The 5.3 is lighter than the 3.8, with two less cylinders? Is it aluminum?

Yup, atleast the GP GXP one is.

Those Nissan 3.5'* produce up to 300 horse now guys, weigh less, and have a better rev range. The 3800 never really got updated the way it could've been.

It really was time for the 3800 to be phased out. Don't get me wrong, I love the 3800 and the awesome performance you can get out of it, but it is really outdated. Stock for Stock the 3800 is not more powerful then the newer engines that are coming out. Oldsmobile developed the 3.5 DOHC engine (which I happen to have) and it is much stronger than the N/A 3800 and gets very similar gas mileage. The 4.0 V8 DOHC comparable to the 3800 */C can run on regular also whereas you can only run premium in the supercharged 3800. The new DOHC engines are much more refined than 3800 is/was by far. Sure it had slightly more torque, but it doesn't compare at all in the high RPM acceleration the DOHC engines can offer.

GM is not phasing out the 3800 because it has aftermarket, that'* just crazy because some people do buy them new and mod them right off. They're dropping it because it'* OLD and the rest of the auto community is laughing behind GM'* back (and sometimes to their face) about how they're still using this engine that has been around since what, the 60'*? In order to advance into greater technology and better engines this move really did need to be done. Granted reliability won't be as good as the 3800 until some of the bugs are worked out, but it'* just a natural progression. If you want GM to survive they have to start innovating.

Not for the altima but I know that my Friends Maxima witha 3.5 requires Premium.


As for the 3800 aren't you forgteting some of the benefits of this "OLD" motor. The simplicty to fix one, inexpensive parts, reliability, overall new but growing aftermarket. And even though compared to some other motors on the market the N/A 3800 is lacking in HP. Thats just because GM is not willing make it more performance oriented. You all know that GM is just lazy about doing so. I saw a protoype montecarlo with a 3800 series 2 with like 298 horse and some similar number of torque. Its possible they just don't want to do it. And another thing how long did it take for a aftermarket for the 3800 to develop? Imaginre how long its going to take for the 3.6 VVT. As for the 5300 I among others am going to have to wait till there in used car lots 7 years from now in order to afford it. So In my opinon this stinks I think the 5300 is a good idea but don't kill
my 3800 motor just yet GM please.

Ok Im done ranting sorry :(

the cold hard truth is that the 3800 only has an aftermarket now because it was put into the Grand Prix. If it had not of been, there would probably be very few options for upgrading the 3800. Yes, the 3800 is easy to work on because it its old design, but reliability in recent years isn't as good as it could have been. GM went cheap on its parts and the new engines that were designed to replace it (was going to be 3.5 until oldsmobile was phased out) are just as reliable, if not more because they utilize more expensive components under the hood of them. the 3800 suffers from common lower intake gasket failures, upper intake failures, etc. In recent years 95+ this engine has had quite a few downfalls and mechanics I've talked to have said that the 3800 is a good engine, but the gaskets lately suck. They are seeing a lot of hydrolocked and seized engines from gaskets leaking coolant into oil, etc. We hear a lot about these failures on this board even. The oldsmobile forum I frequent has not seen one single problem yet with the once "replacement" engine. I can only hope these new engines will not fall into the same 'problems' the 3800 did.

Ok ill grant you the gasket faliure (Actually after I sold my 96 oldsmobile I heard the intake failed) That has been corrected in the series 3 I assume. Your right about GM going cheap on the parts. Thats one of my points. If GM would spend a Little more money on corrections on the 3800 then completly make a new engine for 55 hp. Maybe the 3800 could last a little longer.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... the 3800 will the old Chevy 350'* of V6'* in the future. You will always see them around, usually for performance oriented applications.

GM could have made the 3800 a beast if they wanted to. It would have been easy for them to get 300+ HP out of an NA. However, cost, reliability, and marketing would have gotten in the way.

I think it'* good they are moving to the VVT technology and more OHC engines. That is what people like, and what people are going to buy.

Although I still love the fact that GM kept the LS7 motor with a OHV valvetrain in the Vette, while it can still destroy most cars on the street and track that use the OHC engines.