2004 Pontiac Sunfire Running out of oil

BLU121778

MEMBER
2004 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
86,781 MILES

Sometimes when I'm driving for a while and then the car is on idle my temperature gauge goes over the 195 (middle) mark. When I'm moving it goes back down. Fan works. It's hard to see the water pump cause it's deep in but from what I can see, it looks like something is wobbly. I was told my water pump and timing belt might need replacement soon but I noticed that my car was making a rumbling noise coming from the engine. I checked the oil and it was low so I added more. The noise stopped for a couple weeks and then it started again. I checked the oil and it was completely dry. I put in 3qts of oil and when I checked the oil level and it was completely black. Fresh oil that I put in and it looked charcoal black without even turning the car on. Is that normal? I don't see any leaks. Could this be related to the cooling system?

3 Replies

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

First thing does your oil smell like gas? If it does then the car is running to rich. Do you see and blue smoke coming out of the tailpipe?
As for the cooling problem it sounds like a water pump problem however the using of oil needs to be addressed to see what is going on there. Get back to as to what you find and we will go from there

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Saturday, October 11th, 2008 AT 12:45 PM

BLU121778

MEMBER
2 POSTS

I don't see any blue smoke coming out of the tail pipe but the oil does smell like gas. I have been noticing that my gas mileage hasn't been that good lately. I used fill my tank every two weeks and now it doesn't last that long. I also notice how the gas needle (not sure what you call it) goes up and down when the car is on idle. Is this expensive to fix? Also about the cooling system. If I replace my water pump, do I replace the timing chain or belt too?

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Sunday, October 12th, 2008 AT 8:59 AM

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

The water pump is not timing belt driven to no the belt should not need to be replaced at the same time unless it needs to be removed to get to it. The timing belt should be replaced about every 60000 miles so you are close to that on the belt then replace it anyway. If you oil smells like gas you need to change it and your oil filter. As for the cost of fixing don't know depends on what is wrong and causing you fuel comsumption. It could be a mass air flow unit could be and O2 sensor or a temp sensor, or maybe injector problems so don't know cost. However I would get some mass air flow cleaner and clean it start there it is cheap and could probably use it any way. Let me know how this goes and we will go from there.

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Sunday, October 12th, 2008 AT 9:10 AM