Car Burns Oil???

[Diamondpilot]

Ok, I probably know the answer but here it is. I have a 1999 Saturn SC2 with the 1.9L DOHC engine and it burns oil. It has burnt about 1 qt every 1000 miles for the last 20,000 miles. I have done some research on the net and found out that this engine is known to have ring problems. I have not done a compression check yet but I am guessing this is the problem. The car runs great and looks good plus it still gets 31 mpg town and 38 mpg highway. By the way it has 111,500 miles and is a auto.

The engine is still used in the Chevy Cobalt and I am hearing problems on them also. It calls for 5W30 oil but says it can use 10W30 above 32 deg. I have used both oils with no difference in oil consumption noted. I tried some Sea Foam in the oil and I also tried some Marvels Mystery Oil, not at the same time, with no difference noted.

Is there anything I can try to help this engine out? I have always used conventional motor oil and have never tried the high millage oil. What is the difference? I have also seen a product called Restore that claims to improve compression, does it help or would it help in my situation? Any suggestions would be appreciated but I have a feeling a rebuild is going to be in order or just let it keep burning oil.

Chris

 

[Ryan03]

I beleive that problem is due to the rings loosing tension rather than cylinder bore scoring. For this reason, I think you would be wasting your time with Restore, IMO. In the mean time, you may try a low ash engine oil, as these seem to reduce the tendancy of the spark plugs to foul in oil.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I actually never have any spark plug problems. It is a Hemi Engine so I do not know if this helps or not with fouling but the plugs have not been a problem. I do change them once a year because its cheap and it a old car.

Chris

 

[sld]

How many miles per month or year are you putting on it?

If you are still getting the mpg, just switch to a cheaper oil and keep on driving it. I am a Ford guy, and Motorcraft semi synthetic is only 2.30 per quart. It would be much easier and cheaper to keep adding oil than do a rebuild at this point.

When it is warmer, you could try a heavier oil. I got another 2 years out of a tired 302 once by changing to a 20w50 oil. Didn't notice anything other than less leakage and usage and better oil pressure.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am a Ford Guy also. I own 3 trucks, a 04 F-250 4x4 PSD, a 06 F-350 4x4 PSD, and a 07 F-150 4x4. I got this Saturn on the cheap, $2,825, a few years back and its a good little car but like every other GM I have owned it nickle and dimes me. But hey, its got 100,000+ miles. Its a nice car with Auto Tranny, Power Sunroof, Power Locks, Power Windows, Sat Radio, Cruise, Cold Air. Everything works and it still looks great.

I drive the car a lot. Probably 1,000 miles per month. I have to add a quart every other fill up, or about 800 miles. I will probably just keep adding oil but wanted to see if there was a old mechanics trick to keep it from burning oil.

Funny thing about this car is it is as clean as can be underneath. I do all my own maintenance and it is spotless. It does not drip any fluid. I only wish GM made the internals as good as they do the gaskets because this thing would run for ever.

Chris

 

[kenmac]

1 qt per 1000 miles. One would think that the plugs would show some signs of oil burn. Or a little blue smoke from time to time. If it is the oil rings. I don't think it would show on a com. check. If it is the oil rings...Sorry Chris, I don't think there is any majic in the bottle fix

 

[ToadHill]

In 1988 I bought a year old Ranger with 22,000 miles and I found it used a quart of oil every 1500 miles. I drove it for 12 years and when I sold it it had 225,000 miles on it and it still used a quart of oil every 1500 miles. The engine ran as strong when I sold it as it did when I bought it. I think some engines just use oil, and if you have no other problems, I'd drive it and not worry about it.

 

[BotaBigot]

With no signs of leaks, could be rings or valve stem seals. Stem seals are relatively inexpensive.

As others have said, I would just drive it, and maybe use a higher viscosity oil. Don't bother with the additives. If it's rings, I wouldn't consider a rebuild...not cost effective. By the time oil consumption becomes a major problem, you'll probably be ready to replace the car...

 

[carpenter383]

check the pcv valve

 

[Foothill Rancher]

I've had older cars, one a chevy and one a plymouth that used oil from the time I bought them, both brand new.

I'm just about to change to the high mileage oil but I don't think one of it's features is to stop oil burning, more along the lines of gasket restoring and heavier additives.

A quart every thousand miles isn't to bad, next oil change try a 5-40 and see if that helps.