Buick 3800 Lower Intake and Valve Cover Gaskets 

Great video. First thing I do when I get a 3800 is this. As common to me as changing the oil on these cars lol. I always change the crap plastic intake to the aluminum for the swap.

This is the best tutorial on this job by far! Most people don’t go step by step like this, they’ll just do a large portion of the job then check back in and say what they did. GREAT JOB!

This tutorial was my saving grace and saved me almost 2,000$ I truly do appreciate you helping complete strangers like myself!

I just want to express my gratitude to you for your RU-vid video "Buick 3800 Lower Intake and Valve Cover Gaskets". Previously, the extent of my car mechanics has been to replace/service my own brakes, engine oil changes, ATF changes etc. Replacing the lower and upper intake gaskets on my friend's Buick Lesabre is the 'biggest' job I've completed to date and your RU-vid video was my constant companion and mentor throughout the job. Just wanted you to know that I appreciate you sharing your knowledge and talent in this way!

You’re outstanding brother. No wasting time is my fave. Wish everybody cut out the fluff and was thorough like you. Thanks!!!!🎉

After watching this vid back in September 2022, I did the work myself the following month in October. Took me 3 days cause of life, but I got all the work done step by step. Lots of work, but worth it. Got the aluminum felpro gaskets. Replaced some parts while I was in there. I did somehow pinch that right gasket and it started leaking, so had to take the lower intake off and get it seated correctly. After that though, I've driven both a 600 mile round trip and a 400 mile round trip successfully. I've probably saved like $1000 in labor cost. I've driven 3k-5k since, no leaks. Engines just been purring along

One of the best car repair videos I have watched. You deserve more views and more subs. If you dedicated your career to teaching automotive repair you would do very well at it.

Man, this made it way more simple than i had previously thought. Thx for the tip on the aluminum elbows. Great video, very simplistic. Be safe.

It took me longer than 17 minutes, but the video walked me through all the steps and I was able to do it all by myself. I feel pretty good about it. And the car feels good about it too. Thanks!

You made this job very easy to understand and took the time to explain how to put it back together instead of the " do everything in reverse" that some people like to say. Thank you

Thank you for the video. Thanks in part to it, I was able to successfully change the lower and upper intake and valve cover gaskets. I appreciate your time and instruction!!

This is THE BEST walkthrough for this engine! Thanks to you, I found the final two bolts to take off the lower intake. So happy I didn’t just brute force it with a pry bar. 😅

You are brilliant. I have one of these vehicles a 2005 LeSabre and will have to check for any oil leaks on or around the valve covers. Great video. THUMBS UP!!!

My 2000 Bonnie blew the lower intake gasket two days ago :( This video will make the repair so much easier. Thank you for posting. It is very much appreciated.

Very well done!!! Thanks, I start on mine in the morning and will be referencing this vid!

I was able to replace the intake manifold gaskets on my 2002 Grand Prix thanks to this amazing instructional video! Thank you!!!

Your tear down and repair is so helpful and will save my daughter $1500.00 in repair while providing guidance for me to do the job. Again, thank you for the video.

Just bought a LeSabre similar to this one and need to do this asap. Great tutorial. Subscribed!!

Amazing Video !!! 👏 Five Star commentary and instructions… awesome stuff

Awesome video Salem Doyle. Thank you very much.

Thanks so much, getting ready to do this on a 2000 Impala, nice to know what I'm getting into!!

One of the best step by step video's.great job.

Great video! Excellent description of how to do this job. My son and I followed your instruction and did this on a 2000 Buick Regal with the 3800 engine. There were only a few differences between it and the car you worked on. Most obviously was the Regal has upper engine mounts between the engine and radiator crosss mount. Of which, we only had to remove the one on the passenger side to accomplish this task. The other big difference we found was that the throttlebody on the Regal has a support brace that goes between the lower intake and the front lower part of the throttlebody. We found it very difficult to access the bolt attaching it to the intake because the exhaust crossover passes too close to it and the heatshield prevents access to the lower throttlebody bolts. So we disconnect the brace from the throttlebody and left it attached to the upper (plastic) intake while pulling it. Then, we separated the two because we could easily rotate the whole thing and access all the attaching hardware. The rest of the job is pretty much the same. Thanks for the great instructional video!

