My new 01 Black Alero GLS coupe. 27k miles, SUPER clean!!!

[MnG]

Hey everyone, I just got a practically new Alero. I bought it from my grandma who bought it new. This thing was babied, maintained perfectly and garaged. She took whatever I could sell my old Mustang for, which was 3 grand. So basically I just upgraded cars at no cost. The Alero is one model year newer and has 150k less miles on it :lol: God I love this car almost as much as I love my grandma :)

She got every option on it except for a sunroof.

Some engine pics, it is ridiculously clean. Showroom clean:

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/040.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/039.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/038.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/013.jpg

^^^^ Notice the blackened Oldsmobile logo

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/012.jpg



Interior pics next. Again, the inside is just super clean. It still has a new car smell to it. I don't think the back seats have ever been sat in. Wierdly, the dash had peeled on it. It had never sat it direct sunlight since it was always parked in a windowless garage, I guess it was a factory defect. I replaced it with a dash cap which I think looks super nice.

(Shout out to Redog for helping me find the guy who sold him his dash cap and for giving me the idea about it on a thread he created!)

I also put in a 7 inch touch screen navigation head unit to replace the old one. If anyone is looking for one, let me know. I got one super cheap and the unit is outstanding. Has bluetooth, DVD playback, DTV tuner, a cable that has a USB flash stick input to play audio/video, it can stream music/video from your phone via bluetooth, navigation, etc. etc..... Notice my Lexar flash drive by the cubbie hole, 32 gigs of goodness on it!

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/int3.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/int2.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/int.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/027-1.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/026.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/int6.jpg



Exterior!!! The paint is absolutely perfect. Notice the plasti-dip stock polished alloy wheels.

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/IMG_0118.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/IMG_0116.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/IMG_0115.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/016.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/003.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/017.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/005.jpg

http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/yes.jpg

[mastershake]

27k holy shit :o

[MnG]

I intend to do the gauge sweep mod, replace the guage cluster thing altogether as well. Tint the windows and replace regular lights in the car with LED lights.... then I'll be done....

I think ;)

[MMGT1]

That is one hell of a score.... and you BETTER love the G-Ma bud!!...hahahaha

[mmorello82]

Where did the orange needles come from, and how do I do that?! MAN O MAN you got a score! Better hang on to that car!

[mrmike]

Hmm I have an 01 GLS and i don't have footwell lights. Ima jelly...

[Oldsman]

damn nice find

[03Sleepr]

Damn I'm jealous ...and I don't even like black cars..what did your head unit cost?

[bdyman]

another chicago land member, i thought my old car had low miles that is one super clean oldsmobile, if ya ever need paint and body work<<< im your guy

[jhubbz]

Dang, that is one nice looking garage door opener!! lol i'm jk, nice hoe dude. Make sure you get some HID's in that thing. Also, come to ASS

[mfuller]

Very nice find.
Envious of the low mileage - motor probably hasn't loosened up yet.

[Hellfire5670]

DAM! Your grandma's got style! Great car man wish my white one shined like that!

[Papa Rad17]

I intend to do the gauge sweep mod, replace the guage cluster thing altogether as well. Tint the windows and replace regular lights in the car with LED lights.... then I'll be done....

I think ;)

I though something like that when i first got mine too, now well, i through money at it. and your missing the spoiler as one option :lol: but very nice looking alero... clear corners, at least put the center caps back on the rims... nice work so far! welcome!:cool:

[Shiwnath]

Wow I'm jelous! Your car is super clean man, Welcome!

[spc2125]

SO CLEAN!
beautiful car except im not a fan of THOSE stock rims being plasti dipped (even though I have my stock ones plasti dipped O_o

[sleepyalero]

lucky, take care of her! i have a black one too, welcome to the club!


http://i1001.photobucket.com/albums/af140/samshas/005.jpg

i noticed the suv next to your car is REALLY dusty lol.

