So as you all probably know I've been having some issues with my 98 Saturn sl2. Just a recap is the car is throwing a p0420 code I replaced cat 4month ago and the o2 sensor a couple days ago. It is still throwing the code. It uses a quart of oil every 400-600 miles and it is burning it only. Car has 195,000 on it. Would you sell it and by something else or should I keep it and live with it? I'm worried about the oil usage fouling the cat and o2's and not passing emissions which it has to have here. So what would you guys do. Honestly? I'm getting fed up so I know I'm not thinking clearly . What would you guys do?
need advice
- Thread starter Dakota1820
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O yea I've done more soaks than I could even count. Here's a question what could I buy that's better
define "Better"
if buying a replacement, what are your requirements?
need high MPG, Manual/Auto?
sedan/coupe/wagon?
Upper $$ Limit?
etc...
I have access to a '98 Mustang GT 5speed w/less than 16k Mi., In the DFW Metroplex. (My older Brother's Garage Queen - Parents been trying to get him to sell it for YEARS)
if buying a replacement, what are your requirements?
need high MPG, Manual/Auto?
sedan/coupe/wagon?
Upper $$ Limit?
etc...
I have access to a '98 Mustang GT 5speed w/less than 16k Mi., In the DFW Metroplex. (My older Brother's Garage Queen - Parents been trying to get him to sell it for YEARS)
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I would trade it in on something w/o the headaches.
If i buy something else it would have to be with the money I get for the Saturn. Needs to be family friendly not to expensive to work on. Fuel mileage is a plus. Something that gets 25 or more
JHZR2
Staff member
You're not going to get anything for a Saturn with that mileage and characteristics.
Save some cash and buy a cobalt off a grandma directly.
Save some cash and buy a cobalt off a grandma directly.
Weren't you going to try the $5 anti fouler?
It's going to keep fouling cats as long as it is burning that much oil. You can rebuild the engine or get a replacement engine if you like the car. You can gamble on a junkyard engine or get a rebuilt one with a warranty.
If the car won't pass emissions and/or has visible smoke or other mechanical issues dealers won't give you much for a trade.
I'd sell the car on Craigslist...be honest about the condition. Someone will still want it. If you can rely on just the truck for a little while it might be good to save up some to buy a better car than what you will get for the Saturn.
If the car won't pass emissions and/or has visible smoke or other mechanical issues dealers won't give you much for a trade.
I'd sell the car on Craigslist...be honest about the condition. Someone will still want it. If you can rely on just the truck for a little while it might be good to save up some to buy a better car than what you will get for the Saturn.
you need a Neon
Cheap, easy to work on, mine, w/ the Auto trans is rated 22city/29highway, I Regularly get low 20's around town, mid 30's pure highway.. Should be still readily available.
Cheap, easy to work on, mine, w/ the Auto trans is rated 22city/29highway, I Regularly get low 20's around town, mid 30's pure highway.. Should be still readily available.
Yea and then while doing it my drill broke
and besides that is it even worth it? I mean my gf is going to be driving it exclusively in a few months and she isn't going to check the oil she will probably kill it. BTW I've done ac compressor (used) tierods, temp sensor, idler pulley , front struts, cat , tune up , strut mounts, radiator, thermostat , two motor mounts and brand new tires. I've done several things to it. But the oil consumption is just ridiculous. But it doesn't smoke wtg!
Edit:[censored]
Ok. ..... is a neon really better than a Saturn? Is any small car really better? I can rely on the truck. I trust it for the most part. I don't want to buy a junk yard engine it'll probably be as bad as the one I got since its so common. A new motor is 2300 bucks I can't afford that and I don't think it's worth it I paid 2200 for the car
it had full oil when I bought it and it was in need of a change which I took as a good thing . It doesn't smoke at all just uses lots of oil
Wonder who sold you that car, what reason they gave for selling it
Do what it takes to get it through emissions the next time. Drive it until it would need to pass again (every two years here) and junk it then.
If you need a cheap car, no frills, I think it would be hard to beat a geo/chevy prizm. Basically a corolla that nobody will pay the toyota premium for because it's a GM. One of my favorite parts of Lutz' last book was the "why does nobody else notice that the chevy prizm gets worse ratings in consumer reports than the corolla built with the same parts, same factory?"
If you need a cheap car, no frills, I think it would be hard to beat a geo/chevy prizm. Basically a corolla that nobody will pay the toyota premium for because it's a GM. One of my favorite parts of Lutz' last book was the "why does nobody else notice that the chevy prizm gets worse ratings in consumer reports than the corolla built with the same parts, same factory?"
Neons can actually be pretty tough little cars, but with any car pushing 15 years old you will be looking at doing some repairs. Oil burning isn't the worst problem a car can have, but something has to be done to reduce it if you want the car to pass emissions and stop fouling the cat. It looks like at this point nothing short of major engine work will accomplish that. You might be able to find a shop that will re-ring the pistons without doing a full rebuild for a few hundred bucks and get some more life out of it, but that might be a few hundred bucks better spent on another car.
How long do you have until the next inspection? If you have time I'd just keep driving the Saturn as is, avoid putting money into it, and save up for a replacement.
How long do you have until the next inspection? If you have time I'd just keep driving the Saturn as is, avoid putting money into it, and save up for a replacement.
BTW the car you want is a Honda Civic or a Corolla never than 2002. 98-2002 Corollas have oil consumption problems! 2003+ are great
Bought it from a used car lot
Oh, Neons are way way better!
Well not really, I don't see many smoking and mine has sort of been cheap to run, since I had the headgasket/timing belt/water pump done...
Anyways, do you have emissions tests to worry about? If not I'd live with the check engine light until the car dies. Or only get a new cat when you need to pass the emissions test. Aren't generic ones like $80?
I guess if you can find another little old car that's been taken care of with documentation, jumping isn't a terrible idea, but most will have had worse care than your current car.
Well not really, I don't see many smoking and mine has sort of been cheap to run, since I had the headgasket/timing belt/water pump done...
Anyways, do you have emissions tests to worry about? If not I'd live with the check engine light until the car dies. Or only get a new cat when you need to pass the emissions test. Aren't generic ones like $80?
I guess if you can find another little old car that's been taken care of with documentation, jumping isn't a terrible idea, but most will have had worse care than your current car.
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