Who has a Saturn w/more than 75K on it? Does it leak oil?

[MichaelD]

Very old thread revived by new member. Moved here from OT.
admin allisolm


Grr. I can't have a single frickin' day without something in my GFs' life going wrong! :|

About three weeks ago, her car (96 Saturn SC1) was making a "knocking noise" (guys, we know what this means...but she's a non-mechanically inclined person) and "the oil light keeps blinking." *Sigh.*

I have no time to work on her vehicle, plus, she lives on a hill. Literally. So, trying to check the oil where she lives is impossible since the car sits on a weird angle most of the time.

She takes the car to the Saturn and it's TWO QUARTS low. That's 1/2 low! They find nothing wrong. What-freakin'-ever.

Today, she takes the car to Walmart to have the tires balanced/rotated. They put her car up on the lift and the mechanic notices "massive amounts of oil everywhere." He calls her in. She sees oil dripping "from the engine." (*sigh*...women...."from the engine" That helps SO much, doesn't it?)

I tell her to take it to Saturn. She's on the way as we speak.

I know that it's either:

1. Loose oil pan bolts/bad oil pan gasket = no big deal
2. Rear main seal is gone = very big deal, very big $$$$ money repair = sad girlfriend = Mike has to "hear it" for another two days. mike\<--will shoot himself if he has to hear his GF go Wah-Wah-Wah in his ear again.

Did your Saturn develop a bad oil leak? Talk to me.

EDIT
I also told her that when they find out what's wrong, she needs to talk to the Service Mgr about getting a break on the cost of the repair. They looked at it two weeks ago and found NOTHING wrong. I know they didn't put it up on the lift, but that it THEIR problem now.

 

[Fausto]

Eeesh. If it's the rear main seal, it's way far gone. My wife's Sentra had that go out, but it was a very small leak. I'd guess something else.

Although this would be a PITA, the best way to diagnose yourself (or at least narrow things down) would be to blast the crappo off the bottom of the car in a drive-thru wash and then look a few hours later to see where the goo is concentrated.

It could even be a cross-threaded oil filter?...would also explain the rapid loss. I would not put this past any of the Jiffy-Spooge goons here in town.

Not a Saturn owner BTW, just my 0.02

Fausto

 

[Parrotheader]

Seal leaks are obviously common, but not at 75k miles. My '92 Sentra has had a seal leak for the last year now. But then again, I'm now at 170,000 miles. It's not horrible. I've just countered it by putting in a thicker grade oil so it drains slower (I'm just trying to get another year or two out of it before I get a new car.) Hopefully it'll just be a loose fuel hose or something inexpensive.

I know you're a little irritated, but you might try being a bit more supportive of her. After all, if it's a seal leak she (or her parents) is going to be the one paying mucho bucks to have it fixed. I'd be crying too.

 

[MichaelD]

Hi Fausto1, how 'ya doing? Thanks for the reply. Well, she does get her oil changed at any number of different places that would be manned by any number of incompetent, slack-jawed, slope-browed, knuckle-dragging, illiterate Neanderthals, so you do have a point there.

Lessehere. When she brought it to Saturn three weeks ago, and they didn't find any leaks (snicker-snicker-GUFFAW!) they changed the oil, so it couldn't have been them, since it was obviously leaking already.

The time before that....wait, the time before that was Saturn too. Maybe they did muck it up? hehe, wouldn't that be ironic if they were the ones that screwed it up? I'm expecting a phone call from her within the hour...we'll see. I'll post the results here. Either way, I'm sure I'm gonna have to drive across town and pick her up. And listen/watch her cry. I hate it when women cry...I never know what to do. I'd rather they just hit me with a solid object and get it over with fast...it's so much easier that way.

 

[MichaelD]

<< I know you're a little irritated, but you might try being a bit more supportive of her. After all, if it's a seal leak she (or her parents) is going to be the one paying mucho bucks to have it fixed. I'd be crying too >>



You're right...I'm not really a bad guy...I'm just drawn that way. I feel badly for her. She's dropped a lot of money into that car. But, I encourge her to keep it a little longer. She just paid it off last month. It's hers. She owns it. But she has no warranty. Hopefully, it's nothing major.

 

[iamwiz82]

a friend of mine has a 1994 that doesnt leak and its at 160k miles. His auto tranny is slipping bad though. Another friend has a 1993(1992?) without the power steering option(yikes!) that isnt leaking and he has somewhere around 120k miles.

I had a car that would leak 1 quart every 225 miles, almost to the mile. Every fillup i had to add oil. That badboy still runs, too.

 

[Thegonagle]

Actually, oil burning is entirely too common on Saturns. Some start burning early, some start later, and some never do. It's a common topic in the saturn newsgroup.

