1999 Saturn SW1 Persistent Oil in Coolant.

DAVID59

MEMBER
1999 SATURN SW1
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
135,000 MILES

Changed head gasket set. On head, had machine shop do dye test for cracks, resurface valves, & boil clean. No problems. Did find that all rear head bolts (next to fire wall) were loose. Front bolts torqued to specs. Laid straight edge across top of block & tried to get 10k feeler gage between & couldn't. Continues to NOT over- heat & to get about 34 mpg city & about 40+ highway. Car ran 4 days (80 mi.) W/o oil loss into coolant. 5th day quart low & reservoir over flowing w/ oil/coolant. Compression test: 157, 167, 172, 170; about same as before head gasket change. - Any ideas? Any history of 1.9L, SOHC engine having this persistent issue? Thanks.

1 Reply

SATURNTECH9

MECHANIC
30,869 POSTS

Ur compression is low would like to see atleast 175psi u have borderline dead holes meaning cyclinders that will have too low of compression to run. Yes there is a problem with oil in the coolant on the single overhead cam like urs usually the #3 cam journal cracks on the head and leaks coolant in the oil. If u take the cam cover off sometimes u can see a clean spot where the coolant has cleaned away oil where its leaking. Let me know what u find.