A Cars forum. AutoBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » AutoBanter forum » Auto makers » Saturn
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Are saturns notorious for burning oil?



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 21st 04, 11:59 PM
CuriousOnly
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Are saturns notorious for burning oil?

I have a '97 Saturn SL1, that I have not had any major problems with since I
purchased it. I have noticed, however, that if I do an oil change myself or
take it to a shop to do it, there always appears to be a bit less than what
I would normally expect to see. One tech said that Saturns are notorious
for burning oil. Is this true? If it is, no big deal, I still like my car,
but I wanted to make sure that there might not be something else wrong. The
engine never overheats (at least as far as the gauges are concerned) I never
run OUT of oil, and I have yet to see any leaking anywhere from the engine
or on the ground underneath. I've never noticed this on other vehicles
(ruling out a normal allowance of burned oil)

Any ideas?


Ads
  #2  
Old July 22nd 04, 02:38 AM
MR
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 15:59:32 -0700, "CuriousOnly" > wrote:

>I have a '97 Saturn SL1, that I have not had any major problems with since I
>purchased it. I have noticed, however, that if I do an oil change myself or
>take it to a shop to do it, there always appears to be a bit less than what
>I would normally expect to see. One tech said that Saturns are notorious
>for burning oil. Is this true? If it is, no big deal, I still like my car,
>but I wanted to make sure that there might not be something else wrong. The
>engine never overheats (at least as far as the gauges are concerned) I never
>run OUT of oil, and I have yet to see any leaking anywhere from the engine
>or on the ground underneath. I've never noticed this on other vehicles
>(ruling out a normal allowance of burned oil)
>
>Any ideas?


I have two Saturns, 97 & 99. Both use a little oil. I think most
here will agree that the majority of the SL's use oil in varying
amounts and a few lucky ones don't. It isn't a big deal. To keep
from adding between changes, I have started putting in a can of
Restore. All of my miles are hwy. and I change around 6k miles.
There is a fix listed below that someone in the group posted awhile
back and has had some good reports. I just haven't had time to do it,
but it's worth a try. Instead of using the GM cleaner, some have had
good luck using Marvel Mystery Oil.
MR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Engine - Excessive Oil Consumption

BULLETIN NO.: 94-T-59A

ISSUE DATE: February, 2003

CATEGORY TYPE: Engine-16

CATEGORY: General

CORPORATION NO.: 03-06-01-001R

SUBJECT:
Oil Consumption Concern
(Diagnosis/Service Procedure)

Due to the addition of a new internal engine cleaning procedure, this
bulletin has been revised and supersedes bulletin 94-T-59, which
should be
discarded.

MODELS AFFECTED:

All 1991 - 1997 Saturn S-Series Vehicles

CONDITION:

Some customers may comment that the engine is using 1 quart (0.951
liter) or
more of oil every 3000 mi. (4827 km).

CAUSE:

Engine oil consumption greater than 1 quart (0.951 liter) in 3000 mi.
(4827
km) may be caused by stuck/sticking oil control and/or compression
rings.
Engine deposits may build up on and around the oil control ring(s),
compression ring(s) and piston ring land(s) causing the ring(s) to
stick and
become less effective.

CORRECTION:

Perform internal engine cleaning procedure or engine repair procedure
depending on amount of oil consumption.

IF engine uses 1 quart (0.951 liter) of oil in:

1500 mi. - 3000 mi. (2414 km - 4827 km), perform Procedure-1: Internal
Engine Cleaning

1499 mi. (2414 km) or less, perform Procedure-2: Engine Repair

While Saturn still considers oil consumption of 1 quart (0.951 liter)
in
2000 mi. (3218 km) to be an acceptable level, the engine cleaning
procedure
contained in this bulletin may improve oil consumption performance to
an
even more acceptable level.

================================================== ==========================
===========

Bottom line:

If your engine consumes less than one quart every 1,500 miles, you
should
buy a bottle of GM Piston and Ring Cleaner (part nr 12378549) and put
3
ounces of it into each of the four cylinders. Make sure that the
piston is
half way up on all four cylinders (engine at 90 degrees before or
after top
dead center).

Then, blow it out the plug holes by cranking the engine with rags over
it.
Do an oil change and replace the oil with Mobil 1 (yup, the TSB says
to use
Mobil 1) for one 3,000 mile oil change.

