Sorry I didn't read all the replies. You must have severe fuel dilution due to the poor ring seal. Your only option is to change the oil every 1 or 2 months. Monitor consumption. When the oil thins too much, consumption increases abruptly. Then when you're about 1/2 qt low, change the oil. One good oil with a low every-day price is Exxon Superflo. Get 10w-40.
Which oil resists burn off the best?
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It is normal for Saturn S-series vehicles. That being said, these cars go a long time if oil level is monitored and kept full. 250K + is not uncommon for these motors.
Originally Posted By: Edmond
I used to work with a guy who drove a Saturn, I forgot which model, though. He told me that it used to burn 1 qt. a week. I asked him if he took it to the shop. He did and said the guy told him, "That's normal for Saturns."
I've been reading up on this a bit lately as my son just bought a 96 Saturn SL1 with a 1.9 ltr. GM has a TSB on some of these to use a ring/top end engine cleaner. I guess the ring pack gets carboned up. Pull the plugs, rotate the engine until the pistons are all about the same height, pour equal amounts of this cleaner into the plug holes, and let it sit for the specified amount of time. When the interval has passed, crank the engine to expell the cleaner, install the plugs, and change the oil. I just changed the oil, and added Auto-Rx. The previous owner told me it always used a quart of oil every 3,000 miles. We'll see what that brings. Yup, that's normal for SOME Saturns!
I used to work with a guy who drove a Saturn, I forgot which model, though. He told me that it used to burn 1 qt. a week. I asked him if he took it to the shop. He did and said the guy told him, "That's normal for Saturns."
I've been reading up on this a bit lately as my son just bought a 96 Saturn SL1 with a 1.9 ltr. GM has a TSB on some of these to use a ring/top end engine cleaner. I guess the ring pack gets carboned up. Pull the plugs, rotate the engine until the pistons are all about the same height, pour equal amounts of this cleaner into the plug holes, and let it sit for the specified amount of time. When the interval has passed, crank the engine to expell the cleaner, install the plugs, and change the oil. I just changed the oil, and added Auto-Rx. The previous owner told me it always used a quart of oil every 3,000 miles. We'll see what that brings. Yup, that's normal for SOME Saturns!
It's called an MMO Soak (marvel myster oil) in the Saturn community.
I know its just marketing, etc...but Castrol GTX High-Mileage goes on in their adds about how much it controls 'volatility/burn off' in the 10w30 grade....it is one of the thickest 30-weight High Mileage oils...you might want to try that.
is the Castrol High Mileage 30 weight thicker than MaxLife, Supertech High Mileage, and Pennzoil High Mileage?
is the Castrol High Mileage 30 weight thicker than MaxLife, Supertech High Mileage, and Pennzoil High Mileage?
For GTX HM, the 30 wt. is 12.1 cst @100C. Maxlife is 11.3 cst; and Pennzoil High Mileage is 11.7 cst, so yeah, Castrol High Mileage 30-weight is thicker than those others.
However, another one that is as thick as the Castrol is Quaker State High Mileage, which is the same 12 cst weight...I don't know how thick Supertech High Mileage is, we don't have it in Canada anymore...used to, but it was discontinued.
However, another one that is as thick as the Castrol is Quaker State High Mileage, which is the same 12 cst weight...I don't know how thick Supertech High Mileage is, we don't have it in Canada anymore...used to, but it was discontinued.
from my testing in oem weight oil (I have a prelude with an h22a4 motor which is notorious of burning oil)
Amsoil ASL 5w30 and GC 0w30 hold up the best. DON'T USE M1!
Amsoil ASL 5w30 and GC 0w30 hold up the best. DON'T USE M1!
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Auto-Rx clean and rinse -- then any High Mileage oil afterwards.
Originally Posted By: Mau
from my testing in oem weight oil (I have a prelude with an h22a4 motor which is notorious of burning oil)
Amsoil ASL 5w30 and GC 0w30 hold up the best. DON'T USE Mobil 1!
+1
The ShortStar (similar in design to the NorthStar which is another engine infamous for high oil consumption) in our Olds Intrigue would gobble up Mobil 1 5w30 at a prodigious rate. GC and two Auto-Rx treatments (I did one at 50K and it's currently on the 100K A-Rx cycle) has reduced oil consumption to
from my testing in oem weight oil (I have a prelude with an h22a4 motor which is notorious of burning oil)
Amsoil ASL 5w30 and GC 0w30 hold up the best. DON'T USE Mobil 1!
+1
The ShortStar (similar in design to the NorthStar which is another engine infamous for high oil consumption) in our Olds Intrigue would gobble up Mobil 1 5w30 at a prodigious rate. GC and two Auto-Rx treatments (I did one at 50K and it's currently on the 100K A-Rx cycle) has reduced oil consumption to
I have 102k on my SL1; burns 1qt in 3000 miles. I keep it topped off but I also change it in 3000 mile intervals. Its held steady there even after MMO soaks. I used to run Rotella T synthetic with slightly less oil consumption, but after awhile I noticed a little more pep with 5w30 and my wallet wasn't as light.
Its cheaper to add oil and do the occasional MMO soak than to try and find an oil that keeps the piston rings clean and keeps consumption low.
And beware if and when you do a MMO soak, you'll send up a smokescreen in the first mile!
Its cheaper to add oil and do the occasional MMO soak than to try and find an oil that keeps the piston rings clean and keeps consumption low.
And beware if and when you do a MMO soak, you'll send up a smokescreen in the first mile!
Supertech High Mileage is like $8/5q. It quenched the old Audi over the winter.
I have a 98 Saturn SL2 with over 221K on it and it does use between 1 to 2 quarts between 3000 mile OCI. I've tried many of the High Mileage oils and the current fill is Supertech High Mileage. It's gone through about 1 quart in 2500 miles so it may be a little above the average which is a surprise to me.
I have a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2L with 171K on it that seems to burn much less (1 quart at 3-4 K OCI) with Pennzoil High Mileage. I think some of it depends on the oil and filter combination along with the driving style.
I have a 95 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.2L with 171K on it that seems to burn much less (1 quart at 3-4 K OCI) with Pennzoil High Mileage. I think some of it depends on the oil and filter combination along with the driving style.
Oil consumption in the little Saturns is just part of ownership. That said, keeping the oil topped off every fill up can keep these cars going for a long time. I've seen people on the Internet with 300-350K with one guy who has 500K on his Saturn. They seem to be great little cars.
Its really too bad my subframe is going to rust through long before the engine will see even 200k.
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