[billytheman1188]

NICE! Nobody said anything about the CD player? lol....what kind is that? VERY nice alero....kinda jealous you got a 2 door with 25k on it for 3 grand....i got a similar deal.....i got mine 4 years old with 34k on it for 6 grand.....so i cant complain :P

[JLw7123]

good looking alero also welcome.

[MnG]

Thanks for the replies everyone!! :)

I really do love this car. I probably would have taken my gma up on that deal regardless of what car she had, I'm just very lucky that she bought such a cool car. My dad told me that when she bought it she said she wanted a car her grandsons would think was cool! One of my cousins was a bit miffed that I got the car for such a great deal. But I was her favorite and put in a lot of time taking her to the doctor and out to eat and such. Unfortunately she passed away less then a month ago. She was a very cool lady and I know she was happy that she could sell me the car when I really needed a new one. The Mustang had one wheel in the junkyard, I feel sorry for the guy that bought it lol.

About a week before she died I took her to a doctor appointment. She saw the plasti-dip wheels and asked "did you take the hubcaps off?" I said "No, the car didn't even had hubcaps it had real wheels. I just used this plastic spray because I thought it looked cool" and she goes "Oh....... well it looks nice." Such a sweetheart! Probably coudl have spraypainted a dragon on the side and she would have told me it looked nice :)

Where did the orange needles come from, and how do I do that?! MAN O MAN you got a score! Better hang on to that car!

I don't know, they were like that.

Damn I'm jealous ...and I don't even like black cars..what did your head unit cost?

What?! Don't like black cars?? They are beautiful when they are clean but get dirty easily :( Small price to pay! ;)

Head unit cost $260. The damn thing is amazing, it has an HD screen too. The night picture of the navigation doesn't show it off very well.


I though something like that when i first got mine too, now well, i through money at it. and your missing the spoiler as one option but very nice looking alero... clear corners, at least put the center caps back on the rims... nice work so far! welcome!

Yeah, this forum does not help either! You guys have put so many ideas in my head. I've been lurking for awhile now. I got the car about 4 months ago.

I forgot about the spoiler, I am going to buy one to put on. I found them on ebay pre-painted for $150. Not a bad deal methinks.

You really think I should put the inserts back in? I thought it looked cooler without them, I may have to paint one and put it on to see what it looks like. I may go back to the chrome look soon enough anyway.

What do you mean by 'clear corners'?

another chicago land member, i thought my old car had low miles that is one super clean oldsmobile, if ya ever need paint and body work<<< im your guy

Southern Illinois actually. About 30 minutes form St Louis. Wish we were closer, it'd be great to someone I know to work on it, for cash of course ;)

Dang, that is one nice looking garage door opener!! lol i'm jk, nice hoe dude. Make sure you get some HID's in that thing. Also, come to ASS

ASS? I def want to get some HIDs and also projectors so I dont blind people.

i noticed the suv next to your car is REALLY dusty lol.

It was out 4x4ing through snow and mud!

[AleroB888]

.........
I forgot about the spoiler, I am going to buy one to put on. I found them on ebay pre-painted for $150. Not a bad deal methinks.........

Nice car, I didn't know you could get a GLS without a spoiler, it might be more rare as it sits. It looks good either way. I would rather see polished alloy wheels myself, but try putting the caps on stock before you coat them, I'd be interested to see what that looks like.

Leather rocks! I don't care what anybody else says.

[mastershake]

make sure to flush the dexcrap out before it eats your gaskets! :P

[sleepyalero]

haha glad you had fun in the suv lol and ASS is Alero Show & Stravaganza. usually happens the week before fathers day. happens in lansing michigan and lasts 3 days or so. its alotta fun, great vacation and see some nice aleros. :D and everyones pretty friendly from all who i have met last time. totally worth going i would have to say.

[kwhauck]

make sure to flush the dexcrap out before it eats your gaskets! :P

That is a highly misinformed statement.


To OP, welcome!! Car looks super clean!! (not a fan of the plasti dip) but Mod on!!

