Randomidiot

OK, so I just got my 94 sl1 running a few weeks ago, and I've noticed something... When I get on the gas, I can no longer see out of my rearview mirrors... there's that much blue smoke. In a half tank of gas, I went through a quart of oil. What's the major causes of this? Is there anything that will help me go through less oil?

Thx guys!

Ssicarman

Just running from what?
Oil burning could be from oil control rings siezed, bad valve seals, bad PCV valve, oil level to high. Replace the PCV valve with a Saturn one. Make sure the the hose for the PCV valve is in good condition. Do a search on the board for MMO soak.

__________________
A lousy day in Paradise is still a day in Paradise.

Randomidiot

the starter went out and the people i bought it from didn't drive it for 2 months. when i got it started, i double checked the oil level (it's good) and i check it all the time. It's going through oil like I said, however.... what's MMO soak, btw?

amazinghl

Do a search, you'll see.

__________________
a dirty loving sl2

ausgeflippt13

j/w when was the last time you changed your oil? you could be dumpin' fresh oil w/ some really black, nasty, spent oil and trust me, the two are a really bad combo.

__________________
Repeat after me: Investigate. Learn. Discover. Ignorance is not bliss.

Randomidiot

The sticker says the oil has 1000 left on it, but the 3 months has passed slightly. Since I bought the car last month, I have not changed it yet.

ausgeflippt13

change it.

also, if you've got anywhere over ~100,000 you might want to go w/ a straight SAE 30 oil. none of that SAE 10W 30 stuff; the viscocity is too thin, and when heated (especially on high-mileage engines) it gets too runny and thus produces dark smoke and performance is really ****ty. A straight 30 is much thicker and ideal for the high-mileage engines.

Also, DO NOT RUN synthetic if you haven't rebuilt the engine and it's got lots of miles. the synthetic oil will actually take away the oil deposits which (on high mileage cars only) will then re-open any cracks/faults the oil sealed up. But once you rebuild the engine, by all means, use synthetic.

__________________
Repeat after me: Investigate. Learn. Discover. Ignorance is not bliss.

mtgjudge

Could you use SAE 30 in the winter without ill effects?

I'm in Upstate NY.

RiceRocket

NOOOOOOOO SAE 30 in new england = very bad.

Sometimes sausage forgets not everyone lives in warm sunny Arizona.

Sounds to me like you're beyond an oil change and its just time for new piston rings. Reminds me of my friend's CRX at autocross, he covered the whole track with blew smoke and then they threw him out. He needed new rings too....

__________________
Think before you type.
Search before you post.
Understand before you accuse.
And never forget, silence is better than misinformation.

saturnmissile

My car burnt alot of oil too. You can try to go to your local saturn/gm dealer and ask for a top end cleaner or it may also be called piston and ring cleaner. When i tried to buy some at my local dealer that said that they didnt carry it, but he told me that if you use brake cleaner that it will help. So i went to auto zone and bought a cheap 99 cent can of brake cleaner. Let your engine cool first then pull the plugs use the straw that is included ( word of advice use some tape to hold the straw on there you dont want it to fall in the holes). Spray in each cylinder for about 10 secs. as you know brake cleaner evaporates pretty fast. I did this cycle about 3 times turning the car over w/o the plugs in it between each cycle. Then I reinstalled everything and started it, be warned there will be alot of smoke at first but after about 5 min it went away. After all this I did an mmo soak over night and as of now i havent noticed any oil useage. ......sounds crazy but it worked for me.