1998 Oldsmobile 88: engine failure

Filed Mar 2, 2016 · Engine · 36,000 miles · TX · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile 88. The contact stated that when turning on the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact proceeded to check the coolant in the vehicle finding that there was no coolant in the reservoir. When attempting to turn on the vehicle, the exhaust pipe in the rear of the vehicle released large amounts of white smoke. The contact stated that the when having the vehicle diagnosed by the dealer, the vehicle stalled. The dealer diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Sep 3, 2013 · Engine · 45,191 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 oldsmobile 88. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning while driving 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a mechanic for inspection. The failure was located at the engine plemun, which was fractured and caused fluid to penetrate the engine. The engine was replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,191 and the current mileage was 48,000. ..updated 10/30/13 *bf updated 10/31/2013

Filed Jun 6, 2012 · Engine · 93,000 miles · PA

Yesterday our car began overheating. We added a bottle of coolant yesterday and another two gallons today along with a bottle of stop leak and had it towed to our mechanic. Our mechanic told us it seems like the engine has seized completely and he is not equipped to fix it.

Filed Oct 28, 2007 · Engine · 114,284 miles · TN

Gradually you will see a depletion of the anti-freeze from the holding reservoir. This is could be a sign that the intake manifold is beginning to leak anti-freeze (just a little) into the engine. Sooner or later when the erosion is large enough then a plume of white smoke will come out of the exhaust and you have no choice but to pull over and call the tow truck. I have replaced the engine intake manifold twice on my 1998 olds 88 due to degrading of the interior wall where the anti-freeze flows back into the engine. Both times the total cost of the repair (including plugs, wires, new manifold, labor) was around $1,200. On the last manifold gm had established adding a piece of metal where the anti-freeze was eroding the "space age plastic" intake manifold. Based on this, gm knows this is an engineering problem, but they will not take ownership of it and or pay for it.

Filed May 11, 2004 · Engine · 89,114 miles · AR

In october of 2003, my check engine light on my oldsmobile 88ls, 3.8 series two engine, came on. The car had a loss of power and started running rough. Before I got the car stopped the engine quit. I looked under the hood to see water running out of the gaskets. I checked the radiator to find no water and also noticed the overflow tank had none. I pulled the dipstick to find all the remaining water to be in the oil. The vehicle was towed under and extended warranty to the dealer of which it was puchased to find that the upper intake had either cracked or burst. The dealer refered to the damaged part as a plentium. This occured at 89,000 miles. The dealer replaced the damaged part and put the engine back together. The dealer advised me to keep a watch on the car to see if any changes develop. At the first three thousand mile oil change the vehicle had lost oil and I also added water to the radiator. The vehicle was also back to the dealer before the oil change for loss of gas mileage and a few other concerns. When I arrived at the dealer for the oil change they pressure tested the engine and asked that I leave the vehicle for them to check out a detected problem during the pressure test. The repairs done during this time involved the gaskets again, and also the heads where warped and they repaired them. At 106,000 miles the dealer requested that I replace the engine. The dealer tested the engine again to determine an internal coolant leak. Now the car has a loss of water and also has started to burn some oil. There are numerous amounts of complaints about this same problem with this engine and something needs to be done. This particular engine is in all oldsmobile, buick, pontiac, and chevrolet made vehicles. All the owners of these vehicles need some assistance.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Brakes, Engine · UN

Transmission: upper plate gasket went, causing gear slippage at high speeds which gradually became worse in the lower gears. Transmission replaced under warrenty. Transmission was replaced with a rebuilt unit which is now exhibiting much of the same slippage at high speeds (only minorly at the moment) @ 156,000km. Engine: first engine had the egr/exhaust design defect that causes the intake manifold to melt and coolant to poor into the engine. Report from the shop was that entire bottom end was destroyed by the coolant, and a full new engine had to be ordered (complete with accessories, etc.). The new engine's idler for the serpentine had the bearing cease, knocking the belt off. Since the waterpump was belt driven, the engine overheated. The car was left to idle in the parking lot for a total time of ~ 5-15min. (the temperature out was somewhere around -40c / -40f.). Brakes: perhaps cronically undersized for this vehicle, rotors have warped like clockwork every 30,000km. They are currently warped approaching 160,000km and will need to be replaced --- again --- shortly. This is not a car that see's much heavy use. Groceries on weekends, ~ 15-20km max. Total daily trip during workdays. It has yet to accomplish an extended road trip (I.e., north bay -> ottawa or north bay -> toronto, 4 hours (~400km) and 3 hours (~300km) respectively) without the 'check engine' light being lit. Additional recollection: front fog lights constantly filling with condensation as well, have been replaced 4-5 times while under warrenty. No solution was found and now they're just not used.

Filed Oct 5, 2003 · Engine, Fuel system · 73,200 miles · AR

While merging into interstate rush hour traffic with no warning engine failed causing lost of braking and steering effectiveness. No warning was received. Vehicle was towed to dealer and upper intake was found cracked allowing coolant to enter combustion chamber. One week and $800.00 later car was "repaired" vehicle continues to experience fuel delivery problems. Hard starting, random stalling. Dealer advised me this is a common problem with the 3800 series ii engine regardless of mileage or type of use and maintenance. Considering the sudden lost of all power this is very dangerous as braking and steering effectiveness is reduced as is electrical power for accessories such as headlamps and windshield wipers.

Filed Sep 11, 2003 · Engine · 130,000 miles · MI

Coolant leak into engine caused car to run extremely rough to the point of having to stop. The car would not restart. Had it towed to a repair shop. The engine had seized due to coolant leak resulting in damage to the head gaskets. The head gaskets along with the upped plenum had to be replaced at a cost of $1100. After research on your sight, I found this problem on several other 1998 olds 88 cars. I also found that a technical bulletin had been issued to dealers about this problem. Why wasn't this problem with the upper plenum that is referenced in the technical bulletin sent to owners of these vehicles. I found the many other model of gm cars also use the 3800 engine with a plastic upper plenum that can crack over time from excessive heat.

Filed Jul 2, 2003 · Engine · NJ

Leak in coolant system spread to the engine which resulted in the engine needing to be replaced. *mr the engine developed a leak in the cooling system before it had become obvious, the leak spread to the engine. The engine was replaced. The consumer's father had experienced the same problem with a new 02 buick lesabre due to the 3800 engine's defect that caused the leak. (this happened to three of their buick vehicle's) the federal safety agency action #ea02030 *scc

Filed May 12, 2003 · Engine · NY

Oldsmobile delta 88, 1998 63000 miles "coolant temperature warning" light came up while I was driving on highway. I drove about 1/2 mile to the service area. Turned off the engine. White smoke expelled out of exhaust pipe, a smoke odor was inside of the car. Turned the engine on 10 minutes later. There was complete silence. The engine got locked up because a coolant leaked into the engine from the upper plastic intake plenum. The engine was replaced. It is a common problem for 1995-2000 gm 3800 VIN k engines.

Filed Dec 5, 2002 · Engine · 90,748 miles · FL

The intake manifold degraded, which caused coolant to leak onto the engine, which resulted in the connecting rod breaking and going through the engine wall. The dealership had to replace the engine. Ts scc