Saturn SL1 - 40k miles without OC! Stupid buy?

[NC_Oil_Obsessed]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: modularv8
All the above advice ++.

BTW, what is "DD" in your signature? She may have other issues as well.

"2010 GMC Acadia 6 AT - Girl Friends Car and DD".


So I've figured out that DD = Daily Driver, but I think drawing attention to this is priceless.

I can't edit my previous post but out of the 3 choices I gave, I now recommend "leave her" simply on the basis that a GMC Acadia is a daily driver. Here is something from GMC's website on it's fuel economy:

Acadia has better fuel economy than any competitive 8-passenger SUV

So your GF drives an 8 passenger SUV to work, has her kid brother living with you, and criticizes you for choosing "green". And she also calls you "cheap". Did she buy her Acadia in cash or on credit?



I wish this didn't turn into a GF bashing thread. Its all in good spirit and I appreciate the sense of humor. gotta love these automotive threads where we can bash chicks for fun and get away with it, since almost all members are men. I am gonna show her this thread and she will take it in good stride and laugh it off, or roll eyes.

To be fair to her, she put a decent down payment on her GMC and will pay it off in 3 yrs total with 0% financing. Works for the county and makes sure kids from low income families get quality education. Is very passionate about that. Is always buying canned food, school supplies on her own dime for some kids at her school. She is simple and humble, and we live in a modest place even though we could live large.

Unlike men, women are very concerned about their cars breaking down or leaving them stranded and are willing to fork out a little more every month for that peace of mind a new car gives them. IMO the concern is warranted.

The Acadia is more of an "our" car. She drives it cuz her commute is very short. With 2nd row and 3rd row down, it doubles as a truck. Better yet, unlike a truck you can some haul stuff, say a couch even when raining.

She was complaining about the green color of the Saturn.

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: NC_Oil_Obsessed
Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: modularv8
All the above advice ++.

BTW, what is "DD" in your signature? She may have other issues as well.

"2010 GMC Acadia 6 AT - Girl Friends Car and DD".


So I've figured out that DD = Daily Driver, but I think drawing attention to this is priceless.

I can't edit my previous post but out of the 3 choices I gave, I now recommend "leave her" simply on the basis that a GMC Acadia is a daily driver. Here is something from GMC's website on it's fuel economy:

Acadia has better fuel economy than any competitive 8-passenger SUV

So your GF drives an 8 passenger SUV to work, has her kid brother living with you, and criticizes you for choosing "green". And she also calls you "cheap". Did she buy her Acadia in cash or on credit?



I wish this didn't turn into a GF bashing thread. Its all in good spirit and I appreciate the sense of humor. gotta love these automotive threads where we can bash chicks for fun and get away with it, since almost all members are men. I am gonna show her this thread and she will take it in good stride and laugh it off, or roll eyes.

To be fair to her, she put a decent down payment on her GMC and will pay it off in 3 yrs total with 0% financing. Works for the county and makes sure kids from low income families get quality education. Is very passionate about that. Is always buying canned food, school supplies on her own dime for some kids at her school. She is simple and humble, and we live in a modest place even though we could live large.

Unlike men, women are very concerned about their cars breaking down or leaving them stranded and are willing to fork out a little more every month for that peace of mind a new car gives them. IMO the concern is warranted.

The Acadia is more of an "our" car. She drives it cuz her commute is very short. With 2nd row and 3rd row down, it doubles as a truck. Better yet, unlike a truck you can some haul stuff, say a couch even when raining.

She was complaining about the green color of the Saturn.


You're right. My comments were probably an over reaction. She probably had some fair concerns eg you went off and bought an old car with 223k on it for her kid brother to drive in. She's used to the security of her 8 seater SUV so to see her brother in something like that is a worry. If you bought it without telling her, then that's probably another mistake. One because it's for her kid brother and two because it's a good idea to get a consensus when you make purchases like that which have future implications.

What I reacted to was mainly the way she reacted to you. Especially the comment that you were "cheap". That's a personal insult which should not happen, especially not when you're doing things out of good intentions. So I would at least recommend that she criticizes constructively in future and explains why she does not agree with what you did. Then you would have the chance to explain yourself, making her feel more confident about what would happen, and for you to agree that next time you would do things differently.

There needs to be respect, trust and reasoning in your relationship. I think that respect was missing ("cheap"), trust (did't give you a chance to prove it is a good decision) and lack of reasoning (she jumped to conclusions again without getting your side of the story).

On the other hand, you did not consult her enough, which is probably behind the reaction. Had you found a low mileage Honda Accord for $2k, then you might have gotten away with it. Most people would have a poor impression of an old high mileage Saturn.

