Re: How Bad Before the Rings Go?

I've got a friend that has been driving a car for years that requires
adding a quart every couple hundred miles.

Is their car a Saturn with the same engine as mine? Mine went from a quart
every 3,000 miles to a quart or so every 1,000 miles in the past two years.
Seeing as I commute 70 miles round trip daily on NJ's finest highways (i.e.
stop and go from time to time) I'm a bit worried that I'll snap a ring
sooner or later and be stuck out there with a big bill, plus an unplanned
replacement cost.

A quart per thousand isn't that bad by comparison. Just be sure you watch
that oil level and don't forget about it.

Agreed. I found the car 2 quarts low yesterday after a long trip.
Previously, the engine didn't eat oil on long, cruise-control moderated
trips, only the stop-and-go. That's part of my new worries.

Have you checked your PCV valve? If they get gunked up, owners have
reported that they contribute to oil consumption.

Changed it when we found the fouled plug three weeks ago.

If you consider attempting to "fix" the problem by tearing apart the
motor, consider this -

Replacing oil control rings or valve guides to try to reduce consumption
is expensive and doesn't guarantee the problem will be solved. What is
cheaper - spending a buck every thousand miles to keep the oil level where
it should be, or paying to rebuild the motor (~ $2000 likely) which may or
may not resovle the problem? I know which I'll choose.

I'll gladly throw oil in every so often IF, and only if I know that the
rings or something else isn't about to let go and leave me stranded on a
highway, or worse - without a vehicle.

I don't know that you should feel the need to sell it, if you're making
the assumption that oil consumption means that something very bad is going
to happen soon because of it. Lots of owners report burning oil for the
life of the vehicle with no other issues. If that is the case, and if it
is not quickly getting progressively worse, I'd keep it. A car that's
paid for sure beats starting the cycle over again with another 5 years of
payments...

Oh, don't get me wrong, I didn't plan on paying much for my next car.
Again, oil consumption doesn't worry me, it's the concept of being
vehicle-less. The next car I've got lined up is a newer "W2(?)" Saturn
station wagon. Family owned, 50,000 miles and the perfect cost for me if I
choose to go that route. Breaks my heart that I'll be loosing the stick
shift though.

Have you tried the 'stuck ring' fix described in the forums at
http://www.saturnfans.com? Many have reported success in reducing oil
consumption with that method. Run a search and you're sure to come across
it.

I've tried most of it. <GRIN> If this is the "remove the plug, fill the
cyl with "stuff" and let sit, blow out, etc" method, then I've basically
done that My consumption went up slightly after a very aggressive treatment
close to that so I was leery about taking the plunge. Maybe this weekend...
--


Joe in Northern, NJ - V#8013-R

Currently Riding The "Mother Ship"

Ride a motorcycle in or near NJ?
http://tinyurl.com/5apkg
http://www.youthelate.com




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