I have a 95 Saturn SL2

Tiny
IOWAN86
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 SATURN SL2
  • 176,358 MILES
I have a 95 saturn SL2. Approx. 176*** miles. Smoking real bad, using oil, running really rough. Take out the spark plugs and the number one cylinder has oil sitting in it, the other three cylinders are good. So I pressure test all the cylinder. All are readying 130-160 psi except number one again, it only holds about 15-30psi. I was wondering does this mean the rings are bad, or could it be just the valves burnt causing it not to hold compression? Pretty sure the head gasket is at least shot.
Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 12:35 AM

10 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Min compression is 175 psi on that engine so all the cylinders are low. But most likely valves causing your 15-30psi compression. But for the oil consumption probably a combo of worn valve stem seals oil rings and possibly worn uneven cylinder walls common on those cars.
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 2:13 AM
Tiny
IOWAN86
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The cylinder pressure on the other ones was just rough estimates, I was just wanting to make sure they was holding pressure. Besides doing a complete teardown, is there anyway to check and see if the rings are any good in that number one cylinder?
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 12:19 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Chances are the rings are not the problem. However, if you want to check for ring problems you need to do a wet compression test. First, check the cylinder dry and get a reading. Then put a small amount of oil in the cylinder and check to see if there is an increase of compression. If there is, the rings are bad. If there is no change, the valves are the problem. My guess is you have a stuck, bent, or burnt valve.
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 12:23 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Most likely a burnt valve you can do a cylinder leak down test that will tell you where and if its intake exhaust valves or rings. But with compression that low its a most likely a valve. But you still have the really bad oil consumption problem. So I would say your engine is gone. If it was my car I wouldn't fix that engine.
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 2:00 PM
Tiny
IOWAN86
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Well there was oil just setting in the cylinder. I am assuming this is most likely from a bad head gasket? So without the oil just pouring into the cylinder it may not use that much oil?
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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The oil your talking about is it on the outside of the plug?
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 7:17 PM
Tiny
IOWAN86
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  • 43 POSTS
No it was inside the cylinder setting on top the piston. The valve cover looked like it had a good seal.
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Monday, April 1st, 2013 AT 8:01 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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You could have valve stem seal issues oil ring/cylinder wall wear issues.A head gasket isn't going to make it use oil like that.I know these cars well.
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Tuesday, April 2nd, 2013 AT 1:58 AM
Tiny
IOWAN86
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  • 43 POSTS
Ok thank you, going to just put it back together after putting a new valve cover gasket on it and cleaning it up some, and drive it till it dies!
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Thursday, April 4th, 2013 AT 2:21 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Keep oil in it and it will run for a while like that.
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Friday, April 5th, 2013 AT 2:45 AM

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