 

[malbojah]

My 94 Saturn SL2 has just over 90,000 miles on it. It started losing oil within the last 2 months with no sign of it going anywhere (no oil spots on the driveway) Turns out the O-rings around the pistons had decayed to the point where oil was going straight through my engine. Also has a leak by the timing belt and by the oil pan. But with the knocking noise, I would take it to the dealer and have then check out the pistons to be on the safe side. (Blew my pistons and now I'm shelling out 700+ for a new/used engine)

 

[MichaelD]

<< My 94 Saturn SL2 has just over 90,000 miles on it. It started losing oil within the last 2 months with no sign of it going anywhere (no oil spots on the driveway) Turns out the O-rings around the pistons had decayed to the point where oil was going straight through my engine. Also has a leak by the timing belt and by the oil pan. But with the knocking noise, I would take it to the dealer and have then check out the pistons to be on the safe side. (Blew my pistons and now I'm shelling out 700+ for a new/used engine) >>



That is exactly what I'm afraid of. Two weeks ago, that "knocking noise" was not a good sign. Whenever you run an engine with low oil/low oil pressure you damage the engine. How much damage is dependent upon many factors.

Ironically, she just spent $60 getting the damn thing detailed/shampooed/sterilzed. It looks great...poor girl.

 

[MrBond]

It's not burning oil, it's leaking it I'd bet. My sister had the same problem with her SL2 over new years. According to the saturn dealership, it's a common problem with that range of years. Saturn sells a kit to fix it, came out to about $300 after tax, plus labor by her mechanic (she didn't take it to saturn, just got the parts there).

Unfortunatly, she's in Jamacia right now with no way for me to contact her, so I can't tell you exactly what parts you need. Describe it to the saturn guy though, and chances are, he'll know. Her symptoms are EXACTLY the same as my sister's were. I'd bet it's the same problem.

Good luck

 

[MichaelD]

<< It's not burning oil, it's leaking it I'd bet. My sister had the same problem with her SL2 over new years. According to the saturn dealership, it's a common problem with that range of years. Saturn sells a kit to fix it, came out to about $300 after tax, plus labor by her mechanic (she didn't take it to saturn, just got the parts there).

Unfortunatly, she's in Jamacia right now with no way for me to contact her, so I can't tell you exactly what parts you need. Describe it to the saturn guy though, and chances are, he'll know. Her symptoms are EXACTLY the same as my sister's were. I'd bet it's the same problem.

Good luck >>



Thanks, Mr. Bond. I'm betting it's either the rear main seal or a cross-threaded oil filter. I'm hoping its the latter, as prolly, she'll get Saturn to take the blame for it, being that they are the ones that have changed the oil the last few times. *Chewing on nails with nerves*

 

[Arschloch]

My Saturn used to leak oil.

Then I threw it in the trash with my old Genesis and bought a Dreamcast.

 

[MajesticMoose]

you might want to check out the forums over at edmunds.com. They will most likely have a topic like this if its a common thing. If not, you can always register and ask.

m00se

 

[Hubris]

I've got a 1993 Saturn SL2 with almost 170,000 miles on it. Few months ago (say October, though I could be wrong), it started making noises. Not exactly knocking, but an unfamiliar noise. I took it to my mechanic, a good guy who's also a friend, and he said that I was low on oil. He kept it for a day or so and ran something through it (dunno what, I'm no mechanic) to see if it was leaking or just burning. I've looked and have never seen any oil spots under my car, and I park in the same space all the time. It was just burning it, with no leak evident. So now I just carry a couple quarts of oil with me, and every couple thousand miles or so I check it. Not really a big deal.

Doesn't sound like what's happening with your g/f, but there's so seldom a thread about Saturns, so I had to add my two cents.

 

[MichaelD]

She just called. The mechanic at Saturn says, and I quote;

"It's leaking from where the front cover meets the head. It's either the front cover seal which will run $350 to replace or the head gasket is shot, which will cost $700 to replace and we replace both the head gasket and the front cover seal. We could go the cheaper route, but there is only a 50% chance that will fix it."

I asked him "you guys checked the car out two weeks ago and found no leaks. How is that possible?"

He said "Sir, all I can say is that I wasn't there."

Is that a BS answer or what? I got my GF back on the phone and told her that she's gonna have to replace both, just to be sure, but to go talk to the Service Manager, ALONE. And corner him and find out how it's possible they missed a leak of that size. I told her to ask for a break on the labor, OR they need to give her a free loaner car for however long the repair takes. They said it'll take one day. My ass. She's lucky if she gets her car back by Thursday. This sucks.