[mastershake]

That is a highly misinformed statement.

you're right. it is. there isn't any evidence that dexcool causes gasket failure. but, it does sludge up when exposed to air over time, which is good enough reason for me to get rid of it. xD

so i guess a better statement would be; make sure your coolant cap isn't faulty.

[That01Olds]

The car looks great and nice find on getting one with low mileage.

[Papa Rad17]

Nice car, I didn't know you could get a GLS without a spoiler, it might be more rare as it sits. It looks good either way. I would rather see polished alloy wheels myself, but try putting the caps on stock before you coat them, I'd be interested to see what that looks like.

Leather rocks! I don't care what anybody else says.

I want leather :( but I agree, if you like it w/o the spoiler I'd say keep it that way, iv need a gls w/o it, and never seen the footwell lights period, but or course if you dont want to put it on, do it. And in reply to earlier, clearing your corners means taking out the orange reflector in the headlights, some people paint the bezel while there at it. There's a how to on here, I think it's stickied...

[billytheman1188]

you're right. it is. there isn't any evidence that dexcool causes gasket failure. but, it does sludge up when exposed to air over time, which is good enough reason for me to get rid of it. xD

so i guess a better statement would be; make sure your coolant cap isn't faulty.

No....the better statement would be.....get the felpro gaskets before the shitty stock ones leak. Dex-cool is great stuff....they just put a rubber gasket in there which was eaten away from the Dex....so BOO YAH! :P

[MMGT1]

Sorry I have to add as well, the green coolant passing through a cast block and aluminum heads drops in PH level fast. If the head gasket was to ever fail by the time you find the problem you will have done serious damage to your heads and surface of your block. I saw this one first hand when I followed the pack a few years back and put the green in our 99. Heads are expensive if you buy new, just an fyi. IMO, stick with DEX, either way its going to save you cash in the end! If you do get gaskets, make sure to ask for the Fel-Pro "Upgrade kit".

[IRONDOG442]

Okay Kwack [sic] Dexcool does degrade Nylon 66, I am a chemist and I have forgotten more about organic chemistry than you ever knew. So The Dex cool statement is not misinformed if you would like me to provide you molecular proof, I shall. Most ignorance on here I let slip but I can't on this one.

[AleroB888]

Okay Kwack [sic] Dexcool does degrade Nylon 66, I am a chemist and I have forgotten more about organic chemistry than you ever knew. So The Dex cool statement is not misinformed if you would like me to provide you molecular proof, I shall. Most ignorance on here I let slip but I can't on this one.

Okay, just how fast has "that dexcool crap" been "eating through" my gaskets?

It was an overstatement.

[TheEdgeofSanity]

my car has orange needles like that too? also, nice looking car by the way!

[IRONDOG442]

Okay, just how fast has "that dexcool crap" been "eating through" my gaskets?

It was an overstatement.


How old is your car? Do you really want to know? Or are you being a smart ass I am not. (for once)

[IRONDOG442]

Nylon66 melts at temperatures from 255 to 265 degrees C, or 491 to 509 degrees F. This is important, so remember it. Tensile strength is 13,700psi, and even higher in 50% humidity, at 17,000psi. This is also important. Yet another property we'll care about later is it's elongation at the break point. This is described in simple terms how much it stretches before it breaks. Dry rating is 15-80%, and at 50% humidity, it runs 150-300% (at the break when stressed). This might be important information in an application where it's subjected to water. Nylon66's acid resistance is a more difficult story. It boils down to what kind of acid we're talking about. Nylon66 isn't 'Acid Resistant. While it resists SOME acids, it's not considered 'acid resistant'. Nylon66 to several common acids is poor. We're concentrating for now on Nylon66 as the carrier (main frame of the gasket) rather than the silicone-based rubber tracings of the gasket, as it's very obvious in a failed gasket that the Nylon, for whatever reason, just plain seperated. If you have ever changed one you would surely know what I am referring to.

