New member from Akron Ohio, 2001 Saturn Sl1

[Golf3r]

Hey all. I cam across you guys on saturnfans.com. I was looking into my magically disappearing oil problem (doesnt burn OR leak!?) on my 2001 Sl1. But hey, at least it gets over 30 mpg. Does any1 know of any ways to fix my oil problem? Great site BTW

[davidjh72]

The S-series cars are known to burn oil. Something about the design of the piston rings, IIRC. Saturn will tell you that "yes, they do burn some oil, but as long as it's not 'excessive', it's not a problem" (It's YOUR problem). There are worse things to go wrong with a car. 219k miles on a 2000 SL2 in five years and the only thing wrong was that it burned oil.

I'm on my 4th Saturn. My 2000 burned a quart every 3,000 miles. Though on a trip from Michigan to Florida, I had to add TWO quarts when I filled up (that's about 400 miles). That was back in my lead foot driving days. Seems the faster you drive (higher RPMS and load) the faster they burn oil. My 2002 SC2 was a little better. Half a quart every 3k miles. The 2002 SL2 I drive now hasn't needed oil added at all. Oil level is full at 3k when I get an oil change. Been that way the 16,000 miles I've driven it from 44k to 60k. (knocks on wood). So, in my experience, 3 out of 4 do burn oil. Cherish the rare one that doesn't burn oil.

"Don't be a dipstick... check your dipstick!"

[davidjh72]

PS: my first Saturn, a 1998 SL2, didn't burn oil either from 0 to 75k miles until I wrecked it beyond repair. I didn't have that one long enough (a year and a half) to experience the phenomenon that is an oil-burning Saturn until its replacement, the 2000 SL2.

[davidjh72]

Originally Posted by Golf3r

Hey all. I cam across you guys on saturnfans.com. I was looking into my magically disappearing oil problem (doesnt burn OR leak!?) on my 2001 Sl1. But hey, at least it gets over 30 mpg. Does any1 know of any ways to fix my oil problem? Great site BTW

PS to the PS: When you say it doesn't burn oil or leak oil... you mean you don't get blue smoke like the mosquito foggers I see from time to time? My cars never belched blue smoke either, but they burned oil. If the oil level goes down and there's no external leak onto your driveway, then it's leaking into the cylinder(s) past the rings or valve guides and getting burned up along with the air and gasoline.

Oil doesn't just disappear, does it?

A bad oil burner would be my parents' Ford Escort wagon. It blew a quart thru the PCV valve every fifty miles soaking the breather filter and air filter. Now that's bad! I remember that return trip home from Wisconsin well.

[usedgeo]

Welcome to gassavers. I thought I should say hello since I have n 01 SL1 also. Mine uses very little oil at 90k. Not too much gas either. I guess I am more lucky than I realized.

Ernie

[zpiloto]

Originally Posted by Golf3r

Hey all. I cam across you guys on saturnfans.com. I was looking into my magically disappearing oil problem (doesnt burn OR leak!?) on my 2001 Sl1. But hey, at least it gets over 30 mpg. Does any1 know of any ways to fix my oil problem? Great site BTW

How about some more details. How much oil and what type are you using?

Welcome to the site. lots of Saturns.

[rh77]

Welcome to GS.

I'm also from the Akron area (Barberton) originally.

I can't help with the oil problem, but once it's fixed, hopefully the site can offer some guidance on Fuel Economy.

Good luck with those Northeastern Ohio roads...

RH77

[cfg83]

Golf3r -

Welcome to the site. I have been watching my oil, but I don't think it burns too a noticeable degree. When I transitioned from a 15 mile street to a 35 mile freeway commute, I think the car burned oil at the beginning. I usually just check it once a week. I don't think it is leaking onto my driveway (a little tranny fluid is, though ). Oil leaks are probably best solved at saturnfans.com, but we'll help you with MPG.

Do you see black soot on the muffler tip? I do. At first I thought it was just because I was running rich. But maybe that's a sign of burning oil?!?!?!

CarloSW2

[davidjh72]

An oil leak story...

My mom's 1996 SL2 at 103k leaked oil like crazy. She had to add a quart at every fill-up and put down kitty litter in the driveway to soak up the oily mess. And running rough with poor gas mileage, the fill ups were more frequent. I discovered the problem was a leaking cam cover gasket. The o-rings in the spark plug wells were shot. All four spark plugs and wires were covered in oil. #1 #2 plug wells had an inch of oil in each!

Replaced the gasket, o-rings, plugs, and wires and it runs great again with no leaks and much better gas mileage. It may be burning oil so I urged her to continue to check the oil at every gas up, and she does.

Also replaced the front brake rotors that day because the non-ABS brake pedal was pulsating and the steering wheel shaking under hard braking. Good brakes now too.

[cfg83]

David -

Originally Posted by davidjh72

An oil leak story...

My mom's 1996 SL2 at 103k leaked oil like crazy. She had to add a quart at every fill-up and put down kitty litter in the driveway to soak up the oily mess. And running rough with poor gas mileage, the fill ups were more frequent. I discovered the problem was a leaking cam cover gasket. The o-rings in the spark plug wells were shot. All four spark plugs and wires were covered in oil. #1 #2 plug wells had an inch of oil in each!

Replaced the gasket, o-rings, plugs, and wires and it runs great again with no leaks and much better gas mileage. It may be burning oil so I urged her to continue to check the oil at every gas up, and she does.

Also replaced the front brake rotors that day because the non-ABS brake pedal was pulsating and the steering wheel shaking under hard braking. Good brakes now too.

I've never had extreme oil leak problems like that, but I can never get rid of my brake pulsation, so I posted this on saturnfans.com :

Favorite Rotor + Brake Pad combo?
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=93089

My conclusion is that the next time around, I will probably go with the Brembo + Hawk HPS pads.

I also heard that there is an old trick to calibrating your rear drum brakes. What I heard is that if you roll the car down a hill backwards and hit the brakes (or the parking brake, I can't remember!!!), the rear drums will magically realign themselves.

CarloSW2