 

[ShotgunSteven]

I have my Saturn modded to play Imports, so I got to play all of the great games that never made it to the American market.

 

[Fausto]

That is a total boolcheet answer. There's no way they could have missed something that big the first time around, and I wasn't aware that head gaskets and such were prone to such catastophic sudden failure. Is there any way you can go yell at them? You know how auto mechanics will dick over someone non-knowledgeable with cars....might help if you were there to call them on stuff or at least get a good look for yourself as to where the leak is coming from.

Fausto

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

The thing is, unless their failure to notice the leak somehow damaged the engine (e.g., because driving it so low on oil made the condition worse), I can't see how it adds any liability on their part. Presumably the seals were dying a gradual death, and one that was not worsened by the maintenance provided by the dealer. If they want to work with her on the labor charge, fine, but I'm not sure I see why they should be on the hook for this just because they did not catch it sooner. I wish her luck in any event.

 

[KamakaziRcr]

Hey MikeD, Saturns S models (SL/SW/SC) are infamous with the oil burning/leaking problems. Some are lucky and not have the problems, but for the most part ever since day 1 to the most recent year models, it has been well known that Saturns S models has a oil leaking problem that is impossible to fix. I'll give you an advice, there is no remedy for it. Not even the $300-350 fixerupper package thing. Here's a forum you might want to check out:

SaturnFans.com <--please go here and post up your story. They think their beloved Saturns are the shiznit.
XtremeSaturn <--people here will sympathese with you

IMO, some Saturn owners are the most blindest automobile customers in the industry. They'll believe the hype about the "Saturn difference", when they're reliability stacks just below the Japanese and above most of GM's other models. Their service is hit or miss because most of them are franchised owned, even though they promote a high service type of business. The oil burning problem has been documented all the way to the 99 models (that's 8 model years), the 2000 to current models are too new to document yet.

I have one of the first year model larger Saturd L models for my wife, and boy....typical GM first year problems. Seems like every oil change drop off takes a FULL DAY because of all the bugs fixes. I'll put it this way...I have an 1998 Accord, and whenever someone asked me about the Saturn midsize, I invite them over to my place and take them for a spin in both. Everyone I have invited, agreed, the Accord is more refine, quieter, and much better built.

Good luck with your wrestle with the Saturn DEALER.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks for all the kind words. Kamikazircr, thanks for the linkies.

I definitely think my talk w/the service writer and her talk w/the service manager helped. They gave her a $200 break on the labor and they gave her a loaner vehicle for the duration of the repair.

So, free rental and they are doing a $900 job for $700. I KNOW how much labor is involved with replacing a head gasket and a front cover seal...I've done both. Took me a week.

I taught my GF well. I told her to corner the service manager and MAKE HIM explain how they missed all that leaking oil; it was all coated, dry AND wet all over the engine compartment...a real mess, according to the saleswriter I spoke/w. There's no way they would've missed that two weeks ago if they actually took the time to look.

In any event, she' s now almost $800 poorer. And pissed off. But she'll be OK. At least she's got wheels to get to work. Thanks again, AT; you guys are the best.

 

[crystalharkins80]

I have a 1998 Saturn SW2 with 225+ miles on it and yes, it leaks like a sive!!!

 

[Sgt. York]

I doubt the OP cares after 17 years.

 

[lxskllr]

I doubt the OP cares after 17 years.

He was last seen in 2016, Doesn't seem like it's been that long.

My truck's burning oil. I used 'high mileage' Mobil1 last change, and I want to say it actually got better. Might be wishful thinking. Hard to quantify too, since I didn't track the oil consumption, and now my odometer doesn't work. I have to use the trip odometer, and keep track of the mileage manually :^/

edit:
Actually, I think I can quantify it approximately. I had 4 quarts left from the previous oil change, and I used two of those in the intervening ~9k miles(to the best of my memory before the odo said "error"), so 1qt/4.5k. Actually isn't bad, but I can smell the oily exhaust when I backup with the windows open. Not that anyone cares, but this makes a good notepad for the future in case I forget :^D

 

[ondma]

I'd rather they just hit me with a solid object and get it over with fast...it's so much easier that way.

I bet she has thought the same thing.
Anyway, if the Saturn dealer was on the up and up that there were no leaks two months ago, my bet would be a loose (or stripped threads) oil filter or drain plug.
Happened to me once, after an oil change at a service station. Had the oil changed in preparation for a trip, and noticed the car was leaving a trail of oil everywhere I went. They forgot to tighten the filter. Would have been disastrous if I had not noticed it before leaving on the trip.

 

[Insomniator]

I was reading the OP thinking 1. Who the hell drives a 23 year old Saturn and 2. Saturn DEALERSHIP?