96 SL1 burning oil... Suggestions?

In article >,
CBrooks > wrote:

> Jugs is an old slang term for pistons. Just wondered if they
> replaced those as well. Did they replace the clutch also while
> the engine was out? After this engine was repaired, is your oil
> levels holding as you had expected from this ring job?

None. "Jugs" is the term for air-cooled cylinders, including the head,
mainly as used on aircraft engines, where the head is essentially
integral with the cylinder -- hence the term "jug."

"CBrooks" > wrote in message
...
> Jugs is an old slang term for pistons. Just wondered if they replaced
> those as well. Did they replace the clutch also while the engine was out?
> After this engine was repaired, is your oil levels holding as you had
> expected from this ring job?

No, the clutch wasn't replaced. The parts replaced were rod bearings and
piston rings. I guess most of the job was getting into the engine and
cleaning it up, burnishing the cylinders, whatever. It stopped the oil loss.
Also, on the following smog check, the car passed easily; the previous check
had been marginal.

Of course I'm wondering why the problem happened, but I don't think there's
an answer to be had. The car didn't have high mileage (about 100,000). It
was ten years old, but I thought this sort of thing was brought on more by
miles than age. I've been good about the service and the oil changes, and
the car gets mixed use, but nothing too stressful. The service people
suggested I might switch brands of gasoline. I'd been buying Arco because
it's a bit cheaper, and I assumed that all the brand names were pretty much
similar. I'm almost afraid to raise the question again, because a lot of
people seem to have strong opinions about which brand of gas to choose, but
I haven't found any consensus. It feels more like an argument over a sports
team, and I don't know what to make of it.

Well, I replaced the PCV, and now it's worse!!

It's not blue smoke like I thought, but rather white smoke.

It smokes ALL THE TIME now. It doesn't matter if I just start it and let it
idle, rev it, put it in gear, or anything.

Thoughts?

This vehicle is ESSENTIAL to get me to and from work so the quicker I can
figure this out the better!!!

If it's a head gasket, is it something I can do, or is it best to take it
in?


"SMoo" > wrote in message
...
> The year and model are in the title, but it's got a little under 141,000
> miles.
>
> I've only had this car for 3 weeks, and I didn't get a maintenance record
> with the car.
> But, I got the oil changed as soon as I got it, as well as put a new
> radiator and thermostat in it.
>
> Tonight I'll check the PCV and see if the IAC needs to be cleaned.
>
>
> "Tom The Great" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 09:41:24 -0500, "SMoo" > wrote:
>>
>>>I just bought this car about 3 months ago, and so I know nothing about it
>>>yet.
>>>This is my first Saturn and only my 2nd GM vehicle, and I didn't have
>>>good
>>>things to say about the first one...
>>>
>>>When I take off in the mornings, as well as if I nail the gas to get up a
>>>hill, the car belches out alot of blue smoke.
>>>
>>>Can anyone lead me in the right direction?
>>>
>>>Also, the idle seems to be set pretty low. How do I turn it up?
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Thanks!
>>>
>>
>> Year and model and mileage and maintenance schedule used?
>>
>> How as the car cared for before? Did someone use the 'extended'
>> maintance period oil changes?
>>
>> Also, check your oil frequently.
>>
>> imho,
>>
>> tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com
>>
>>
>>
>
>

On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:35:39 GMT, "SMoo" > wrote:

>Well, I replaced the PCV, and now it's worse!!
>
>It's not blue smoke like I thought, but rather white smoke.

