Ya, if you search Airtex (the one autozone has) you will find a lot of issues. Fuel pressure test while is running bad will tell the story. Harbor freight sells a fuel pressure tester for under $20. If you catch in on sale its under $10 If the car is running poorly due to low fuel pressure I would expect the Check engine light because the computer is unable to comp for the low fuel pressure.

 

Just wanted to give an update ... The oil is chocolate milk... I added coolant last week thinking my son hasn't checked it in a while but when i pulled the dip stick it wasn't good... Checked the coolant level and it was damn near empty .... Sigh ...

 

Get that oil out of there asap. While you most likey has intake gasket failing the coolant will wipe out the bearings very quickly.

Drain coolant and oil. Replace the oil only (just 4 quarts). Start engine and let it run for 15 seconds. Then do the required repair. Then change the oil before you start the motor. If the coolant stays in contact with the bearings it will strip the babbit.

 

How can you tell its the intake gasket and not something more serious ?

Is it safe to assume thats why the car was running so bad ?

 

It could be a blow head gasket or a cracked head. There is no way to be sure except pulling everything a parts and finding where the leak is. The only reason I said intake is because it is a common problem with the 3.8. The failure rate was so high it was even a class action lawsuit.

There is no way to be a 100% sure this is the only problem but like anything other repair on your car all you can do if fix the stuff you find wrong and try it. If you pulled the plugs there is a good chance you will see one or two show signs of being fouled by coolant.

If it was me and I had coolant in the motor and I had no idea how long it was there I would replace the motor. You could spend a lot of effort and money fixing the problem only to have the motor start knocking a week after your done. 3.8s are very common in the junk yards and can be had pretty cheap. Any yard motor you install plan on resealing the intake before you install it.