1996 Saturn SL2, 2900 miles, Pennzoil 5w-20 SL/GF-4 Synthetic

[ToyotaNSaturn]

This is the first time this engine used oil, no surprise, it was a 20wt. I'm thinking this is SM-rated oil, even though the bottle said "SL/GF-4" and was manufactured in Jan of '05. (I had a chance to buy 6 cases of this oil for $1.50/qt, but only bought 1/2 a case since I wasn't sure about having THAT much oil on hand. I shoulda just bought all of it and sold those Pep Boys coupons on eBay!

)

NVH was kept in check even moreso than M1 and MPG was up. I wanted to go much longer, but given the consumption, I figured change it early. This is a great oil, just not meant for these Saturns as oil consumption can be an in issue.

Topped off with something heavier at the 2200 mile mark: .75qt Catrol 10w-40HM SM.

Running conditions were VERY dusty with next to no rain this fall, thus the eleveated silicon.

Currently running Havoline 10w-30 HM.

code:

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Year: 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996

Make: Saturn Saturn Saturn Saturn Saturn

Model: SL2 DOHC SL2 DOHC SL2 DOHC SL2 DOHC SL2 DOHC

Engine Size: 1.9L 4cyl 1.9L 4cyl 1.9L 4cyl 1.9L 4cyl 1.9L 4cyl

Total Mileage: 139,000 129,00 125,000 122,756 115,969

Fuel Type:

Fuel Additives: FP FP FP FP FP

Oil Use Interval: 2,900 3,000 1,740 2,881 2,900

Oil Type & Grade: PZ SM Synth PZ HM Pennzoil Shell RotellaT Mobil 1

Oil Type & Grade: 5w-20 10w-40 SM, dino Synth 10w-30

Oil Type & Grade: 15w-50

Oil Grade: 5w-30 5w-40 mix

Make-up Oil Added: .75 qt Catrol HM 10w-40 none none none none

Oil Additvies Used: LC LC LC LC LC

Crankcase Capacity: 4.5qts 4.5qts 4.5qts 4.5qts 4.5qts

Oil Filter: Mobil 1 ST Amsoil SD57 Amsoil SD57 Supertech

Notes: VERY DUSTY!! New PCV at 119K

Sample Date 10/29/2005 5/7/2005 3/4/2005 1/25/2005 10/2/2004





Element PPM PPM PPM

ALUMINUM 2 1 2 1 2

CHROMIUM 1 0 0 0 0

IRON 3 3 3 4 4

COPPER 1 2 1 2 3

LEAD 0 1 1 1 0

TIN 0 0 0 0 1

MOLYBDENUM 54 89 120 4 47

NICKEL 0 0 0 0 0

MANGANESE 0 0 0 1 0

SILVER 0 0 0 0 0

TITANIUM 0 0 0 0 0

POTASSIUM 0 1 0 0 0

BORON 11 11 28 11 111

SILICON 8 4 4 4 3

SODIUM 1 1 1 2 3

CALCIUM 2069 1697 1323 2699 2705

MAGNESIUM 8 6 11 13 11

PHOSPHORUS 625 746 508 909 820

ZINC 711 894 645 1006 925

BARIUM 0 0 0 0 0



cST @100c

SUS 210F 55 64.5 56.1 69.8 64.1

Flashpoint F 390 385 370 380 370

Fuel %
AntiFreeze % 0 0 0 0 0

Water % 0 0 0 0 0

Insolubles % 0.4 0.3 0.5 0.3 0.4

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[BR549]

Any change in gas mileage??

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Forgot to mention that this is the 3rd change since an A-RX cleaning at the 131K mark.

MPG was up, but the thermostat was replaced as it wasn't allowing the engine to fully warm up.

Looking at the mileage for about the same time period last year shows an average of 33.68MPG for 6 tankfuls.

Post t-stat change, MPG for the first 8 tankfuls of this oil was 37.33MPG. Comparatively, the first 3 tankfulls of the current run of Havoline HM is 35.26MPG. The weather only turned cold here yesterday and it's been a while since the A/C has been on. Now if I could only travel at 60MPH or so on flat interstate to see what this car could *really* crank out MPG-wise...