White smoke is a bad sign. Since I've had this twice, and upon
checking my oil, I had valve gasket leak. Was this car ever
overheated?

later,

tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info



>
>It smokes ALL THE TIME now. It doesn't matter if I just start it and let it
>idle, rev it, put it in gear, or anything.
>
>Thoughts?
>
>This vehicle is ESSENTIAL to get me to and from work so the quicker I can
>figure this out the better!!!
>
>If it's a head gasket, is it something I can do, or is it best to take it
>in?
>
>
>"SMoo" > wrote in message
...
>> The year and model are in the title, but it's got a little under 141,000
>> miles.
>>
>> I've only had this car for 3 weeks, and I didn't get a maintenance record
>> with the car.
>> But, I got the oil changed as soon as I got it, as well as put a new
>> radiator and thermostat in it.
>>
>> Tonight I'll check the PCV and see if the IAC needs to be cleaned.
>>
>>
>> "Tom The Great" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 09:41:24 -0500, "SMoo" > wrote:
>>>
>>>>I just bought this car about 3 months ago, and so I know nothing about it
>>>>yet.
>>>>This is my first Saturn and only my 2nd GM vehicle, and I didn't have
>>>>good
>>>>things to say about the first one...
>>>>
>>>>When I take off in the mornings, as well as if I nail the gas to get up a
>>>>hill, the car belches out alot of blue smoke.
>>>>
>>>>Can anyone lead me in the right direction?
>>>>
>>>>Also, the idle seems to be set pretty low. How do I turn it up?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Thanks!
>>>>
>>>
>>> Year and model and mileage and maintenance schedule used?
>>>
>>> How as the car cared for before? Did someone use the 'extended'
>>> maintance period oil changes?
>>>
>>> Also, check your oil frequently.
>>>
>>> imho,
>>>
>>> tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

No. It runs warm alot, but never overheats.

It's in the shop now, they'll tell me what's going on.

I'm thinking head gasket.


"Tom The Great" > wrote in message
...
> On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 12:35:39 GMT, "SMoo" > wrote:
>
>>Well, I replaced the PCV, and now it's worse!!
>>
>>It's not blue smoke like I thought, but rather white smoke.
>
> White smoke is a bad sign. Since I've had this twice, and upon
> checking my oil, I had valve gasket leak. Was this car ever
> overheated?
>
> later,
>
> tom @ www.Consolidated-Loans.info
>
>
>
>>
>>It smokes ALL THE TIME now. It doesn't matter if I just start it and let
>>it
>>idle, rev it, put it in gear, or anything.
>>
>>Thoughts?
>>
>>This vehicle is ESSENTIAL to get me to and from work so the quicker I can
>>figure this out the better!!!
>>
>>If it's a head gasket, is it something I can do, or is it best to take it
>>in?
>>
>>
>>"SMoo" > wrote in message
...
>>> The year and model are in the title, but it's got a little under 141,000
>>> miles.
>>>
>>> I've only had this car for 3 weeks, and I didn't get a maintenance
>>> record
>>> with the car.
>>> But, I got the oil changed as soon as I got it, as well as put a new
>>> radiator and thermostat in it.
>>>
>>> Tonight I'll check the PCV and see if the IAC needs to be cleaned.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Tom The Great" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> On Tue, 18 Jul 2006 09:41:24 -0500, "SMoo" > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>I just bought this car about 3 months ago, and so I know nothing about
>>>>>it
>>>>>yet.
>>>>>This is my first Saturn and only my 2nd GM vehicle, and I didn't have
>>>>>good
>>>>>things to say about the first one...
>>>>>
>>>>>When I take off in the mornings, as well as if I nail the gas to get up
>>>>>a
>>>>>hill, the car belches out alot of blue smoke.
>>>>>
>>>>>Can anyone lead me in the right direction?
>>>>>
>>>>>Also, the idle seems to be set pretty low. How do I turn it up?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Year and model and mileage and maintenance schedule used?
>>>>
>>>> How as the car cared for before? Did someone use the 'extended'
>>>> maintance period oil changes?
>>>>
>>>> Also, check your oil frequently.
>>>>
>>>> imho,
>>>>
>>>> tom @ www.CarFleaMarket.com
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>

"SMoo" > wrote in message
...
> No. It runs warm alot, but never overheats.
>
> It's in the shop now, they'll tell me what's going on.
>
> I'm thinking head gasket.
>

So how did it turn out?