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Old 05-15-2006, 03:54 PM   #1
Mandrich
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Default Friend's 2002 SL2 with 38k with blown engine. Your thoughts on the diagnosis and $$$$

Hello,

Just figured I'd ask the OT their opinion on the symptoms, diagnosis, and repair costs for a friend of mine.

The car: 2002 Saturn SL2 with 38K miles. City car. Rarely driven. No oil leaks or burning oil. Last oil change five months ago.

The symptoms: Engine knocking. Poor acceleration from a stop. i.e. 5-10 m.p.h. only up to 4K RPMs in first and second gear. Once the car hit 3rd gear it was OK.

Dealer says: Snapped a rod because he was low on oil. Engine needs to be replaced. Used engine with 2 year warranty is $2,700.00.

Your thoughts? (Aside from not to buy GM products. )
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:55 PM   #2
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"The symptoms: Engine knocking. Poor acceleration from a stop. i.e. 5-10 m.p.h. only up to 4K RPMs in first and second gear. Once the car hit 3rd gear it was OK."

So its a saturn...
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:55 PM   #3
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Oil changed 5 months ago sounds like poor owner maintenance, not a bad GM product.

--kC
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:55 PM   #4
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If that's 2700 installed, that's fair.

It's a frickin GM product. Those things sling engine's when they just get ready to.
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:55 PM   #5
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Is a Jasper remanufactured engine available for that vehicle?
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:55 PM   #6
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A: That's a chunk of change for a used Saturn engine.

B: He's screwed. No way out of this that won't lose money. If possible, sell car to mechanic or shop for max $$$ possible, buy something new (not Saturn), never speak of this again.
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KC
Oil changed 5 months ago sounds like poor owner maintenance, not a bad GM product.

--kC
Depending on the mileage, 5 months on a 2002 car isn't exactly CRAZY time.
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:57 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogue
Depending on the mileage, 5 months on a 2002 car isn't exactly CRAZY time.
Huh? Ok... whatever.
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:58 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mandrich
Your thoughts? (Aside from not to buy GM products. )
That pretty much sums it up..


IRL I know 2 saturn owners with blown motors (out of warranty)..wouldn't touch one with a ten foot pole..
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:59 PM   #10
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A friend's Civic hasn't had an oil change in a year. Only 1000 miles driven in that time.

Starts right up just fine.


Jasper undoubtedly has Saturn engines, but look in a j/y locally to see if there's something in your area.
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Old 05-15-2006, 03:59 PM   #11
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saturns litter junkyards. just drop a junkyard ecotec in there, you could do it for under 500 probably.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:03 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KC
Huh? Ok... whatever.
Hey, I didn't say it was a good idea

Certainly the owner should have at least CHECKED the oil in that time, if not changed it.

Related: my sister in law just called me and, among other things, asked about oil changes. She has 3000 miles on mobil 1 in a 2004 OBS and JIFFY LUBE told her she had to change it ASAP... (it can go to 7500 easy). I taught her how to check the oil level on the dipstick and said she'd be fine up to 7500.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:08 PM   #13
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Yeah. It's been five months, but it is a city car. He only drives it when he heads out to the suburbs. He averages less than 8K miles per year and estimates tha the put 4K miles on it at most since that last oil change. I have seen a number of posts in the Saturn forums regarding Saturn consuming massive amounts of oil, but it usually happens at higher milages.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:08 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogue
Certainly the owner should have at least CHECKED the oil in that time, if not changed it.
And this is probably where it all went horribly wrong (after the first right upon leaving the Saturn dealership).

I also had a female friend with a Saturn and a habit of ignoring maintenance. Oil light on, no oil on the dipstick, "the light only comes one when I stop," the whole bit. Kept on to of the oil sitch afterwards and the engine added another 100K miles to it before we parted ways. Wouldn't pass smog, but it ran fine, good mileage to boot.

As the ol' Penzoil guy used to say, "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later." Saturns seem to have paid for his round-the-world vacations...
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:09 PM   #15
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Rouge, please see Jiffy Lube thread, and re-converse with your sister inlaw.

And how's the filter doing up to 7500 miles?
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:11 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogue
Depending on the mileage, 5 months on a 2002 car isn't exactly CRAZY time.
uh yah, that sounds pretty damn normal to me. How often do these people change their oil
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:11 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by horatio102
Rouge, please see Jiffy Lube thread, and re-converse with your sister inlaw.

And how's the filter doing up to 7500 miles?
I already set her straight on "The Lube."

I dunno... fine, I hope She's doing a road trip across the country right now, so I'm not too concerned.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:12 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lotusdrift
uh yah, that sounds pretty damn normal to me. How often do these people change their oil
Conventional wisdom of 3 months or 3,000 miles seems to hold sway for a lot of us, even though new cars with synthetic can (supposedly) go 15,000 miles or 1 year.

THAT scares me, though.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:13 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rogue
Conventional wisdom of 3 months or 3,000 miles seems to hold sway for a lot of us, even though new cars with synthetic can (supposedly) go 15,000 miles or 1 year.

THAT scares me, though.
Ive seen oil analyses on too many wrx's at 7500 miles that looked as good as day one to be bothered with a 3k/3mo interval.


But this is OT, where if we don't know the originator of an issue, we immediately assume fault and try our hardest to overanalyze
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:14 PM   #20
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1 year/15k if you drive like granny, on long road trips only.

3/3000 for the rest of us who use the bottom half of the accellerator.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:15 PM   #21
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Wait for that TD04 to get nice and broken in... then you won't be draining beautiful golden oil out after 3,000 miles... it turns considerably more dark and ugly. :\
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:19 PM   #22
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Acutally, he did stop to check his oil while limping to the dealer. A little bit above the bottom line. Definitely low on oil, but not bone dry. Oil appeared to be fairly light colored still.
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:20 PM   #23
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I change my oil once a year weather it needs it or not!
AO
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Old 05-15-2006, 04:22 PM   #24
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color is not an indication of condition or wear.


And the general rule I know, is that if its registering on the dip stick, then its not that low.
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