 

[Cutehumor]

wow very detailed! the consumption went up though with your 20 weight oil. Too bad you didn't get TBN though, it would help you break that 3k habit. Well at least try to reach 3001 miles

how did you keep consumption so low with this vehicle? I've read about this particular engine using tons of oil. Your doing something right

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

I've owned 4 SL-series cars, only one was an oil drinker. With this one, I was fortunate. I bought it off a small dealer on eBay with 81K. Interior was in rough shape, but mechanically was in great shape, surprisingly. I was just so happy to have a manual trans model (and a sunroof), that I cared less what the interior looked like!

 

[Beast of Busco]

TNS-

Is one of your goals to try every different type and weight of oil in your car?

I recall you recommended HM oil and even 10w-40 oil before for these Saturn SL-series cars, so what made you try 5w-20?

Have you considered trying to find an oil to do a little longer OCI? (I know about the potential oil consumption issues that SL-series are known for.)That's what I am trying to do with my '01 SL1; I just went 4k w/Pennzoil 5w-30 HM, and am planning on running the Pennzoil Platinum 5w-30 out to 5k.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

B of B, LOL. Well, life is short, we need to try as many oils as we can! LOL 5w-20 in the Saturn was an experiment, albiet a cheap one with fire-sale pricing that I ran across. Hard to resist cheap experiments.

It was fun to use this scenario on the interstate as the engine never felt more free-revving and quieter when doing so. The cost, of course, is consumption.

The first "real" OCI for this car was about 7,500 miles. It brought to life issues that weren't known prior to this time. I was naive enough to think that "7500 miles won't hurt, I'll just do it and resist any urge to change the oil". It may not have hurt, but it sure didn't help in this car!

I can only imagine what *other* people do with dino that go past 7 or 8 or 9K per OCI and don't bat an eye. I overheard a co-worker and his wife talk about changing the oil in the truck. He asked her to stop by the quickie-lube place as it had been nearly 8K since their last change on their SUV. I thought to myself "OMG!!!" I didn't say a word and just kept working.

I let our Vue hit 5K before changing the oil, are there BITOG bonus points awarded for that?

 

[Beast of Busco]

I know the feeling that you have!

I will probably take the Saturn out to 5k on the Platinum since it is getting colder now! (down to 15*F last night)

It's good to experiment and see what works best. I had been an avid Valvoline guy for over 15 years, but since I found BITOG, I have quite a few other oils that I know are probably better and just waiting for me to use!

 

[nascarnation]

"how did you keep consumption so low with this vehicle"

I think he used ARX to clean out the rings.
"GC"

did the same thing on mine.
IMHO the cause of most oil consumption on these 1.9s is the (lack of) sufficient oil ring drainback in the piston design leading to rings being clogged up.
Cleaned up they will do well, I got 4000 miles with half a quart consumption after the GC cleanup.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Cutehumor:

quote:

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Too bad you didn't get TBN though, it would help you break that 3k habit. Well at least try to reach 3001 miles

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The car is now 3500 miles into this OCI. The cold weather is helping me break the 3K habit.

 

[lt1man]

does this saturn have an auto or 5 speed? I have 78,000 miles and im lucky to get 25-26 mpg, 1.9 DOHC 4 speed auto, I idle, use the a/c, and drive pedal to the medal still i would expect it to be better.

 

[JohnBrowning]

Other then the oil consuption it looks good. It is inline with the last UOA.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

quote:

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Originally posted by lt1man:
does this saturn have an auto or 5 speed? I have 78,000 miles and im lucky to get 25-26 mpg, 1.9 DOHC 4 speed auto, I idle, use the a/c, and drive pedal to the medal still i would expect it to be better.

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5 speed. I use LC and FP, but used Auto-Rx for a time before that. Just put a K&N filter in it. Getting 42+ MPG on the latest tank(!).

The high MPG figures are a result of a squeaky clean fuel system and crankcase and an easy-breathing intake with the K&N. Pure city traffic, this thing gets about 28-30MPG with the A/C on. Short-shifting helps get better MPG. Jack-rabbit starts will consume more fuel no doubt.

LC/FP improved MPG a notch. K&N, another notch.