How long can can a 3800 engine really last if u always keep the oil change? The one dude i know got a 96 buick regal and the car got over 250,000 miles and still runs good and this dude stays on the go. And oh yea how about the tranny? mines got over 217,000 and still shifts like a 2010. but a old mechanic told me as longs i keep my fluid fresh and dont throw it in gear( throwing it from reverse to drive then speed out with out letting the tranny catch). I need all you guys opinion.

I have owned a lot of older high mileage cars and I have gotten really good service by driving gently, and by keeping fluid levels clean and up where they belong. Gentle driving yields good fuel economy, few transmission troubles, and longer engine life. Sometimes a rod bearing will spin or a trans will fail no matter how the car is driven, but driving gently will help any car to last longer. My son's '92 Bonneville (purchased with 100K miles) had nearly 300k on the clock when he sold it to the happy next owner for $750. The trans had been acting squirrely for the last 100, 000 miles but kept on going.

I know....the guys who like to get their foot into it will say it is good for a car to be driven hard sometimes - keeps the carbon blown out, etc. And I suppose there is some truth in that. But ask those same guys if they would rather buy a used car from a little old lady who drove gently, or from a 20-year old street racer.

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1998 3.8 Dodge Caravan 214K
2000 3.3 Dodge Caravan 175K
1949 Plymouth Special Deluxe 4-dr sedan 25K (needs some work!)

Moving to General Chat. Please don't post general questions in the Mechanical sections.

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Click here for mod list for both cars
93 SSEi, 95 SLE (supercharged) 97 Buick LeSabre Limited
PontiacDad at WCBF '04: Cruise control? That's like surrendering!
Comprehensive guide to troubleshooting, rebuilding, and modifying Eaton Superchargers

I have a Realtor friend who had a 1994 LeSabre. He sold it last year when it had 325,000 miles on it (the L27, mind you). The main reason he parted with it was because the oil pressure was getting dangerously low.

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2012 Ford Fusion SEL, 2012 Chrysler Town & Country, 2007 Chevy Silverado LT, 1999 Pontiac Firehawk, 1979 Pontiac Trans Am

The 3800 has an outstanding following in reliability. I hope to see a LOT of miles on mine (right now at 62,000).

Now, it's not a 3800, but I am currently driving a '94 Grand Am with a 3100 v6 (completely different setup). To be honest, that drive train has impressed me. It has about 202-203K miles on it. Original transmission (just the routine fluid/filter change). The most done to the engine was a head gasket change at 180K (October of 2009). Admittedly, I had nothing done to the valves, never had the heads machined (just checked that the deck was still flat and not warped). That 3100 drive train still runs like new with normal/routine maintenance (and I drive that car pretty hard, it takes a lot)
I consider the Grand Am on "borrowed" time, I know that one of these days something will happen and I'll throw my hands up and say "that's it". Until then, I'm seeing which happens first, body rot out or the engine crap out.

That being said, knowing the 3800 has a better reputation then the 3100/3400, personally that helps make me smile knowing my Monte is a 3800.

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For more info about me and my cars, check out my websites below:
- 1984 Camaro Z28 5.0 Liter HO Restore Project/Big Toy
- 2004 Monte Carlo SS 3800 N/A Future daily driver
- 1994 Grand Am SE 3100 v6 Current daily with over 200,000 miles

I have a good friend whose dad bought a 1990 Olds 98 Regency brand new. He put almost 400,000 miles on it and only quit driving it because the body was so rusty that he was afraid it would fall apart on him.

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Daily Driver: 2011 Chevy Impala LT
Weekend Toy: 1995 Olds Aurora
Sold but not forgotten: 1997 Olds LSS 1995 Pontiac Bonneville SLE