It looks like it's official - the oil consumption is due to ring
sticking.


  #3  
Old July 22nd 04, 03:23 AM
Bob Shuman
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I'd strongly encourage you to check your oil more frequently. A good
practice is to check it every 500 miles or so, especially if you know you
consume oil or are going to be taking a long trip. Also, as you already
likely know, you don't have to wait till the oil level gets below the fill
line or the oil pressure light is illuminated to add. By that time it is
already at least a quart low, and since there are only 4 quarts in the
system when full, it could easily result in a major (and very expensive)
mechanical problem. You should still keep track of what you add between
changes since this provides some indication of the overall health of the
engine.

Our '96 SL1 with 120K (mostly highway) miles goes through a little over a
quart between changes (every 3K miles), but a small portion of this leaks
onto our driveway so the amount burned is probably 3/4 of the total loss.
By the way, I use 10W30 in the summer and the manufacturer recommended 5W30
in the winter. I only mention this since the heavier oil helps increase the
oil pressure and reduce consumption (at the price of slightly reduced fuel
economy.)

Bob

"CuriousOnly" > wrote in message
...
> I have a '97 Saturn SL1, that I have not had any major problems with since

I
> purchased it. I have noticed, however, that if I do an oil change myself

or
> take it to a shop to do it, there always appears to be a bit less than

what
> I would normally expect to see. One tech said that Saturns are notorious
> for burning oil. Is this true? If it is, no big deal, I still like my

car,
> but I wanted to make sure that there might not be something else wrong.

The
> engine never overheats (at least as far as the gauges are concerned) I

never
> run OUT of oil, and I have yet to see any leaking anywhere from the engine
> or on the ground underneath. I've never noticed this on other vehicles
> (ruling out a normal allowance of burned oil)
>
> Any ideas?




  #4  
Old July 22nd 04, 03:28 AM
richard hornsby
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


Hmm, if the car burns 4 quarts of oil every 3000mi, and I add a quart
every 800 miles or so, then I should never have to change the oil,
right?

-rj
98SL2

ps. j/k
  #5  
Old July 22nd 04, 03:49 AM
MR
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 22:28:37 -0400, richard hornsby
> wrote:

>
>Hmm, if the car burns 4 quarts of oil every 3000mi, and I add a quart
>every 800 miles or so, then I should never have to change the oil,
>right?


More or less, but you would still have some crud drop-out in your oil
pan which could pile up if not drained.
MR
  #6  
Old August 9th 04, 04:29 PM
Steven Scharf
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

"CuriousOnly" > wrote in message >...
> I have a '97 Saturn SL1, that I have not had any major problems with since I
> purchased it. I have noticed, however, that if I do an oil change myself or


<snip>

You can read a good post about this at:

"http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=358F1405.F6EA4E9F%40exit109.com"
  #7  
Old August 22nd 04, 09:40 PM
Lee3333
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I have 2 Saturns-a 1993 SL2 and a 1999 SW2. The 99 doesnt use any oil.
The 93 goes through a quart of Mobile 1 every 500 miles. Compression
check done several years ago was fine. No smoke, and only 68k miles.
There is some oil around the oil pan, and I will look into it. But both
cars runs great.

  #8  
Old August 22nd 04, 09:40 PM
Lee3333
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

I have 2 Saturns-a 1993 SL2 and a 1999 SW2. The 99 doesnt use any oil.
The 93 goes through a quart of Mobile 1 every 500 miles. Compression
check done several years ago was fine. No smoke, and only 68k miles.
There is some oil around the oil pan, and I will look into it. But both
cars runs great.

  #9  
Old August 22nd 04, 10:43 PM
Napalm Heart
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Lee3333" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> I have 2 Saturns-a 1993 SL2 and a 1999 SW2. The 99 doesnt use any

oil.
> The 93 goes through a quart of Mobile 1 every 500 miles.

Compression
> check done several years ago was fine. No smoke, and only 68k

miles.
> There is some oil around the oil pan, and I will look into it. But

both
> cars runs great.
>


The catalytic converter eats a lot of the smoke from oil burning.


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Drug users targeting Saturns Skid Saturn 23 July 21st 04 02:35 PM
"Saturn's VUE new, improved" Mike Saturn 2 May 28th 04 12:34 AM
Saturns Suck! Dennis Hamilton Saturn 17 May 27th 04 03:50 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 11:43 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 AutoBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.