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HI, I have a 2001 Saturn SL2. The car is blowing white smoke, using a quart of oil every 1000 miles BUT NOT losing radiater fluid at all. Will Steel Seal work on a 2001 Saturn SL2? The directions say to pour it directly into the radiater but I have no radiater cap.Thank you for your time and assistance. Robin
Country: United StatesMake: SaturnModel: SL2Year: 2001Engine: 4 cly Already Tried: Changing the thermometer, all hoses.
Hello,I will be glad to try and assist you with this,Welcome to Just Answer.Hi,I just need a little more info to assist better.Does the smoke smell sweet kind of like a syrup smell at all?Have you had to add coolant at all?Let me know so we can continue,Thanks Pete!
No smell to smoke. Smoke gets worse as the car gets hotter. Especially doesn't like idelling. I have never had to add coolant.
O.k.Usually white smoke will indicate the vehicle is burning water/coolant.If this just started this may be why you haven't had to add coolant yet.This could also mean the engine is burning oil as well but 1 quart every 1000 miles is considered normal operation as GM allows 1 quart to be used every 1000 miles.Most likely you have a head gasket leak to where coolant is being burned in the engine and this is where the smoke is coming from.The stop leak stuff you want to use may work but it may not hold up for very long,it depends on how bad the leak is.To add this since you have no radiator cap you add this to the coolant reservoir,it will then make its way into the radiator from there.I would have this checked as soon as you can to see if in fact you have a head gasket leak and if so it will need replaced.Head gasket failures can be fairly common on this engine in this vehicle.Let me know if you need anything else,click accept if you feel satisfied with your answer as this is how I get credited for my time,Thanks Pete!
This has been going on for about three years. It hasn't gotton worse or better. I do NOT have to add coolant.
This may not be a head gasket leaking then,this smoke could be coming from the engine due to oil burning,this can be caused by valve seals or even piston oil rings.Both of these would have to be tested to see which one is at fault then it can be repaired from there.If the smoke is on cold days then this is normal but if this is still smoking on warm or hot days then all of these items need tested to find out what the problem is.Most likely you don't need to add the sealer to the coolant because this doesn't sound like a head or head gasket issue since you haven't had to add any coolant to the system.Let me know if you need anything else,click accept if you feel satisfied with your answer as this is how I get credited for my time,Thanks Pete!
How do they test for valve seals and piston rings? Do they have to take the engine apart? If something is wrong with a valve or piston - is it cheaper to replace the engine than have it fixed? Someone told me I can replace a Saturn engine with another GM engine. Is this true? I have 146,000 miles on this car. Is replacing the engine worth it?
If it is piston rings sometimes it is cheaper to replace the engine because the engine has to be taken apart to replace rings on the pistons.If it is valve seals they don't have to take the engine apart,they can fix these with just the valve cover off and other components and an engine replacement would cost more then having the valve seals replaced.At 146,000 miles it depends on how everything else is operating(transmission,etc.)if everything else is working o.k. then it would be safe to have this repaired,the call is up to you.They would have to do a leak down test to find the source of the engine oil leakage.Let me know if you need anything else,click accept if you feel satisfied with your answer as this is how I get credited for my time,Thanks Pete!
So, I should ask for a leak down test?
Have you heard of replacing a Saturn engine with a different GM engine? I ask because if I repace the engine Saturn engines are known for leaking oil. I don't feel confident replacing mine with another Saturn engine.
I have not heard of replacing this engine with a different engine and don't know if any other engines would fit and bolt up properly to the transmission and other components.It could get very expensive putting a different engine in this vehicle if allot of other components have to be replaced to match up with the other engine.You would explain the problem you have with the smoke and have them do their testing to find the source of the smoke,leak down,block tests,etc.Then they can tell you what you need done and how much it will cost,then you can determine if you want to fix it or replace the engine or leave the way it is.Let me know if you need anything else,click accept if you feel satisfied with your answer as this is how I get credited for my time,Thanks Pete!
Experience: 15 years Saturn Technician experience.