Great video 👍 Didn't have to watch you loosen every bolt! Great way to instruct. I can tell that you know what you're doing!☺️

I was thought that would be awesome to do with one of those. Awesome job

Thank yoooouuuu so much! This video is about to help me out big time ❤

I have a car chaity and someone gave me a 2001 Buick that leaks!!! Very good video, I have everything on order. Peace to you!!

I will reference your video when I do mine 3.8 I have 2005 buick lesabre. Thank you for the video.

I did this to mine in 2013 once someone finally posted a decent video on it. Once your familiar with the top end it's not too bad. I used the plastic elbows though and I think it's leaking now. I'm on my 3rd set of parts for so many things on the Regal lol..

Great video man.and you explain everything very well.

thank you. doing this job at the shop right now. got it all torn down today now in the cleaning phase so I can put it back together in the morning. I took the tb and upper plenum as a unit other than that looks like I'm right on track.

Great video I think I need this job done now but don't have the money or know how to fix it myself!

Great vid! Wish I had the space to do the job myself. My neighbors...who are great...but also members of the HOA would have a fit. Lol I can only get away with quick jobs like breaks and alternators.

WHEN PUTTING ALTERNATOR BRACKET BACK ON MAKE SURE U DON'T PUT TOO LONG OF A BOLT INTO THE TOP OF VALVE COVER IT WILL PUNCH A NICE HOLE THROUGH THE BACK VALVE COVER! That sux!

Awesome video man thank you 👍🏼

Great video friend Currently I have this problem with the valve gaskets, I already got the parts to replace but the mechanics I know either have work for several weeks or do not have time to do it, from then on the workshops are not very trustworthy 😅, and I don't have the skill to do it on my own Great tutorial

I don’t own one of these cars but am looking for a clean, well-maintained ‘05 LeSabre or Park Avenue as a daily driver. I could go buy a new Buick today, but none can match the ride quality of these older cars. And after 27 years in military helos I need something that is easy on the back and rides smoooooth. I do most of my own wrenching, and videos like this are a valuable tool to have when the socket hits the nut. (Ouch, that sounds painful!) Thanks for the great tutorial, liked and subbed! 👍

Great video mate!

Great video. Keep up the great work.

Thank you for the very detailed video. Only been able to work a few hours a day - I'm not a mechanic, but mechanically inclined. Almost done with the job. I inherited a 32k miles 1997 LeSabre and hope to bring everything up to par, so I can take it on long trips without any surprise breakdowns.

You can explain it very well. I would love to buy such a Buick in the States, but it's kind of too difficult to get a good one from Germany.

Your a genius, great video

Massive help man thanks. 👌

Great job making this video

Awesome video, thanks

I just did my intake and valve cover gaskets today, but having one hour of sleep and heat fatigue made me lose track of some things. This video is the greatest detailed walkthrough of this repair and I will be tearing everything back down and doing it again to make sure it’s correct

Best car repair channel

yah jest feel the " secret " bolts ,take out and oil will drain . got mine apart now , still cleaning

Excellent video and commentary. I'm getting ready to replace mine and this video is by far the best.. Well done!!!

thank you for the great video sir

Excellent video. I gotta do it. I wish I could hire you! Lol

Great video! Never done this before but going to attempt it today on a 2006 Buick Lucerne. I will reply to my comment here to give everyone an update on how it went!

bro, you're my hero, now send me a parts cleaner so i can put this thing back together

Definitely should drain the engine oil with the front end raised to get out any antifreeze that likely was spilled in the engine. I have found the longer filter (1036 Napa) fits nicely & provides better filtration, should fill it first

Job well done

03 impala with p0172 and p0303 has aluminum elbows but the oring must be shot as well as the gaskets under the plenum cuz it is a damn mess. thanks for the vid, gonna use purple power and a hose to clear off all the oil/coolant mix covering the engine

Good stuff, thanks

Love the shameless UHC MS plug. LOL At least using your card keeps you compliant! All things considered, very informative and I'm hoping that I can have this handy because you can't seem to get a Haynes or Chilton manual for my '07 Lucerne CLX.

Good helpful video

Great video

nice explained really well

How long did it take you to do this job?

4 yrs on... thx man.

Great Video thanks much,👍

Was going to do this myself then I saw everything involved LoL 😂 definitely going to get someone else to do it

Thank you for this video, so thorough and easy to follow. One question- all the connectors on the fuel rail- are any of them the same as another or do they all only have one match? Just wondering for making sure i get them matched back up properly when re assembling. Thanks

wheew.. ya.. Hopefully all goes well. I paid the mechanic to do that. Even just watching it. Thats above my skill set.