[IRONDOG442]

DEXCOOL uses OAT, or organic acid technology to extend the service life of the product. But one of the primary ingredients is known to soften plastics (or polymers.......sound familiar?) if not kept 'in balance'. One of these 'imbalances' is air introduced into the system. This is typically from very small leaks in the cooling system that most car owners wouldn't be aware of. These leaks, or any other failures, cause DEX to turn acidic over time. Properly maintained, in a perfect or near-perfect system, this SHOULD never happen. This is why we see some cases of DEX'ed LIM gaskets achieving longer lifetimes. They lived in a perfect world. Unfortunately, most of our cars aren't nearly as perfect under the hood as most of us would like to believe.

[IRONDOG442]

ACIDIC EROSION breaks down the Nylon carrier material, and wicks around the silicone rubber seal until it starts breaking down the carrier around the intake ports. This is based on the known properties of Nylon66 and the typical failures I've personally seen in 10 years of working on every GM FWD vehicle and repairing their intake gaskets, The fact that the 'dead' coolant port doesn't erode as badly is testament to the fact that the acid needs 'flow' or must be refreshed in order to start eroding the nylon. It may also be true that the sludge that typically builds up in the dead coolant port protects the nylon carrier from further erosion. GM had choice between several corrosion inhibiting acids in their formulation of DEX, and probably didn't choose wisely. Aftermarket OAT type antifreeze products use other types of OAT inhibitors that are not known for softening plastics. This may have been pure dumb luck based on the fact that GM had covered themselves with a patent and a proprietary formula, or it may be that the new competitors in the market knew the dangers and chose more wisely. My personal suggestion is that anyone that currently has DEX in their car should change the LIM gaskets to the most recent design for their vehicle, and switch to Prestone Long-Life "mixes with any" (not DEX-compatible) antifreeze, which uses a different corrosion inhibitor that is NOT known to soften plastics.

[IRONDOG442]

Sorry I have to add as well, the green coolant passing through a cast block and aluminum heads drops in PH level fast. If the head gasket was to ever fail by the time you find the problem you will have done serious damage to your heads and surface of your block. I saw this one first hand when I followed the pack a few years back and put the green in our 99. Heads are expensive if you buy new, just an fyi. IMO, stick with DEX, either way its going to save you cash in the end! If you do get gaskets, make sure to ask for the Fel-Pro "Upgrade kit".


pH is the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion content, ehtylene glycol, oxygen and aluminum has absolutely zero to do with hydrogen ions and their respective amount, please refer to the Law of mass action in laymans terns, you sir are a fucking idiot.

[rocketfast321]

In other news.....

Another black 2-door

[AleroB888]

ACIDIC EROSION breaks down the Nylon carrier material, and wicks around the silicone rubber seal until it starts breaking down the carrier around the intake ports. ................

My personal suggestion is that anyone that currently has DEX in their car should change the LIM gaskets to the most recent design for their vehicle............

Since the LIM failures are and have been widely known, and correctable by replacing with a design that should have been implemented to begin with, the point is moot. The better gasket will last the remainder of the car's life even if you keep using Dexcool. Bottom line -- you still have to replace the LIM gasket......once.

I wonder if it was too corrosive when I sprayed methanol into the upper intake........

[Gr1m]

clean car. dont fuck it up with stupid mods.

[MnG]

I'm surprised no one really likes the black wheels, I think they look cool on the black car. I plan on taking it off in the spring, might as well leave it on through the winter to protect them from any road salt.



I want leather :( but I agree, if you like it w/o the spoiler I'd say keep it that way, iv need a gls w/o it, and never seen the footwell lights period, but or course if you dont want to put it on, do it. And in reply to earlier, clearing your corners means taking out the orange reflector in the headlights, some people paint the bezel while there at it. There's a how to on here, I think it's stickied...

Weird that no one has seen the footwell lights, I think it's a really nice luxuryish touch. Maybe it was just a one-year thing?

I think I'll leave the corners as they are, not sure I like the clear corner look.

The leather seats are really nice. Seems like many American cars from that era have cheap looking/feeling leather. The leather is high quality in this car.

