01-21-2011, 10:18 AM
|
#1
|
GX Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 142
|
Junked the Alero
Got hot and shut down on me while driving home. Overflow was gurgling and steaming. I got pushed home (1 block from home, go figure) got it in the garage, dumped the oil & coolant.. yummy milkshake.
I didn't want to f--k with it anymore so I junked it for 400 bucks (still started and drove after it cooled down) and got a 04 Grand Prix GT (which a week after getting, the transmission started going into limp mode randomly... so returned that, and decided to get something a little better on gas (very hard decision.. LOVED that grand prix.. first GP I ever drove).... anyway.. I got a 2002 5 speed Saturn SL2 DOHC. Sunroof, wing, alloys, all the goodies. It gets fantastic gas mileage and drives great. 105k miles. But come tax returns, going to find a decent 04+ grand prix gtp comp g with the supercharger/paddle shifters/dual climate/leather.. all that good stuff... I'm totally spoiled now after having the GT. Grand Prix's rock my socks.
2001 GL V6 - Nov 2009 (218k) to Dec 10 (237k)
It was quite reliable, but the LIMG along with other minor (but multiple) things.. a new car was destined.
I'll still pop in from time to time here, but my new home is on the saturn forums
__________________
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GL Sedan - Sport Red
miles as of 04/23/10
Last edited by Runaboveit : 01-21-2011 at 10:21 AM.
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 10:36 AM
|
#2
|
V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 477
|
Bummer.
Well, kinda late now, I guess.
You can't go wrong with a Saturn, it'll take good care of you just as long as you top your oil off frequently.
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 12:00 PM
|
#3
|
i speed up for corners
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Dover,NH
Posts: 3,489
|
ya the gtp is a great car glad u found a car u are happy and u will save a lot of money on gas.
__________________
Alero is gone but not forgotten
1999 black gls coupe R.I.P 130k
1999 auburn mist metallic gls sedan R.I.P
2005 Subaru legacy 2.5i 190k. New rims and tires for summer.
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 12:22 PM
|
#4
|
GLS member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Maui
Posts: 1,797
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by comanche
Bummer.
Well, kinda late now, I guess.
You can't go wrong with a Saturn, it'll take good care of you just as long as you top your oil off frequently.
|
QFT! my '97 SL1 burned a quart a week...
__________________
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 12:26 PM
|
#5
|
V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 477
|
I have had a few Saturns, and I like 'em.
Reliable and easy to fix. It's highly recommended that the timing chain and tensioner get changed on time though! A common problem.
A used DOHC engine costs three times as much as an SOHC engine.
My worst Saturn (brother bought it on eBay) burned (literally, I am not kidding you) a lot of oil..... 100 miles per quart!
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 12:49 PM
|
#6
|
GLS member
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Posts: 5,529
|
Pics?
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 02:34 PM
|
#7
|
GLS member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: indy
Posts: 8,411
|
So sad...
Gtp comp G's are tight but when you get on the gas the supercharger will eat gas. From what I hear gas gonna be 5$ a gallon in like June here. Yippie....
__________________
S. . .L. . . E . . .E. . .P. . .Y. . .IS A TRAITOR--HE GOT BORED SO HE SOLD ME AFTER HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A RICE ROCKET
Oldsnut is my Hero!
Meet Destiny, shes a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero GLS, F40 6MT swap. (#2 of 3)
2/24/14 - 200,000 miles body/motor. 22,300 on F40.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldsnut
He would Plasti Dip his pecker if he could.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tipnitty
A girl touched my Pee Pee. So you can say things are getting pretty serious for me.
|
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 03:49 PM
|
#8
|
2Screwy
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 13,238
|
poor alero, you could have put in a new motor and been way farther ahead.....
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 05:37 PM
|
#9
|
⌘ Irish Pride
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Farmington, MI
Posts: 1,033
|
Yea be careful w that Saturn. My gf had a Saturn before her g6 and that thing ate oil like nobodies business. The trans went out multiple times and eventually junked it after it wouldn't do anything at all. They're nice cars if you take care of em tho. Definitely nice on the gas mileage!
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 07:09 PM
|
#10
|
Master of my Domain
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 4,072
|
I bought a saturn a few years back for $300 that needed an engine. It was VERY hard to find one... Ended up buying one thru craigslist for $225. The damn think burned oil like a mofo to the point the gas I saved was used in oil!
Few things I know about Saturn's.
The piston rings stick causing excessive oil burning. use Marvel mystery oil to free them up.
The Timing chains are a MOFO. If you dont keep and eye and change as needed your motor will explode...
The doors never rust but the damned door jambs do and badly!
__________________
-Ryan
|
|
|
01-21-2011, 11:00 PM
|
#11
|
V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 477
|
^ truth
The actual problem with the pistons is just like you say... the oil rings stick.
Saturn designed the pistons without oil relief holes.
It is possible to drill these holes if you rebuild the engine.
