Co-worker's car 3 quarts low

MarkC · Oct 27, 2004

...and she was shocked when the engine made noise, and the dashboard lights came on.

It's a Saturn, so I guess it only holds about 4 quarts anyway.

The shop she stopped at added oil and Lucas stuff and told her to come back tomorrow.
Any better suggestions? Other than checking the oil once in a while....

JHZR2 · Oct 27, 2004

women drivers

kenw · Oct 27, 2004

regular church attendance wouldn't hurt....

T-Keith · Oct 28, 2004

Saturns seem to have an unusual attraction to ignorant drivers. When I worked at an oil change place I changed hundreds of Saturns, and I can't think of one that didn't come in at least 1 quart low of oil. They usually had black oil and black air filters too.

Is it because of the large percentage of woman owners?

TEXDOG · Oct 28, 2004

the thicker the better.

farfel · Oct 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by MarkC:
Any better suggestions? Other than checking the oil once in a while....

It doesn't matter. I bet she's the type to trade in the Saturn at 50,000 miles for a new model.

She won't see its premature death at around 150K

427Z06 · Oct 28, 2004

(Mental note to myself: don't buy any used Saturns unless you know the owner and/or it's maintenance history)

Matt_S · Oct 28, 2004

When I told my wife (after we'd been married a while) that you're supposed to check the oil once a month or so, her response was "Oh, I didn't know that". Thank God for her she bought a Honda that consumes NO oil. Getting it changed on schedule was perfectly sufficient.

Most cars aren't like that, though, and people aren't informed that they need to check the dipstick. They think driving it into Iffy Lube every 3k is enough. I've seen guys that are just as guilty as some women, though. I think women take most of the blame because they don't tend to take as much of an interest in their cars as guys do as a general rule and, therefore, don't do more than the absolute minimum.

Spitty · Oct 28, 2004

Funny, I get the Idea that Saturns attract, and their marketing is aimed at, people who are not at all interested in cars.

The irony is, there cars tend to be Oil burners.
As someone who has owned and used Toyotas and Hondas for the last 20 years, I can well understand some un-informed person trading in their old Accord for a Saturn, and not even considering that they would have to check the oil level once in a while.
Come to think of it Why can't GM make a non Oil Burning engines?

ediamiam · Oct 28, 2004

Some people are just destined to purchase new cars every 3-5 years, as they 'always' have problems with the cars they buy. They keep breaking down. I wonder why? My sister as a teenager got a new car at 16 (dad was nicer to her than me). At the end of 1 year she needed to get new tires. She didn't know you were suppose to check the air pressure. Her car broke down once when the fan belt broke. Didn't know they were wear items that needed to be replaced. Shocks were bad after several years. Thought it always drove like that. I got into the habit of safety checking her car until she got married.

msparks · Oct 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by 427Z06:
(Mental note to myself: don't buy any used Saturns unless you know the owner and/or it's maintenance history)

Isn't this a case not to purchase any used vehicle?

I don't care what brand they all will use oil, some just take longer than others.

For instance I'm getting ready to take a trip tomorrow back to VA, so I decided to check the oil in the truck. It was 1/2 low on the dipstick. I ended up adding about 3/4 of a quart.

Now this took over 4 month and 6,000 miles before it was that low. I don't worry much about having to add oil. I usually change filters out before I have to add (where it say's add on the dipstick) I don't take many long trips so as long as there is oil on the dipstick I'm good. Though it's never gotten to the "add" portion on the stick.

Rhymingmechanic · Oct 28, 2004

That happened to my wife's '94 Saturn once when we were first dating. Oil light on, engine clatter, and a dry dipstick. The problem was common enough that engine noise was her signal to add oil. Since then, I've been adding one quart every 500 miles on average. Auto-Rx is in there now, and I'll start the rinse after it drinks another quart.

Somebody above commented about knowing the owner and history before ever buying a used Saturn--I'll second that.

Hirev · Oct 28, 2004

Back in the 70s when I was in High School I worked part time in a full service gas station (yah I am that old) for about 1 1/2 years. At the top of a long uphill grade along a highway.

It used to amaze me every week. Some Man or Women (it was about equal), would come in motor rattling with collapsed hydraulic lifters and all with the oil light on needing 3 to 4 qts of oil in 4 and 5 qt systems.

