I am inspired to start this thread because many of us driving saturns have to deal with a common problem of consumption. I’d like to see what your average consumption numbers are to establish a base and have any of you fought consumption with either changing oil brands or viscosity. Rather than saying that brand oil X is better than oil brand Y, I’d rather get your take on what has worked best for you.
So let me start, I have a 2001 SC2 1.9 DOHC with 50K on the odometer. Consumption has been the same from day one, at 36K when I bought the car. I have gone through the auto-rx treatment, after which I have changed to synthetics. Whether using conventional or synthetic consumption numbers have been the same, using the same grade 5W30. I was thinking of using 10W30 however I do see that some of the 10w30 oils are actually thinner than the 5w30. I was thinking either trying a HDEO or bumping my oils up a grade to a 10W-40. Notice I have not mentioned any brands as they have showed just about the same consumption numbers.
My other car a 2002 SL1 1.9 SOHC with 82K on the odometer, consumption numbers have been around 1qt per 5K miles, I have tried various 5W30 synthetic oils, they all have showed just about the same consumption numbers. I don’t remember what the auto-rx clean/rinse phase consumption numbers were because it has been a while since I have done so. Had the car since 42K miles and here I am too thinking of trying the 10W40 grade or the HDEO oils.
I do understand that with the 10w-40 grade MPG may take a slight hit, we all share the common oil ring problem where no matter what we do, those oil rings just do not seat properly and do let quite a bit of oil pat them. Both were cheap cars so I am treating this as a fun experiment rather than being annoyed that I have to add oil every once in a while.
So let me start, I have a 2001 SC2 1.9 DOHC with 50K on the odometer. Consumption has been the same from day one, at 36K when I bought the car. I have gone through the auto-rx treatment, after which I have changed to synthetics. Whether using conventional or synthetic consumption numbers have been the same, using the same grade 5W30. I was thinking of using 10W30 however I do see that some of the 10w30 oils are actually thinner than the 5w30. I was thinking either trying a HDEO or bumping my oils up a grade to a 10W-40. Notice I have not mentioned any brands as they have showed just about the same consumption numbers.
My other car a 2002 SL1 1.9 SOHC with 82K on the odometer, consumption numbers have been around 1qt per 5K miles, I have tried various 5W30 synthetic oils, they all have showed just about the same consumption numbers. I don’t remember what the auto-rx clean/rinse phase consumption numbers were because it has been a while since I have done so. Had the car since 42K miles and here I am too thinking of trying the 10W40 grade or the HDEO oils.
I do understand that with the 10w-40 grade MPG may take a slight hit, we all share the common oil ring problem where no matter what we do, those oil rings just do not seat properly and do let quite a bit of oil pat them. Both were cheap cars so I am treating this as a fun experiment rather than being annoyed that I have to add oil every once in a while.
