Actually, I wonder how a system of constant oil replenishment might work.
Saturn owner's check in. Others welcome as well.
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Rotella T 10w30 HDEO might be worth a try.
I've notice over the years on a few higher mileage vehicles driven on the highway a fair amount. That 15w40 HDEO seems to cut oil consumption almost in half over 5w30s. The down side is little 4 cylinders tend to be a little dogie using 15w - 40s. But surprisingly could tell much difference in mileage in vehicles driven mostly on highway.
I've notice over the years on a few higher mileage vehicles driven on the highway a fair amount. That 15w40 HDEO seems to cut oil consumption almost in half over 5w30s. The down side is little 4 cylinders tend to be a little dogie using 15w - 40s. But surprisingly could tell much difference in mileage in vehicles driven mostly on highway.
I imagine it would work quite well to have a replenishment system. Cummins came up with a metered system a few years back for big rigs that involved sending some of the used oil to the fuel tank (it's obviously a diesel so in minor quantities it's fine to do) while drawing in fresh oil from a reservoir. It made perfect sense to me. Just change out a filter every once in a while and you are good to go.
Different Saturn but...my wife has a 2003 L-300 3.0L V-6 (German engine built in the UK) and I have always run Mobil 1 5w30. Car delivers between 30-33 mpg hiway with proper tire inflation and never really uses any oil between changes. Probably the best running automobile engine I have owned in the past 45 years. I always use the Saturn oil filter purchased at the dealer. I am not sure about the engine in the current Aura. Anyone comment on that?
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Saturn_Fan, why only 3K OCI's? Even with burning oil, why not just change the filter every 6K or so while just topping up when needed?
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
Saturn_Fan, why only 3K OCI's? Even with burning oil, why not just change the filter every 6K or so while just topping up when needed?
Hi TNS,
I use an Amsoil EA or Mobil 1 EP oil filters and leave the filter on for 10K. I have Fumoto valve, so I don't even have to jack up the car to do an oil change.
I think just topping off on these will lead to even more oil consumption and ring gum/sludge.
Saturn_Fan, why only 3K OCI's? Even with burning oil, why not just change the filter every 6K or so while just topping up when needed?
Hi TNS,
I use an Amsoil EA or Mobil 1 EP oil filters and leave the filter on for 10K. I have Fumoto valve, so I don't even have to jack up the car to do an oil change.
I think just topping off on these will lead to even more oil consumption and ring gum/sludge.
My son bought a 96 SL1 this year. I was told by the original owner that the 1.8 sohc burned 1 qt every 1000 miles from delivery. They do require de-carboning of the rings from time to time and the GM TSB backs this up. We started with AUTO-RX, and run Havoline 5w30. My understanding of the issue was low friction rings caused higher than normal oil consumption. The car has 104,000 miles on it and runs great.
I've had my '95 SL1 from about 45k to now about 104k. Oil weight had no difference in oil consumption. Yes, you heard that right, no difference. Oil brands do make a difference. I liked to run Havoline 5w30 until recently, when I made a switch to MaxLife. I've used Rotella T Synthetic 5w40 in the past with good results. 3k mile intervals MAX. Mine is now a commuter car for the wife, so about 1k miles in 6 months is all it'll do, then I change it.
Definitely do an MMO soak or two, with some MMO in the crankcase ran for a couple hundred miles then change the oil and repeat the treatment as necessary. GM's Top Engine Clean is even more powerful, but that requires an oil change immediately after the treatment, and again after 1000 miles post-treatment.
Use only Saturn PCV valves, especially on the SOHC engines.
When the you start using more than 1qt/1000mi, you may be beyond help. The dealer will want to re-ring the engine, and its very expensive. I'd suggest not doing that unless you start having smoking issues. A smokey Saturn is rare.
And join SaturnFans if you haven't already. Lots of great info on all Saturns.
Definitely do an MMO soak or two, with some MMO in the crankcase ran for a couple hundred miles then change the oil and repeat the treatment as necessary. GM's Top Engine Clean is even more powerful, but that requires an oil change immediately after the treatment, and again after 1000 miles post-treatment.
Use only Saturn PCV valves, especially on the SOHC engines.
When the you start using more than 1qt/1000mi, you may be beyond help. The dealer will want to re-ring the engine, and its very expensive. I'd suggest not doing that unless you start having smoking issues. A smokey Saturn is rare.
And join SaturnFans if you haven't already. Lots of great info on all Saturns.
Originally Posted By: FrozenPilot
I've had my '95 SL1 from about 45k to now about 104k. Oil weight had no difference in oil consumption. Yes, you heard that right, no difference. Oil brands do make a difference. I liked to run Havoline 5w30 until recently, when I made a switch to MaxLife. I've used Rotella T Synthetic 5w40 in the past with good results. 3k mile intervals MAX. Mine is now a commuter car for the wife, so about 1k miles in 6 months is all it'll do, then I change it.
