Super Tech Full Syn 5W30, 94 Saturn SL2, 5,500

[lt1man]

This car drove 1,800 highway miles from Florida, consistent high RPM's. Then once in Texas, this car saw some dusty, sandy conditions and lots of local driving with idling. Very spirited driver. Car has over 200k miles, just passed an emission test here today after new cat installed. The other comparison is not the right car, that is a 99 Saturn Sw2 with Mobil 1 5W30. But still you can compare numbers.

It's very dusty and dry here, which probably explains the silicone. The sodium I'm not sure what that's about. I'm not losing and coolant at all. I did top of the oil with 1 quart, not sure who's brand it was, just a regular quart of dino oil.

 

[lt1man]

The oil was in the car for 6 months.

 

[ltslimjim]

I'm not sure if ST oils have any sodium, but since you topped off with a conventional oil it's possible to have spiked the sodium right there.

Nothing conclusive here other than continue to monitor.

At the current OCI, it should have plenty of TBN at this miles/months. So I don't think that's a concern.

IMO, it's possible you could have coolant entry, but I wouldn't worry for now. You had some fuel dilution back when you registered on the site in 06 for this same app back at 81k miles on the engine and the iron was reading a tick high then as well compared to the Universal Averages.

If it were me? Consider trying another oil AND inspect your intake tubing 'primarly' post filter and at the filter box/housing itself. Clean up the area, check for cracks/leaks/holes/sealing issues everything related to air intake into the engine. Of course, you could always post what air filter currently used.

Whatever oil filter seems to be doing a decent job.

Perhaps your block/engine just shows more Fe.

It's made it 200k miles so...any drop off in fuel economy? 1 quart in 5,500 miles for a Saturn seems good AFAIK. Unless their oil burning problems started next gen of that vehicle?

Thanks for posting.

 

[Turk]

All Saturn SL's "can" burn oil "if" there's coking on the rings, due to no weep holes.

Was it full on the dipstick when you drained it, or was it down some and that wasn't included in the added amount?

A 94 Saturn SL2, 205,500 miles, spirited driving and if it only burns 1 quart in that many miles? Then:

 

[lt1man]

Believe me, there is no coolant entry. Oil was down maybe 1/2 qt at change, but 1 qt is all I added. Next time I'd use Quaker State UD full synthetic. I didn't know how cheap the oil was compared to Super Tech full syn, or else I'd have bought it. It's very dusty here, we have had some sand storms. I'd say it's normal.

 

[SLCraig]

Healthy twin cam.
I think spirited driving helps these cars. The longer I owned my 96 SL2 the less oil it burned (I was no afraid to rev it up)

I was around the same consumption as you, maybe just a tad more, just before I sold it. Whereas when I got the car I was around 1qt/1500 miles.

 

[lt1man]

I may or may not have made some high speed run's holding high RPM's for a few minutes, in the redline...I plan on using Quaker State UD full synthetic next time.

 

[KCJeep]

A quart of Castrol of Valvoline (or a host of store brands) would account for the sodium. Since you don't know what the top off oil was I'd forget about it till next time.

 

[lt1man]

I can assure you, my engine probably has very little carbon in it. There is a vid on youtube of a guy with I believe 400k miles on his orig trans and engine. Of course, the trans my have been through a valve body and a loose input nut, but the internals are probably good. Still very peppy.

 

[ltslimjim]

I'd focus on air filtration more so than anything moving forward. Just to re-iterate.

PS: I also like SLCraig's advice to drive it hard from time to time. Some also encourage the use of engine braking (if an auto then manually downshift to 3rd, 2nd, and back into D after stopping(of course not to red line by downshifting lol).

 

[lt1man]

I actually do engine brake it all the time. Getting off the off ramps, red lights or car's that can't decide on one speed.

 

[GMFan]

The 1.9L SOHC/DOHC Saturn motors are known for shedding Iron but they run a long time.

 

[Turk]

Originally Posted By: GMFan
The 1.9L SOHC/DOHC Saturn motors are known for shedding Iron but they run a long time.


I only had 5ppm Iron on my UOA w/4,000 miles on AC Delco oil on my Saturn SL2.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2510031&page=1