1996 Saturn SL Logo
Anonymous Posted on Mar 04, 2013

1996 SL1 after engine overhaul oil is having to be added regularly. Rings replaced, valve seals replaced, valves ground and reseated and head pressure tested by machine shop, head gasket replaced, timing cover gasket remade, oil pan gasket remade, crank and connecting rod bearings replaced, intake and exhaust manifold gaskets replaced. Compression on all cylinders 120 psi or better, no smoke in exhaust, cleaned EGR valve and throttle body. Used upper and lower gasket sets to replace all gaskets. I am looking for suggestions on why and where the oil is going? Currently I don't think the oil is going into the antifreeze as the level is not going up in the resevoir. Thank you for any suggestions.

1 Answer

Stephen

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  • Saturn Master 21,873 Answers
  • Posted on Mar 04, 2013
 Stephen
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Depending on how long since the overhaul, and how much oil is being used, you may not have any worries.
Engines built in the factory are within very close tolerances. Engines rebuilt in the shop are not.
So like it was 50 yrs ago, your rebuilt engine may need some break-in time to wear in. The piston rings have to seat or wear into the shape of the cylinders, and so on.
Most of the time you can expect to use some oil for the first few thousand miles then it should stop. You have to drive the car at various speeds and not under much strain for the first thousand or so.
After the first oil change at 3,000 oil consumption should drop off to normal.

  • Anonymous Mar 05, 2013

    Thank you Stephen, The car now has right at 3000 miles since I did the overhaul. I will give it some more time before becoming concerned further. Thank you for your thoughts on this.

  •  Stephen
    Stephen Mar 05, 2013

    If you have not yet done so, I would change the oil and filter now and then watch it.

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5 Related Answers

Anonymous

  • 10319 Answers
  • Posted on Feb 20, 2010

SOURCE: I have a 97 Saturn SL1. I keep getting fault code

check the egr relay and solenoid as well

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jturcotte

Jeffrey Turcotte

  • 8991 Answers
  • Posted on Sep 09, 2010

SOURCE: I pulled a spark plug to change plugs and the

yes, the valve cover gasket is the only thing that can cause this, and yes, you have to remove the cover and put a new gasket in to fix. Please let me know if you have more questions.

dj_relly999

dj_relly999

  • 4070 Answers
  • Posted on Dec 20, 2010

SOURCE: just replaced head gasket, PCV

Hi and welcome to FixYa!

One thing can cause this.... A faulty PCM (powertrain control module). The PCM has connectivity on all current that runs inside the car which includes the engine, transmission, accessories, etc. It's like a car's brain that when it's faulty something will surely fail. One good reason why you have misfires.

Please try to swap the car's computer to resolve the problem.

Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa! Have a good one!

Anonymous

  • 752 Answers
  • Posted on May 22, 2011

SOURCE: i have a 2002 saturn

Cleaning it out has nothing to do with it. IAC does which happens to be mounted on it.

Anonymous

  • 3911 Answers
  • Posted on Aug 31, 2011

SOURCE: 1995 SC1 280K oil burner.

If you are keeping the car forever, swap the engine with a rebuilt one. there are many for sale out there.
about $2k for a rebuilt with core credit. if you are really just keeping it for a year or two until the front "frame" collapses, buy a used engine out of a junkyard, look until you find one with less than 100k on it. there are many for sale on eBay but the shipping will kill you and you most likely have junkyards closer to home.

note if you have an SC1 means SOHC so you have to have a SOHC donor vehicle. SC1,SL1, or SW1
the engines were the same 96, 97,98 i believe. but do not get an older engine.

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