Rumor has it that a freshly new rebuilt Saturn engine will not ever burn oil as long as you use quality full synthetic oil.
Definitely visit www.saturnfans.com for tons of great info.
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 12:12 AM
|
#12
|
GX Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Madison WI
Posts: 188
|
Yeah, the oil problems got so bad that a few aftermarket companies make new rings for the dohc engine at least. Our 01 sc2 used about a quart every 500 miles or so. Wife ran the first motor out, so the new one was checked regularly.
__________________
"How did you MELT the spark plugs!?"
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 12:47 AM
|
#13
|
Aleromod part owner
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Far Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 18,199
|
And this was the brand that GM axed Oldsmobile for
__________________
33% ALEROMOD OWNER!!
2000 Olds Alero 3400 SFI 14.53 @ 94.93
1985 Olds Delta 88 307 SBO 17.96 @ 76.99
2007 Volvo V50 T5 6M 15.782 @ 89.12
www.facebook.com/kb0177
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 12:50 AM
|
#14
|
GL Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: St. Pauls, NC
Posts: 224
|
Why is this in the showcase section?
__________________
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 12:52 AM
|
#15
|
Aleromod part owner
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Far Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 18,199
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sleepyalero
So sad...
From what I hear gas gonna be 5$ a gallon in like June here. Yippie....
|
Which doesn't make sense to me. I mean the oil czar is out of Washington. but it's not like this guy is doing anything to fix the country. Granted it took 8 years to eff it up, but after 2 years, we should see some progress
__________________
33% ALEROMOD OWNER!!
2000 Olds Alero 3400 SFI 14.53 @ 94.93
1985 Olds Delta 88 307 SBO 17.96 @ 76.99
2007 Volvo V50 T5 6M 15.782 @ 89.12
www.facebook.com/kb0177
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 02:36 AM
|
#16
|
GLS member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: indy
Posts: 8,411
|
I hope so don't want to be spending 5 a gallon lol
__________________
S. . .L. . . E . . .E. . .P. . .Y. . .IS A TRAITOR--HE GOT BORED SO HE SOLD ME AFTER HAVING AN AFFAIR WITH A RICE ROCKET
Oldsnut is my Hero!
Meet Destiny, shes a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero GLS, F40 6MT swap. (#2 of 3)
2/24/14 - 200,000 miles body/motor. 22,300 on F40.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oldsnut
He would Plasti Dip his pecker if he could.
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tipnitty
A girl touched my Pee Pee. So you can say things are getting pretty serious for me.
|
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 04:03 AM
|
#17
|
Premier V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Howard, KS
Posts: 1,848
|
I don't even want to be spending $3 a gallon like I am, 5 wouldn't leave much project money..if gas jumped to 5 bucks a gallon I have a feeling my truck would get retired for a while..
__________________
2004 Audi TT Quattro 1.8t
1969 Chevrolet Biscayne 2d
1963 VW Beetle
|
|
|
01-22-2011, 06:35 AM
|
#18
|
GX Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 142
|
My mistake, it's actually a SOHC, not DOHC. 1.9 SOHC
The first day I checked out the saturn I came home first and googled the hell out of it. Researched year to year changes, motor types, common issues, owner reviews, clutch prices, etc. Mine was an 02, the last year saturn did the sl's so it had the latest engine revisions so thats good. I did a seafoam and mystery oil piston soak per the saturnforums member recomendations, and I have been running synthetic mobil 1 5w30. Running like a champ so far. It's really hard to tell the engine is running from outside at idle; pretty quiet. The stereo sounds really good (stock cd/radio deck), has a nice clear tone but with a good thump to it. Unexpected for my ideas of what a saturn would be like. Have put over a thousand miles on it so far. Oil level hasn't budged, and my coolant is still green and smells like coolant. I'm happy lol..
__________________
2001 Oldsmobile Alero GL Sedan - Sport Red
miles as of 04/23/10
|
|
|
01-24-2011, 09:37 AM
|
#19
|
V.I.P. Member
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Kalamazoo, MI
Posts: 477
|
Good for you!
Keep an eye on the top of the alternator.
The back of the SOHC head likes to lift up right by the oil pressure line at that corner of the head, and oil will sometimes leak out and stain the alternator.
Not to be confused with the common problem of oil leaking from the valve cover gasket.
Oh, and the radiators like to crack the side tank right by the upper rad hose on the driver's side of the vehicle....
But yes... the SOHC with manual trans is a good engine, better on fuel and much cheaper to replace. I've gotten 40-43 highway mpg when "driving like a Prius" and 32 mpg when driving 80.
Enjoy!
|
|
|
01-24-2011, 11:14 AM
|
#20
|
Now a Ford Traitor.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Greenland
Posts: 6,996
|
Got two Saturn'S, Blue 99 Sl, 180K Dumped the oil on the highway and sent a rod into orbit, waiting for a heart transplant, and a 99 SL2 with 291K miles, original everything, and runs amazing, CHECK YOUR OIL EVERY DAY!!!!
__________________
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:27 AM.
|