Chat about all things Bonneville (and related cars). Off-topic stuff should be in the lounge, and all mechanical problems should be posted in the proper forum.
Bought the car in 2007 with 125,000 miles on it, been using Mobil 1 full synthetic 5W30 since then and going about 10,000 miles per change. Now, here it is with 241,000 on the clock. I must say that I am still pretty impressed with how good it looks!
Only a little peak through the oil fill hole, but you can get a pretty good idea as to how clean the rest of it would be! Engine runs extremely smooth all through the RPM range and the underside shows maybe a very slow rear main seal leak, but other then that no oil or trans fluid at all underneath this car
Ryan 2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD! 2002 Bonneville SE - The MuttComplete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD 2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH 1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
Very nice! Looks good from here. My '97 had 225K on it, but the LIM's weren't done and it threw a rod. I've also been using Mobil 1 synthetic, at about the same intervals you change yours. I'm coming up on my first year of ownership, and I put about 20K on it this first year. Runs smooth though.
That's great! You'll be "flying by 'the ole green monster'" on miles any time now at the rate your logging the miles. That 3800 should be good for another 225k.
In Memory of Brad - 1/21/1977 .. 10/23/2013 ...... Aaron - 1977 .. 2017 .....
2017 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport ..... 1992 Bonneville SSE 1SB 170 HP L27 4T60E retired/sold to MattStrike ..... 2005 Bonneville SE 1SC 205 HP L36 4T65E - retired/salvage yard ..... PBCF user 2321
3800's have never been hard on oil... I think its really one of the easiest on oil.. As long as you change it on some kind of schedule they stay pretty clean... I usually change the oil in my 03 at roughly 30-40% oil life..
The 95 Bonneville I have no idea anymore... I think I changed it before I went on vacation in september so its due for a change now... It has dino oil in it..
The van... Well its so far beyond due I should be ashamed...
Ryan that motor looks great for the mileage... I feel the 3800 is a very forgiving motor when it comes to oil changes..
Daily Drivers: 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC 2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC 2011 Camaro SS 2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP 1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
Yes, for the last 120,000 miles and it still holds perfect oil pressure, runs smooth, and I still floor it and run it to redline every time I drive it. I am not saying everyone should do it, but it has been perfectly fine for me.
Ryan 2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD! 2002 Bonneville SE - The MuttComplete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD 2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH 1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
Daily Drivers: 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC 2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC 2011 Camaro SS 2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP 1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
I'd be doing 10k changes if I followed my oil life monitor, but really I'm doing about 6k. Knowing that Ryan lives in a more rural area, my bet is that the miles that the car sees are a bit easier than others, even if it's driven hard. 99% of the time it's cruising.
CMNTMXR57 wrote:Hey, if it works for you, I'm happy.
Just thinking statistically and what I'd see come in with 10k on it between changes "because the bottle said I could!"
I can surely see where you are coming from with that As Jerry said, even though it gets driven hard at times, it is 80% rural driving, cruise set at 60. As for the oil life monitor, it is usually still between 5% and 15% at 10,000 miles, of course I know that is only a number.
Ryan 2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD! 2002 Bonneville SE - The MuttComplete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD 2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH 1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
Daily Drivers: 2019 Chrysler Pacifica Limited: Mommy's new RGC 2015 Chrysler Town & Country Limited Platinum: Kids new RGC 2011 Camaro SS 2009 Pontiac G8 GT: L76, Sport Red Metallic 2004 GMC Sierra 2500HD: Victory Red - 8.1L Big Block and Allison 2003 Chevrolet Suburban 2500: Doeskin Tan - 8.1L Big Block... RIP 1999 Chevrolet Suburban: Sunset Gold Metallic - RIP
I used to do them every 5-6k, but there was so many miles being piled on this car when I bought it I didn't want to change the oil every month
Ryan 2003 Bonneville SSEi - The Black Mirror SOLD! 2002 Bonneville SE - The MuttComplete 2004 SLE interior, drivetrain, and body harness swap, ECC swap, HUD swap, black GXP wheels, GXP headlights and tinted tails - SOLD 2003 BMW 540i M Sport, 2001 BMW X5 4.4i, 2010 GMC Acadia, 2017 Grand Design Imagine 3150BH 1982 Cutlass Supreme - The fun one
MattStrike wrote:It was the worst week of my life! *pause, drinks beer... smiles* But I'm better now!
I usually run mine 6k, or 30% on the OLM. I once ran 10k because I was so busy, and didn't even realize it, lol.
Bye Bye: RIP sandrock
Sirius wrote:Think about it. You’re tooling down the road in your Prius, knowing full-well that this thing being green is as big a sham as federally mandated ethanol-enriched gas, Russia pulling out of Ukraine, and Obamacare.
Its funny this thread made me look at the Ultra Gauge thingy and last time I changed the oil I reset the Oil distance.. almost at 4000 miles on the Dino... Thinking I will change it... I let the oil go so long( think it was 2 years ) that when I changed it, and did the first start on the oil it was already darker than what came out of the bottle...
So I guess its time for a change, 10-30 dino for the fill, and a Puralator Pure One... Luckily this engine is only at 100,000 even tho the car is near 200,000.. The engine when I got it had about 60,000 on it and looked like it did not get proper oil changes.. The first year I think I changed it every 3 months to get it cleaned up.. Then I started to neglect it, amazing thing is that it still looks pretty decent inside, not as good as Ryan's, but decent..
So again I will say the one thing I love about the 3800 is how easy it is on oil...lol
As Jerry said, even though it gets driven hard at times, it is 80% rural driving, cruise set at 60. As for the oil life monitor, it is usually still between 5% and 15% at 10,000 miles, of course I know that is only a number.
