clean up the O-ring surface, never scrape O-ring surface especially on an aluminum engine!

[@snoopy5736]

I replaced mine on my 1998 Buick Riviera I've owned for 20 years. They developed a pinhole leak, also did the dorman upgrade. What a dumb design imo. Why does the coolant have to go into that alternator bracket 😒? I do need to pick up a dremel at Walmart. And yea my coolant elbow also broke off , only thing I did differently was add rtv to the o-rings on the elbows. Super ocd, im sure it wasn't necessary and probably wrong

[@themechanic6117]

I can agree that it's a stupid design. If I had a personal car with this engine I'd do the upgrade before the plastic elbows have a chance to fail. Definitely go with dremel , I had a milwaukee and it didn't last long. Dremel hasn't failed me yet

[@heathrussell4730]

This part maybe...

[@heathrussell4730]

Oops try connector brand BWD # PT196