Definitely do an MMO soak or two, with some MMO in the crankcase ran for a couple hundred miles then change the oil and repeat the treatment as necessary. GM's Top Engine Clean is even more powerful, but that requires an oil change immediately after the treatment, and again after 1000 miles post-treatment.
Use only Saturn PCV valves, especially on the SOHC engines.
When the you start using more than 1qt/1000mi, you may be beyond help. The dealer will want to re-ring the engine, and its very expensive. I'd suggest not doing that unless you start having smoking issues. A smokey Saturn is rare.
And join SaturnFans if you haven't already. Lots of great info on all Saturns.
+1, excellent post FrozenP. If you are a Saturn owner and you do not frequent SaturnFans.com, you are doing your wallet a disservice. Also, go to you YouTube and in the search box type in "Richpin". This guy has dozens of high quality free how to videos to accomplish about everything on an S series Saturn.
And yes, the PCV should be Saturn ONLY. Not Fram, etc.
FP, I haven't yet used the GM Top Engine stuff. How much is it, and can I just get that at any GM dealer?
I've had my '95 SL1 from about 45k to now about 104k. Oil weight had no difference in oil consumption. Yes, you heard that right, no difference. Oil brands do make a difference. I liked to run Havoline 5w30 until recently, when I made a switch to MaxLife. I've used Rotella T Synthetic 5w40 in the past with good results. 3k mile intervals MAX. Mine is now a commuter car for the wife, so about 1k miles in 6 months is all it'll do, then I change it.
Definitely do an MMO soak or two, with some MMO in the crankcase ran for a couple hundred miles then change the oil and repeat the treatment as necessary. GM's Top Engine Clean is even more powerful, but that requires an oil change immediately after the treatment, and again after 1000 miles post-treatment.
Use only Saturn PCV valves, especially on the SOHC engines.
When the you start using more than 1qt/1000mi, you may be beyond help. The dealer will want to re-ring the engine, and its very expensive. I'd suggest not doing that unless you start having smoking issues. A smokey Saturn is rare.
And join SaturnFans if you haven't already. Lots of great info on all Saturns.
+1, excellent post FrozenP. If you are a Saturn owner and you do not frequent SaturnFans.com, you are doing your wallet a disservice. Also, go to you YouTube and in the search box type in "Richpin". This guy has dozens of high quality free how to videos to accomplish about everything on an S series Saturn.
And yes, the PCV should be Saturn ONLY. Not Fram, etc.
FP, I haven't yet used the GM Top Engine stuff. How much is it, and can I just get that at any GM dealer?
Update: Finally found the part number for the GM TEC and a place that sells it online after a half hour of searching. \
Originally Posted By: Gillsy
My son bought a 96 SL1 this year. I was told by the original owner that the 1.8 sohc burned 1 qt every 1000 miles from delivery. They do require de-carboning of the rings from time to time and the GM TSB backs this up. We started with AUTO-RX, and run Havoline 5w30. My understanding of the issue was low friction rings caused higher than normal oil consumption. The car has 104,000 miles on it and runs great.
all saturn S series are 1.9 liter.
My son bought a 96 SL1 this year. I was told by the original owner that the 1.8 sohc burned 1 qt every 1000 miles from delivery. They do require de-carboning of the rings from time to time and the GM TSB backs this up. We started with AUTO-RX, and run Havoline 5w30. My understanding of the issue was low friction rings caused higher than normal oil consumption. The car has 104,000 miles on it and runs great.
all saturn S series are 1.9 liter.
Originally Posted By: FrozenPilot
Oil weight had no difference in oil consumption. Yes, you heard that right, no difference. Oil brands do make a difference.
FrozenPilot- What oil brands have you noticed that burn the least amount?
Oil weight had no difference in oil consumption. Yes, you heard that right, no difference. Oil brands do make a difference.
FrozenPilot- What oil brands have you noticed that burn the least amount?
1. Shell Rotella T Synthetic 5w40
2. Havoline 5w30 (pre-DS)
I haven't run Maxlife long enough to be certain, but its worked well so far. What was more surprising as what did burn more. The old Mobil 5w30 dino, Mobil-1 (all weights), all seemed to burn 2x more than the Shell and Havoline (1qt/3k miles vs 0.5qt/3k miles). I can't remember what other brands I used, or what oil change places put in that burned the higher amount.
2. Havoline 5w30 (pre-DS)
I haven't run Maxlife long enough to be certain, but its worked well so far. What was more surprising as what did burn more. The old Mobil 5w30 dino, Mobil-1 (all weights), all seemed to burn 2x more than the Shell and Havoline (1qt/3k miles vs 0.5qt/3k miles). I can't remember what other brands I used, or what oil change places put in that burned the higher amount.
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