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I've owned a '95 GVLE with the 3.3L/41TE, a '99 GCSE Sport with the 3.8L/41TE, and currently an '02 Caravan SE Sport with the 3.3L/41TE.
I personally prefer the 3.3L, as the extra power offered by the 3.8L didn't seem to be worth the drop in fuel economy. My '95 averaged around 18MPG in the city, the '99 about 12MPG, and the '02 around 17MPG.
The '95 3.3L lasted until 198000 miles when the diff pin sheared off and grenaded the transaxle.
The '99 3.8L lasted until 149000 miles when the oil pump failed and starved the engine. The transaxle was operating fine.
The '02 3.3L just turned 418000 miles this evening. From the service records I've been able to find, the engine and trans appear to be original and have had regular maintenance done on them (I bought the van almost 2 years ago with 397000 miles on it.) To date, the only trans-related issue is that when first fired up in the morning, the PRNDL display lights up with every letter and their "boxed" all illuminated - I'm told it's likely a poor ground to the TCM.
I personally prefer the 3.3L, as the extra power offered by the 3.8L didn't seem to be worth the drop in fuel economy. My '95 averaged around 18MPG in the city, the '99 about 12MPG, and the '02 around 17MPG.
The '95 3.3L lasted until 198000 miles when the diff pin sheared off and grenaded the transaxle.
The '99 3.8L lasted until 149000 miles when the oil pump failed and starved the engine. The transaxle was operating fine.
The '02 3.3L just turned 418000 miles this evening. From the service records I've been able to find, the engine and trans appear to be original and have had regular maintenance done on them (I bought the van almost 2 years ago with 397000 miles on it.) To date, the only trans-related issue is that when first fired up in the morning, the PRNDL display lights up with every letter and their "boxed" all illuminated - I'm told it's likely a poor ground to the TCM.