Anyway, if you were to go to her and say sorry for not consulting her enough and you understand why she reacted like that, then the reaction from her should be one of trust and open dialogue where you can tell her why you feel the car will be fine and your plan to get it into shape.

If she does not enter into a dialogue with respect and trust, then it's not a good sign. And my experience is that women don't become more reasonable as they age.

 

[silverrat]

What the [censored] is wrong with you people! Cut him some slack! What's wrong with this thread?

 

[moggi1964]

Change the fluids as indicated earlier.

Take the girlfriend out to dinner and have a laugh about the posts on this forum.

Live happily ever after.

Okay, next.....?

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: moggi1964
Change the fluids as indicated earlier.

Take the girlfriend out to dinner and have a laugh about the posts on this forum.

Live happily ever after.

Okay, next.....?

Just don't go anywhere cheap

 

[Unleashedbeast]

I'm trying to understand how a man is obligated to buy a girlfriends younger brother a car, and when said car isn't satisfactory, she has room to complain about it. The nerve of some people.

 

[Mustang Man]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: moggi1964
Change the fluids as indicated earlier.

Take the girlfriend out to dinner and have a laugh about the posts on this forum.

Live happily ever after.

Okay, next.....?

Just don't go anywhere cheap

Did somebody say McDonald's?

 

[oilboy123]

We all just assumed by what you said that she did not appreciate our fellow BTOG member.

rjacket has some good advice.

I would suggest cutting the first filter apart so you know how much junk is swirling around in the oil. Might not be that sludged up.

If the filter looks pretty clean run the interval out farther. But when you start the Auto-RX keep in mind it might start knocking some stuff loose, so you might want to check the first RX filter at about 1500 miles. Ask me how I know.

Good luck with the Girlfriend, car and the eager driver.

 

[jeepman]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Change all the fluids you reasonably can. It sounds like the car needs some TLC after 223k of indifference.

I'd personally change the oil and filter in 500 miles, then dump some MMO and new oil/filter in the crankcase, run that at 500 miles, change it again, and then get the Auto-RX. The new oil and MMO will get the obvious sludge, the ARX will get the stuff that's tougher. Either way, I'd be changing at least the filters every 500 miles, as there's going to be a lot of stuff coming loose.

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Check all the fluids yourself. If the brake fluid hasn't been changed then consider changing it (completely getting rid of air pockets and all old fluid). You don't want his brakes failing then it's sure to be blamed on you.

Consider resetting this relationship. You have your GF's kid brother living with you which is nice of you, you then help him out, and you get grief.

You have three options here

1) Don't help your GF or her kid brother out with anything again if this is how they appreciate you
2) Have a firm word with her telling her she is being unreasonable and that you're none too happy with her. Explain that you're doing a good job for HER kid brother and if she is so smart then tell her to show you and HER kid brother what car he should have bought, how he would have afforded it, and why it was a good buy.
3) Leave her

Lastly, you took a chance buying a car that hadn't been maintained in 40k, so if something happens directly related to that lack of maintenance, then it's your fault.


Personally, I would have paid $700 for it sight unseen based on what you have told us. SL1 was a fairly reliable car, and sludge can be gotten under control as long as it still starts and runs. Clean it out and stick some MaxLife in there. Probably get another 70k easy out of it, with minimal repair.

I agree with the above 2 maintenance strategies, and I say if after a word with both the GF and GF bro, they still hold firm that the car is POS and they are that ungrateful, take the car back and kick them both to the curb. Not the type of "entitlement" woman any man should be saddled with.


Originally Posted By: SaturnIonVue
Take away message for GF: As Archie Bunker would say, "Stifle yourself Edith!"


OT - SaturnIonVue, You made me laugh out loud! Gotta have a few years on ya to come up with that one.

 

[SLCraig]

I almost don't believe that.. My car won't even make it 5K without having a drop of oil in the sump... (Saturn)

They are so known for burning oil that is ridiculous it may have even had oil in it.

 

[hyperscion]

maybe run a short oci with 5w-40 syn t-6 rotella, I believe it has more detergents, than regular pcmo.

and please check the belts.
good luck.

 

[ThirdeYe]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: moggi1964
Change the fluids as indicated earlier.

Take the girlfriend out to dinner and have a laugh about the posts on this forum.

Live happily ever after.

Okay, next.....?

Just don't go anywhere cheap

That's great.

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123
We all just assumed by what you said that she did not appreciate our fellow BTOG member.

rjacket has some good advice.

I would suggest cutting the first filter apart so you know how much junk is swirling around in the oil. Might not be that sludged up.

If the filter looks pretty clean run the interval out farther. But when you start the Auto-RX keep in mind it might start knocking some stuff loose, so you might want to check the first RX filter at about 1500 miles. Ask me how I know.

