1999 Saturn SW2 oil usage

Tiny
RONCAM47390
  • MEMBER
  • 1999 SATURN SW2
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Almost overnight my saturn is throwing oil-presumably out the pcv valve connection--throwing 1 or 2 qts out approx every 200 hundred mi--under hood and all engine parts are soaked with oil-pcv has been replaced-vacume in exhaust is good--what could my problem be?
Friday, September 4th, 2009 AT 10:03 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Sounds like u have too much engine pressure comming up thru ur valve cover. Try putting a pressure gauge in ur dipstick hole only thing I can think of that would be throwing oil like that.U could also pull off ur cam cover and look at the inside and see if there is any damage let me know what u find.
Louie
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Friday, October 9th, 2009 AT 10:51 AM
Tiny
RONCAM47390
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Thank you Louie, I will chedk it out and advise you of my findings--Ron
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Friday, October 9th, 2009 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
RONCAM47390
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Louie my saturan is actually 1995 not a 1999, have had 3 good mechanics look at it, and no answers other than overhaul the engine, is there an air breather on this engine that could be pluged? Engine runs great, even when its throwing oil, I am at my witts end, am now considering running keresine through system for a thourough clean out, not sure just how long I can do this without damaging the engine. Ron
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Sunday, November 15th, 2009 AT 7:40 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Hey Ron unfornately if u plug the breather u will continue to build pressure in ur engine untill something blows that's why it's called a breather that vents ur excessive internal blow by off so nothing blows up. Sorry about that sounds like u need to look into getting ur engine ur engine overhauled as far as the kersone thing I wouldn't explore that idea u would do more harm then good. Hope this helps. Also donations and feedback greatly appreaciated.
Louie
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Sunday, November 15th, 2009 AT 10:53 AM
Tiny
RONCAM47390
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Louie, thanks again, and for following my problem--i was afraid that an overhaul could still leame me with my problem, That will be my last resort, I didn't mean I would plug the air intake (breather) Thats what I think might be plugged, but I don't understand where it is, to allow me to make sure its clear----Ron
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Saturday, November 21st, 2009 AT 9:05 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I have two questions for the first question is in ur first post of ur question u said ur vaccuum in ur exhaust is good what did u mean by that the only thing u test ur exhuast for is back pressure.I asking u to have ur engine tested for blow by which u should have alot of it's where u put the hose for it in ur dipstick tube where u check the oil that would give us more info on ur problem. So could u check that and let me know what u find there.
Louie
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Saturday, November 21st, 2009 AT 10:07 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
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Hi there,

I think that you need to take a step back and evaluate what you have done to date, firstly as saturntech has stated, there must be a build up of crank case pressure to cause this problem, this cam happen with a blocked PCV, excessive oil in the sump and often engine blow by, this is when engine compression leaks past the piston rings and starts to over pressurize the sump, causing oil saturated air to be forced out the engine seals, and breathers, often you will find that the air filter is covered in oil to some degree, what you first need to do is check the PCV and have a leak down test done as this will be a good indication as to the condition of the lower end,
you can archive the same test results with a wet & dry comp test, this will show any extreme variance in piston ring sealing capability.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, November 21st, 2009 AT 5:58 PM
Tiny
RONCAM47390
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Mark Thank you for the info--I did get a preasure test done on the oil dipstick tube, as Louie ask for and it came up with no preasure. Just got back from 700 mi trip replaced 6 qts on trip--no noticable smoke out the exhaust. Friend of mine has a 95 saturn having the same problem- we are both drive away drivers, using are Saturns as tow cars. Our cars with hood up and engine running shows no indication of any problems. Thanks again for the info I will see what I can get done with it. Ron
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Wednesday, November 25th, 2009 AT 4:21 PM
Tiny
RONCAM47390
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Hey Guys--with all of your comments I have come to the possible conclusion, since I am not using oil, but throwing it. I think possibly that I might have so much sludge build up in engine (which might be shfting on me) causing my problem to be eratic, that I might need to try purging my oil system--do you know who or where I might be able to get this done. A preasure purge and vacume out type procedure. Will appreate your toughts. Ron
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 9:54 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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I have some pretty sludged up Saturn engines but never seen that cause oil to blow all over normaly I would think that doing a desludging would be a risky move I have seen some engines get desludged and burn alot of oil or get a rod knock from the sludge being dislodged from where it is. Really it's up to u right now it's not really driveable I don't think with all that oil blowing around u could have a fire. Without finding some test results like the crankcase pressure test I told u to do which test for engine compression in ur crank case which I think was strange u didn't have any there. So let ask u this where is the oil comming from my guess is the engine breather that goes to ur intake?Also is it blowing out or leaking out?
Louie
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 10:45 AM
Tiny
RONCAM47390
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Louie I suppose you are right about my purging ideaoil is Blowing out, I believe around the pcv----plug wires are usually wet also complete under hood.
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 10:59 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Have u ever taken off the valve cover and seen if the oil drains back down into the engine thru the head?
Louie
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Monday, December 7th, 2009 AT 11:36 AM

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