One guy in a real nice suit did not want to pay gas station oil prices for the oil. Said he would get some in town 5 miles away. He put some rods through the block in his car pulling back out onto the highway.

One guy came back real mad 2 days after I put 4 qts in his car that only held 4 qts said I put the wrong oil in his car (I did not) and that is why it blew up. Some people are just clueless about cars.

427Z06 · Oct 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by msparks:

quote:

Originally posted by 427Z06:
(Mental note to myself: don't buy any used Saturns unless you know the owner and/or it's maintenance history)

Click to expand...

Isn't this a case not to purchase any used vehicle?

I don't care what brand they all will use oil, some just take longer than others.

For instance I'm getting ready to take a trip tomorrow back to VA, so I decided to check the oil in the truck. It was 1/2 low on the dipstick. I ended up adding about 3/4 of a quart.

Now this took over 4 month and 6,000 miles before it was that low. I don't worry much about having to add oil. I usually change filters out before I have to add (where it say's add on the dipstick) I don't take many long trips so as long as there is oil on the dipstick I'm good. Though it's never gotten to the "add" portion on the stick.

You realize I was joking, correct?

obbop · Oct 28, 2004

What's scariest is that those clueless idjit's vote counts as much as yours.

JHZR2 · Oct 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by T-Keith:
Saturns seem to have an unusual attraction to ignorant drivers. When I worked at an oil change place I changed hundreds of Saturns, and I can't think of one that didn't come in at least 1 quart low of oil. They usually had black oil and black air filters too.

Is it because of the large percentage of woman owners?

Thats why they dupe people out of their published no hassle no haggle prices... LOL! OK, pay retail LOL!

Saturns are pretty good driving cars though, for small 4 cyl sedans, from my limited experience. ANd anyone that doesnt check their oil is just asking for trouble, regardless of the vehicle.

Thats why I always think that toyotas and hondas are not THAT much better than a GM or a ford. Its that the buyers are often more educated to think about these things, and the dealership has their menu of services that is so complete, that the maintenance is done often. A lot of people dont think, are set on american cars (which is OK if youre not an idiot), then get the minimum service, and guess what, a lot of hondas and toyotas die that way too. Unfortunately its only the smarter folk who put up a stink about it. The rest were going to buy a new car in three years anyway, so they can be sure that they look rich and have the best of everything.

JMH

Spitty · Oct 28, 2004

Rather than and GM and Ford problem I would call it a cheap car scenario, "I'ts just a Chevy Sprint", Hyundai or whatever "I won't take it for a service till somthing goes wrong"
But let's face it some cars are just oil burners no matter how you baby them, I have a freind who has a Caddy with a northstar in it, mad that car is his Hobby, but it's used oil from the day he drove it off the lot.
On the other hand, right now, I have two cars in the driveway, an 89 Accord and a 90 Toyota PU, O.K., call me stupid, but I admit I do not check the oil (except before a long trip), I used to do it, even weekly, but it was seeming like a waste of time, now they have 220,000 miles and almost 300.000 and I still do not see ANY loss of oil between 5,000 mile changes.

the_oil_dealer · Oct 28, 2004

Spitty,, apparently Saturns and the Northstar engine were both designed to burn a small amount of oil. They have really deep crosshatchs on the cylinder walls that cause oilto stick to them.

Audi Junkie · Oct 28, 2004

My time at BitOG makes me NOT want to EVER buy a used car again, even one that had inclusive service.

Stewart Fan · Oct 28, 2004

quote:

Originally posted by Matt_S:

Most cars aren't like that, though, and people aren't informed that they need to check the dipstick. They think driving it into Iffy Lube every 3k is enough.

My Sister in law does exactly that. She gets the oil changed at Jiffy lube and doesn't open the hood until its time to go back to Jiffy lube. Shes brought the last two cars she's owned to my house because they started to make a "funny" noise. Both times they were so low on oil they took at least three qts. to register on the dipstick.

My wife would be the same way if I let her. She will NEVER check the oil in her Blazer,unless I make it a point to ask her to.Even then I don't know for sure if she's done it. I make sure to check it at least once a week.

Co-worker's car 3 quarts low

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