Unsurprisingly the seats looks brand new too. No cracking or creasing or wear on them really. I used some leather conditioner on them when I first got the car, want to keep them looking nice for as long as I have the car.

clean car. dont eff it up with stupid mods.

I don't plan on doing too much more to it. I just did the gauge sweep mod, plan on putting LEDs in the gauge cluster. After that, tint the windows and I'll probably be done with it. Probably.

[MnG]

Oh.... and I guess the verdict is that the Dexcool is OK?

[MnG]

ACIDIC EROSION breaks down the Nylon carrier material, and wicks around the silicone rubber seal until it starts breaking down the carrier around the intake ports. This is based on the known properties of Nylon66 and the typical failures I've personally seen in 10 years of working on every GM FWD vehicle and repairing their intake gaskets, The fact that the 'dead' coolant port doesn't erode as badly is testament to the fact that the acid needs 'flow' or must be refreshed in order to start eroding the nylon. It may also be true that the sludge that typically builds up in the dead coolant port protects the nylon carrier from further erosion. GM had choice between several corrosion inhibiting acids in their formulation of DEX, and probably didn't choose wisely. Aftermarket OAT type antifreeze products use other types of OAT inhibitors that are not known for softening plastics. This may have been pure dumb luck based on the fact that GM had covered themselves with a patent and a proprietary formula, or it may be that the new competitors in the market knew the dangers and chose more wisely. My personal suggestion is that anyone that currently has DEX in their car should change the LIM gaskets to the most recent design for their vehicle, and switch to Prestone Long-Life "mixes with any" (not DEX-compatible) antifreeze, which uses a different corrosion inhibitor that is NOT known to soften plastics.

How expensive would it be to switch out the gaskets? What is the risk of not doing it? I know prices will vary depending on labor charges.... but I am thinking around 275 ballpark?


One other question for you guys, what type of oil do you guys put in the 3400? I see that 5-30 is the factory spec, but I put in 10-30 in the last oil change and plan on doing it again. 5-30 seems too low to me and we have very hot/humid summers in St Louis. Synthetic vs non-synthetic?

[IRONDOG442]

umm lower intake seals on a LA1 is around $700 at most shops with labor.

[AleroB888]

How expensive would it be to switch out the gaskets? What is the risk of not doing it? I know prices will vary depending on labor charges.... but I am thinking around 275 ballpark?.........

It's nothing to fool around with, the results can be pretty severe. Sometimes mistaken for a bad head gasket. On my 2003, It had 24K miles when I bought it, and it had the LIM leak, which I pointed out to the seller. It now has 29K, and I have been putting off the repair because I want to upgrade the LIM when I do it. But no performance issues except the leak itself are showing up at this time. Check these areas:

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/Gflash01/001-19.jpg?t=1325830288

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/Gflash01/002-9.jpg?t=1325831201

There's a good How-to thread on GrandAmGT.com, I'll try to locate it. It requires attention to detail and has a few pitfalls, and you need the proper torque wrench and revised specs.

[MMGT1]

pH is the negative logarithm of hydrogen ion content, ehtylene glycol, oxygen and aluminum has absolutely zero to do with hydrogen ions and their respective amount, please refer to the Law of mass action in laymans terns, you sir are a effing idiot.

Wow bud, an effin idiot eh? You may be a chemist, but your understanding of coolant may not be as "all that and a bag of salt" as you may think. Hell, maybe I was misinformed about a coolants reaction when it is in contact with cast and aluminum in the same system.... but here it goes.
Green Coolant should have a ph level of about 10.5 and a bit lower at 7.5 in extended life coolants. When the respective coolants drop below these levels, the additives in them break down and the coolants acidic level rises. To be even more specific, it is the additives in coolant that give it it's ph rating in the first place!
Now, long life, or dex in our case, is the better coolant for aluminum protection... period. The biggest mistake I have seen is when mixtures are not proper between the coolant and water. Ususally the first indicator of the depletion of additives, or it's reserve aklalinity, is damage to the rad and heater core fins. Problem is, by the time the issue is a "visual one" in the coolant, the damage is already done. If the ph level of dex is monitored the way it should be, it will not damage the gaskets. If gaskets are being attacked, the fault lies between the door and the steering wheel.... not the coolant. Make sure that the ph level does not go below 7 with your dex and you will be fine.

