91 Saturn

BRIGHTONE

MEMBER
1991 SATURN SL1
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
150,000 MILES

Hi! I have a 91 saturn that blew a head gasket. My mechanic replaced the gasket and the valve covers but now the car drinks oil like a fish. Every two days it's out but there are no leaks, just white exhaust smoke often. Was the job done right?

Friday, June 24th, 2011 AT 10:49 PM

5 Replies

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Why did you replace the head gasket to begin with?Is there oil in your coolant?Those engines are known for cracking the heads in the cam journals the number 3 or 4 journals they usually leak oil into the coolant but I have seen coolant in the oil also.

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Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 2:02 AM

BRIGHTONE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thanks for your response! I was told that the head gasket had a crack in it. The Cam shaft and timing chain were also replaced. There were no leaks (on the ground) before all of this and I was not told of any leaks of oil into the coolant or vice versa.

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Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 2:42 PM

SATURNTECH9

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When the heads crack they don't leak external they leak oil in the coolant or coolant in the oil. What were the symptoms that caused the head gasket to be replaced?Also was the head every pressure tested before it was put back on?Why was the cam replaced I have had to replace very few of those cams. Was the cam worn if so where was it worn at?When its cold open up your coolant cap and see if your coolant looks like there is oil in it. Also pull out your oil dipstick and see if the oil looks milky. Its really common for those heads to crack on the saturn single over head cam 1.9L engine.

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Saturday, June 25th, 2011 AT 5:35 PM

BRIGHTONE

MEMBER
3 POSTS

It was initially supposed to be a timing chain repair only because I heard rattling after the snowy winter here(got stuck several times and I didn't hear rattling until after that), but upon getting the car back the first day, it broke down. I was told that something wasn't done right and caused the Cam to break(led to believe it fell?), Then the cracked head. The oil doesn't look milky. And no oil in the coolant. I don't know if it was pressure tested but there appears to be oil splattered on one side of the hood. Would pressure testing the head tell anything about the oil leakage?

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Sunday, June 26th, 2011 AT 11:59 PM

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Its impossible for that cam to drop.I bet what happened is the cam sprocket bolt was left loose and the index pin was sheared of the cam that goes into the sprocket I have seen that happened before. You first said you had a blown head gasket now you have a cracked head?I said its common for the heads to crack but don't know for sure if yours is cracked yet. Yes if the head was pressure tested when it was taken off it could have found a cracked head. Loosing that much oil its has to be going some where.