Are all 3400 V6s' the same?

[redrider07]

Ok, so me and my friend went cruising around in our aleros. He has a 2000 V6 coupe, I have an 2002 V6 Coupe. His car has a lot more mileage, but it seems to have more power than mine.His car accelerates harder...and with more ease! Both engines are stock except he has a K&N air filter. My question is....am I just imagining it....or does his 00 V6 better than my 02
V6? He has like 98000 miles, my car has 43000 miles!!!!

[strtrydr]

Some of the 3400 are factory freaks, some of them just produce more power than others ... so no your not imagining it

[cherrington17]

also, if his car is "used" to getting the gas pedal slammed on, the computer "learns" how you drive... so it adjusts how it runs. that could also be a little difference

[alerored04]

there are a few small differences through the years but nothing that would affect the power output like you mentioned. Some are just freaks.

[jackal2000]

mine is definitely one of the slower ones too.....sucks.

[ShortCircuit]

is it true the older models actually have more power? i heard the 99 and 2000 have a fast 0-60 then the newer models

[jackal2000]

well, they arent many stock aleros that go to the race track and magazine numbers are worthless so your guess is as good as mine.

[redrider07]

I looked at the differences, and the 00 V6 engine is a little different than the 02 V6. Granted my friend drives his alero harder than me, and he also has a K&N filter! However, that should not make that much of a difference! Is car definitly feels like it has more power than mine!

<img src=http://images.cars.com/supersized/DMI/177459/27149.21.jpg>
"Here is the 00 V6"

<img src=http://images.cars.com/supersized/DMI/107661/P4825.29.jpg>
"here is the 02 V6"

[jackal2000]

the difference in those pics is the the first one has the strict "california" emissions shiza on it. you can easily see it in the lower left hand corner of the engine bay. not all model year 2000's came like that. mine for instance doesnt have it. that being said, rest assured that it does nothing for performance. it has to do with california being retarded.

[teflone]

also, if his car is "used" to getting the gas pedal slammed on, the computer "learns" how you drive... so it adjusts how it runs. that could also be a little difference

^^^^

Agreed!

Combination of being an agressive on the gas pedal and the K&N filter would deffinatly make a diff.

take your positive lead off your battery for a minute, then drive it like you stole it for the first 200-300 km and you will notice a large diff in how the car responds to what you ask of it..

[redrider07]

Thanks for responding guys....I know it is kind of a weird theory....but you guys are definitly cool for responding! Maybe I will get a k&n filter...and just start driving my 02 harder....well see:)

Also...does a CAI take away bottom end power...or just add top end?

thanks guys

[BlackJack]

I looked at the differences, and the 00 V6 engine is a little different than the 02 V6. Granted my friend drives his alero harder than me, and he also has a K&N filter! However, that should not make that much of a difference! Is car definitly feels like it has more power than mine!

"Here is the 00 V6"
http://images.cars.com/supersized/DMI/177459/27149.21.jpg

"here is the 02 V6"
http://images.cars.com/supersized/DMI/107661/P4825.29.jpg


Look at weight also, do you have more luxury features than he has, like power windows and seats, etc? That stuff will amaze you how much difference it will make in acceleration. Also, if you have amps/subs/bunchashitinthetrunk, it will make a big difference also.

[redrider07]

What is funny, is that he actually has an amp...and 15 inch sub in his trunk? So, I dont know....maybe his car is just simply faster...does not make sense?

In the pics you posted up, is that crap in the lower left corner for emissions like someone already mentioned? I think his alero has that....I dont have that in my car. He also just got his 02 sensor replaced....WHO KNOWS:)

[BlackJack]

How long has it been since you've had a serious tune-up? You know.....new plugs, wires, O2, cleaned your intake path and TB, EGR, PCV, etc.... Sometimes small things can make a big difference.

[strtrydr]

^ really good point

that made a difference in how my car ran, but I dont know if or how much difference it made in power.

just my .02

[TurboAleroGT40]

Well My self noticed that , because like 2 years ago me with w friend that has a 99 grand am gt 3.4 engine well be semi raced, and my car pulled much harder then his I ran a 15.85 stock and his car ran a 16.10 almost the same reaction time , same 60 feet

[AGT]

It also deals with how you "feather" the gas pedal. I get better acceleration on my GMs when I give 40% throttle then slowly increase.

[AleroGLS_00/04]

Ok, so me and my friend went cruising around in our aleros. He has a 2000 V6 coupe, I have an 2002 V6 Coupe. His car has a lot more mileage, but it seems to have more power than mine.His car accelerates harder...and with more ease! Both engines are stock except he has a K&N air filter. My question is....am I just imagining it....or does his 00 V6 better than my 02
V6? He has like 98000 miles, my car has 43000 miles!!!!

I have been wondering about that same thing. I have a '00 GLS coupe w/105k miles on it. It has the optional factory handling suspension and new twin-gap plugs; otherwise stock. I also recently got a '04 GLS coupe w/20k miles and completely stock. The '00 feels stronger and I was thinking maybe the '04 hasn't loosened up, as I have heard can happen with some engines. But maybe there is a real difference.