Now, back to your statement of calling someone what you called me.... please keep your personal banter to yourself. Explaining your case the way you did was excellent, but you really should think about what you are doing to others with that kind of attitude. Yea, you are just some guy at the end of a keyboard somewhere and I should not be so easily offended. Truth is, yes I am, and I hope you do not live in "real life" with that attitude. An attitude like that is going to result in nothing but a sad and lonely life. Drop the attitude and people may actually be intrested in your knowledge and insight!

[MMGT1]

Ok, I actually went back and read the rest of what was posted by you and that is some really good info... I do apologize about posting my statement there before reading the rest of it, but case and point. I shut down at the point you resorted to name calling. You seem to be a very intelligent individual... let that say all, no need for that kind of stuff to be said to anyone that is fully willing to listen and learn!

[mastershake]

switching to synthetic oil is a great idea, especially since the engine is still young. it will increase the engine life, keep it cleaner than conventional oil, and get you better gas mileage. also it's more resistant to temperature breakdown.

and if you only drive like 10k miles a year, you can get away with once a year oil changes, although those kind of creep me out.


not sure about what weight you should use though, i know thicker is better for sustained highway driving in hot temps.

[Papa Rad17]

I ALWAYS use full synthetic oil with the Lucas oil additive.

[Black_Mamba]

So thats what my car looked like about 80 or 90 thousand miles ago... lol

[Papa Rad17]

So thats what my car looked like about 80 or 90 thousand miles ago... lol

Now ya got some fancy new headlights :cool:

[Black_Mamba]

Now ya got some fancy new headlights :cool:

Yessirrr :scpimp:

[kwhauck]

Okay Kwack [sic] Dexcool does degrade Nylon 66, I am a chemist and I have forgotten more about organic chemistry than you ever knew. So The Dex cool statement is not misinformed if you would like me to provide you molecular proof, I shall. Most ignorance on here I let slip but I can't on this one.

Wow, you want a medal or a chest to pin it on. You could have at least spelled my name right.....

[MnG]

It's nothing to fool around with, the results can be pretty severe. Sometimes mistaken for a bad head gasket. On my 2003, It had 24K miles when I bought it, and it had the LIM leak, which I pointed out to the seller. It now has 29K, and I have been putting off the repair because I want to upgrade the LIM when I do it. But no performance issues except the leak itself are showing up at this time. Check these areas:

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/Gflash01/001-19.jpg?t=1325830288

http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr299/Gflash01/002-9.jpg?t=1325831201

There's a good How-to thread on GrandAmGT.com, I'll try to locate it. It requires attention to detail and has a few pitfalls, and you need the proper torque wrench and revised specs.

What exactly is it I should be looking for? Just for the slight rust/moisture there?

[AleroB888]

What exactly is it I should be looking for? Just for the slight rust/moisture there?

There is slight leakage in the pics there, oily to the touch in the darker spots. In the summer a couple years ago after a hot run, you could see some sizzling going on at the gasket side edge in the first pic, but that seems to have stopped. I do occasionally find drops of oil under the car.

Just keep a close watch on the coolant and oil, check frequently for leaks. The results can vary from almost no problems at all, to coolant getting into the intake tract -- I know that sounds impossible, but it happened on my boosted car (white smoke out the tailpipe).

[rocketfast321]

99grandamse on GAOC also posted a good how to.

Here is our 3100. It leaked for 2+ years, but only on the outside.
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/9850/f4wdscf1411.jpg
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/1584/y9adscf1412.jpg
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/2567/y1edscf1413.jpg
http://img127.exs.cx/img127/7880/k4cdscf1415.jpg

[DJx79x]

I would be interested in finding a head unit like yours....i know you said you could help us out with it.