2001 Saab 9-5 Aero

[ET16]

I'm interested in this car, but I'm afraid about sludge. Any suggestions?

 

[carwreck]

Based on some yahoo searches, the 3.0V6 is a better choice if you want to avoid the SAAB 2.0/2.3 sludge issues
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1278369&page=1
The V6 engine is not affected by the sludge problem per saabworld.net

 

[greenjp]

Originally Posted By: ET16
I'm interested in this car, but I'm afraid about sludge. Any suggestions?

Where in MD are you? There are some excellent Saab specialists you could take it to for an inspection. The standard procedure for checking for sludge is to drop the oil pan and check the pump pickup screen.

I have an '03 Aero, 176k miles. No sludge problems, I love the car.

jeff

 

[salv]

That V6 is a [censored] Opel motor. It sucked in the Catera. It was aweful in the Saturn L series and the Saturn Vue. The 4 cylinders are better motors.
All of the 9-5's and 9-3's that we service are 4 cylinders. No issues with any of them. Very good cars.

 

[Spazdog]

I don't recall any sludge problems with that odd-duck 54° V6.

It has plenty of problems. It doesn't share the Catera's weird "gotta' buy two sets of three spark plug wires at exorbitant prices" Instead it has two packs of three attached coils at exorbitant prices. Timing belt and tensioners are sketchy. Timing belt service is a must.

It's low boost. Really low boost. Like .25 bar. About 3.5psi. Seems hardly worth carrying the extra weight and complexity of a turbocharger.

 

[Stanley Rockafeller]

Originally Posted By: Spazdog
It's low boost. Really low boost. Like .25 bar. About 3.5psi. Seems hardly worth carrying the extra weight and complexity of a turbocharger.


I guess that's how they are able to get such great reliability out of them.

 

[ET16]

Thanks for the suggestions. I may pass on the particular car I was looking at. It seems to have had at least two 10k-mile OCIs.