I’ve been chasing this p0305 code for the longest I’ve change spark plugs wires and coils And icm I’ve also change my fuel injectors

I did this job on my 01 Pontiac Grand Prix GT 7 or 8 years ago. I recently started losing coolant, but I can't find a leak, so I suspect the upper plenum has cracked or warped allowing coolant to leak into the manifold. I'm getting a ZZ Performance plenum for the replacement. In the video, were these the original lower intake gaskets? Great work!

Im going to attempt this in a few weeks on my 97 N/A park ave. Do tou have any tips on getting the the elbows that remain in the block out? What would you say time wise for this job for a fairly mechanically inclined home mechanic? I can handle small bocks but never really messed with newer stuff. Great video, and explanation.

The series I & II engines had the crappy turkey pans, the series III were fixed. My 2005 Lacrosse has just over 311,000 miles on it and nothing inside the motor has ever been touched.

(At 15:58) Almost sure I had replaced the accessory belt in a way that "made sense", I was left with extra inches of belt, with nowhere obvious to place it. Rather than complete the disaster, I went back for information on the the proper belt routing path, and reinstalled the belt properly. All went well after that, but I drew a crude routing diagram on white plastic coolant reservoir to make sure this avoidable error is avoided.

Damn I wish you were in north carolina, I need someone to replace all of the gaskets

Great video. What size are the fasteners on the bracket on the back valve cover?

I wish I knew how to do this stuff. I’d drop a bolt down the piston hole or something stupid. I was nervous just watching.

Excellent

Any tips for the low coolant sensor and coolant sensor on 3.8 SC motors? thanks in advance. have the low level light on start up and hoping thats'all...

Bro made it look so easy 😂 😂 good job tho 💪

Are there torq specs for the EGR metal tube that attaches to the lower intake manifold- working on a L67 engine.

So I had the same issue with the plugged hole at your 9:20 mark. A friend mentioned that GM Stop Leak Coolant tabs are required during coolant change. Does anyone know if this is true for a 2000 Lesabre?

Is great job

I done this job appr.8 months ago. Smashed the end of the EGR tube flat when I bolted it to the manifold. Not good at all.

Thank you so much

the person i need to do this job has to i cant stress it enough has to do the job exactly the way u doing it and it is literally impossible nobody in my area is that smart ppl like to cut corners alot and i wont be able to tell which short cuts they took i need someone i can trust

I will be doing this for my son's 1999 Park Avenue soon. I plan to buy the Felpro set that you mentioned. In that kit there seems to be 2 different sets of strips that lay down on either end and go under the lower manifold. One set is blue and the other brown. Will I use both or just one set of those for his car and will it be obvious which to use? Thanks.

Hey thanks for the informative video. Question, do I only need to take off the tensioner when doing the rear valve cover? I'm only doing the intake gaskets Also, do you recommend any oil additives or coolant flushes after? thanks

Great video. But I have no start after changing the LIM gaskets. Possible moisture in the 6 plugs? Thanks.

Thanks for the great video. About how long does this all take ?

I used the included black silicone. One corner leaks oil now

Good job! If you want to vid some Dodge Ram front end work let me know. lol.

Hey Salem, new subscriber. Great video. Do you think oil in the coolant could be caused by the intake gaskets leaking?

I noticed you didn't show an inspection of the upper intake. I have found that the area around the egr pipe, is prone to pinholes, cracking and just plain blowing out. Mostly inwards to the plenum. This is one of the major composite plenum failure points.

Don't use anything silicone near a vehicle with oxygen sensors, engine oil works fine but I suppose regular grease or Vaseline could be used. Very good informative video. Metal heater elbow is excellent upgrade from original plastic, too bad it seems they're all made in China.....

Great video. I noticed it said thread locker. I would have thought thread sealant? Any insight on this? Thank you.

Lower intake bolts, did you put thread sealer or any loctite on them. Ive seen other vids that use one or the other?

awesome i appreciate you

I'm dreading this. 2004 regal

Still not a simple diy but I think I can handle it. I have just a small seep on the lower intake. No coolant getting into the oil this far gonna put it off for a bit.

THANK YOU!!!

Perfect