Mr. Dude

[redrider07]

Yeah, that is exaclty how I feel. My friends 00 GLS coupe pulls harder than mine, but also seems to accelerate much faster to 3000 rpm? It seems overall my 02 3400 is a dog to his 00 3400? Maybe like you said, my car needs to have more miles....but usually that would seem to make an engine have less power?

I think my car is a little slower because I have a flowmaster 80 series muffler with 2.5 inch dual tips. It seems I lost a little low end, as soon as I put that cat back exhaust on! But in the future I will get a WAI or CAI and possibly a 180 degree t-stat....THEN WILL SEE:)

[strtrydr]

Well I dont know if the Flows 80 is causing issues ... I have the same setup on my car 2.5" piping from resonator to the flows 80 and then 2.5" piping to the tips. If you do get the WAI you will have a stronger low-end but will lose some top-end. A CAI will do the reverse of the WAI

[Alon Alero]

Well I dont know if the Flows 80 is causing issues ... I have the same setup on my car 2.5" piping from resonator to the flows 80 and then 2.5" piping to the tips. If you do get the WAI you will have a stronger low-end but will lose some top-end. A CAI will do the reverse of the WAI

When u say low-end u mean low rpm's? and by getting a WAI i'll lose some power in the high rpm's and earn some in the low rpm's? and would it slow me down or make my car go faster??

sorry but i'm just new on those stuff...

[Alon Alero]

Ohhh only now i really understood that it takes your air from the engine bay and not from the same place that the stock filter gets the air from... i thought they both get the air from the same place... so the best thing would be just to put an inbox filter in that case right?!

I mean whats the point with getting air from a hotter place? it can only harm my preformance... the stock filter doesnt get air from the engine bay, right?!

[strtrydr]

check your PMs ... I explained it for ya :)

[XanderWiFi]

Speaking of engine differences, I am looking to do some work and want to purchase a Haynes manual to help guide with some things. Is there any difference between the 03 v6 3400 and the 2004? Because haynes only went up to 2003 with the Aleros...

Speaking of cleaning intakes and engine maintenance...any how to guides on here to do it? I'll search but someone might have a faster link to direct me.

[Beholder88]

When I had to do my LIMG on my Malibu, I took the time to clean all of the carbon from my intake plenum, manifold and TB. I also cleaned anything and everything that was in sight while I had the top end tore down. It made a HELL of a difference. The engine idled smoother, accelerated more consistantly. All around better performance once I was done. Not to mention my LIMG wasn't leaking anymore :lol: .

[sandstoneolds20]

So here's my question. Are the 3400 engines in a Grand Am GT the same as ours except for the ram air intake. Could I take one of those and put it in my Alero and not have to change anything?

[cherrington17]

Speaking of engine differences, I am looking to do some work and want to purchase a Haynes manual to help guide with some things. Is there any difference between the 03 v6 3400 and the 2004? Because haynes only went up to 2003 with the Aleros...


exactly the same.
So here's my question. Are the 3400 engines in a Grand Am GT the same as ours except for the ram air intake. Could I take one of those and put it in my Alero and not have to change anything?

GAGTs are geared a little different, so they drive a little different. i'm pretty sure its exactly the same engine, different tranny.

don't bother with the RAM AIR setup. its garbage. get a WAI or CAI

[Beholder88]

I agree with Cherry, the Ram Air setup isn't all it's cracked up to be. You need to be going extremely fast for it to make a difference. Unless you're planning on turning your Alero into a drag car, a CAI or WAI is the way to go. The Ram Air hoods do look pretty slick though.:ninja:

[XanderWiFi]

exactly the same.


GAGTs are geared a little different, so they drive a little different. i'm pretty sure its exactly the same engine, different tranny.

don't bother with the RAM AIR setup. its garbage. get a WAI or CAI

I just want to know about the 2003 and 2004 3400 engine differences to justify buying a haynes manual...they didn't come out with one for the 2004 so it will have to be a 2003 guide.

[TheEdgeofSanity]

I am a firm believer that my alero could be a "factory freak". the GAGT is geared to be better off the line, yet there's been a few instances where i was messing around with a friend who has a 2002 GAGT and my car always pulls the other car and seems to feel beefier (i've driven the GAGT and it feels sluggish)

[itsbmw]

....

[TheEdgeofSanity]

mine's always seemed fast. in daily driving, i never worry about not being able to get up to speed

[XanderWiFi]

I just want to know about the 2003 and 2004 3400 engine differences to justify buying a haynes manual...they didn't come out with one for the 2004 so it will have to be a 2003 guide.

Am I purposely being ignored? :cry: lol

[TheEdgeofSanity]

there are not many, if any, changes between the 3400's used in alero's grand am's, for that matter, the 3100 is almost the same engine just smaller.

you can buy the manual knowing that there isn't any changes between alero's of all years.