very high mileage engine oil trouble (synth question)
- Thread starter daisuke
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I don't know what kind of oil was in there before, I bought the car with 215k on it already and it lost oil then, I know the owner before me only had the car for about 10k miles, but he had 3 other cars so he rarely drove it, apparently the original owner came before him and she did her oil changes at jiffy lube so I can probably pull her history of changes from back then. Since I got it I've been running a few different oils, I started it on NAPA 10w-40 and then reduced it to 10w30, I currently run 5w30 in it, I also used the NAPA (valvoline, same stuff only cheaper) high mileage oil in it too. I've put normal valvoline and the Unocal 76 bottom of the line crap they have at jiffy lube as well, the saturn is so low that there's just no way I can change my own oil safely and since it burns so much I take it to jiffy lube because of the free topoffs. I change my oil around every 3000 miles if it looks cruddy or wait a bit more if it doesn't (almost never), but never after 5000 miles. I had a problem with my engine temp. coolant sensor which caused the idle to fluctuate wildly, when it did this it would turn my oil black within 500 miles.
I've been thinking about MMO, the seafoam ran ok and so far I've only burned about a fifth of a quart in almost a full tank of gas, so some improvement is noticeable altho I put much less than the third of a bottle in there. I'll try MMO and see what it does, can't hurt really.
The reason I ask is because I know of some guys with 125k mile saturns (notorious for leaking) who switched to mobil 1 and went from a quart every 1000 miles to no loss whatsoever, my girl being as old as she is... not a chance probably.
Many ppl in florida are senile remember? they probably forget to change their oil every time until the check engine light comes on. I heard this one story about this dumb lady that bought a new car and just never changed the oil, then she was surprised when it conked out 16000 miles later. I would have paid to see what that oil looked like.
I've been thinking about MMO, the seafoam ran ok and so far I've only burned about a fifth of a quart in almost a full tank of gas, so some improvement is noticeable altho I put much less than the third of a bottle in there. I'll try MMO and see what it does, can't hurt really.
The reason I ask is because I know of some guys with 125k mile saturns (notorious for leaking) who switched to mobil 1 and went from a quart every 1000 miles to no loss whatsoever, my girl being as old as she is... not a chance probably.
Many ppl in florida are senile remember? they probably forget to change their oil every time until the check engine light comes on. I heard this one story about this dumb lady that bought a new car and just never changed the oil, then she was surprised when it conked out 16000 miles later. I would have paid to see what that oil looked like.
If it really is a sticking oil control ring then this might be a good candidate for MMO in the crankcase. Try adding a quart, and see if it makes any difference. It won't hurt. If it helps, it will be quicker and much cheaper than a-rx, which you can still run afterwards if you choose. Put some in the gas, too, and you can clean the rings from both sides.
It's interesting that Saturn actually recommends a run of synthetic to help the rings. I suppose it is the least aggressive approach, and Saturn wouldn't want to recommend something MORE aggressive, as any problems caused would then become Saturn's liability. Couldn't hurt to try the synthetic, but I'd do MMO first.
- Glenn
It's interesting that Saturn actually recommends a run of synthetic to help the rings. I suppose it is the least aggressive approach, and Saturn wouldn't want to recommend something MORE aggressive, as any problems caused would then become Saturn's liability. Couldn't hurt to try the synthetic, but I'd do MMO first.
- Glenn
Well, high oil usage could be a variety of things, but I'd check some things before I gave up - someone has already suggested checking the PCV system. That's a good place to start.
Another place to check would be the intake manifold or plenum gasket (depending on the engine.) A leak there could cause oil to be drawn into the intake. The 5.9L Dodge is notorious for that - the oil usage goes very high; much like what you're describing, a quart every couple hundred or sooner. I know it's a completely different engine, but I mention it since it's possible.
I'm not sure I'd put a synth. oil in an engine that's using so much - mostly because of the cost. A good quality conv. would be my choice.
Another place to check would be the intake manifold or plenum gasket (depending on the engine.) A leak there could cause oil to be drawn into the intake. The 5.9L Dodge is notorious for that - the oil usage goes very high; much like what you're describing, a quart every couple hundred or sooner. I know it's a completely different engine, but I mention it since it's possible.
I'm not sure I'd put a synth. oil in an engine that's using so much - mostly because of the cost. A good quality conv. would be my choice.
I wouldn't switch to synthetic; you could potentially cause more issues then you have now.
For instance, synthetic has a way of cleaning up and revealing problematic seals/gaskets, potentially leading to a bigger leak.
My choice would be to run Rotella synthetic diesel/gasoline rated oil 5w-40 yr round, or winter use, and use Delo 400 15w40 summer. Delo 400 is also a diesel/gasoline rated oil with higher detergent levels.
For instance, synthetic has a way of cleaning up and revealing problematic seals/gaskets, potentially leading to a bigger leak.
My choice would be to run Rotella synthetic diesel/gasoline rated oil 5w-40 yr round, or winter use, and use Delo 400 15w40 summer. Delo 400 is also a diesel/gasoline rated oil with higher detergent levels.
Hear you LT1 VETTE.
The worst i saw was a Bentley smoking on Ocean Drive in South Beach last week.The body on the car was perfect and clean as can be.An older guy in his 80's was driving it with his much much much younger partner
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