Good luck with the Girlfriend, car and the eager driver.


I think this advice is far better than mine. Yes cut the filter. Good thing you didn't change it. But remember, it may not have been changed for 40k whereas it seems that the oil must have been topped up

Also, elsewhere I saw a suggestion to run 5w40. I would suggest running a 5w20, say the new pennzoil high mileage or yellow bottle or even PP 0w20. Firstly, if there is sludge, then thinner oil is going to flow better. Secondly, if there are deposits, then the 40%+ cleaning is going to do a better job for you. Thirdly, in the case of YB & HM, it's relatively cheap to change out often.

I have no experience of mmo and auto rx etc, but if the pennzoil is as good as it seems and the sludge is not so severe, then maybe you can go without it. Seems to me that a quality oil designed to clean sludge will do better on it's own without introducing potentially competing additives. Plus you're less likely to dislodge something too big.

Then just keep checking your oil to see how quickly it turns black. It would be good if you could at least get a look down the fill hole. You said there was something obstructing your view, but if oil gets through, then there must be a way to check what's there!

 

[Thermo1223]

Having owned many Saturns(or been involved in maint.)

I had a 93 SL1 that never burned a drop(AMAZING).

The automatic has a spin on filter which you can get at any place that sells Wix. Change the filter and drain what you can out of the tranny and replace with fresh DEX III. It doesn't have a pan like most do. So don't bother unbolting anything down there unless you want to look at the valvebody.

Do a short run with any regular 5w30 oil & like was suggested substitute a quart of MMO in for oil. That will thin the oil out to most likely a 20wt when running. I'd run it 500 miles & check oil condition. You might have to dump and fill depending on what it looks like. I'd do it again for another 500 miles.

After that I'd try and fight 10w30 Rotella and run that afterwards or any High Mileage oil. Mobil 10w30, Maxlife 5/10w30, Pennzoil...all good ones to get. Then just run standard 3k miles OCI for a while to see how the car performs.

Most importantly if it does burn oil(and it will I'd bet) make sure you keep it full!

Good Luck

 

[NightRiderQ45]

What a horrible ungrateful girlfriend!! You should've told her to buy her own brother a freaking car! Also, this guy is 20 years old and needs you to purchase a $700 car for him!? I thought that maybe he was 16 but 20, [censored]? He is old enough to provide for himself buddy. Get your tail from between your legs and let HIM handle his own car (he is 20) and don't let you woman talk to you crazy after YOU purchased HER brother a car. Just my honest

 

[Hootbro]

Take the car back and kick the girlfriend to the curb.

 

[sciphi]

You could run the car on MMO. I wonder how it would go on a crank full of MMO...

Horrible idea, forget I said it. But do keep 2-3 quarts in the trunk so the GF's brother can top off as needed. And drill into his head to check the oil every time he fills up, or he's walking home one day soon.

If you wanted to get "fancy", there are filter relocation kits available for $50 or so. Then changing the filter would be easy. Although that's likely more work than you want to throw at this Saturn.

Best of luck with it!

 

[CROWNVIC4LIFE]

Originally Posted By: NC_Oil_Obsessed
Hey all. Last Sunday, I bought a car for my GF's kid brother, who lives with us and is car-less. Its a 2000 Saturn SL1, 223000 Miles, Auto trans, 700$. The lady who we bought it from, said she never did an oil change for the 40K plus miles she had the car.
Thank you


The lady should have paid you at least 100 bucks to take that heap off her hands..If she kept it much longer it would have left her stranded with a big fat towing bill and she would have had it junked..I am 100% sure she had a big party that night after she got your money.

40K miles without a oil change is a stupid buy.

 

[snoops454]

I guess I should get rid of my GREEN 2001 Saturn coupe that has provided me 170k reliable 40+mpg miles...

Don't spend a ton of money trying to fix it up, just change the oil with what ever 10-30 is on sale and change it every 2k-3k with a little MMO if you like.

Change the tranny fluid and filter, (easier than on the engine) and like said before www.saturnfans.com/forums

if the engine doesn't have a lot of rattles from timing chain or knocking from the lower end its good to go for a long time. They do use oil so make sure he checks it and keeps it full. every time he puts gas in he should check the oil level.

There are not many cars out there that will run as long for as little as a S-series saturn.

 

[Gary Allan]

Quote:
There are not many cars out there that will run as long for as little as a S-series saturn.


That's the impression I get. If The Critic has one in the stable, it's assured to be the ultimate in absolute economy.

What I find sorta funny is that most of the true gems often roll around in mundane apparel. Aside from some characteristic oil consumption, the S series appears to be a good gamble in advanced mileage/ownership.

They're just not exciting.