2000 Saturn SL2 4 cylinder DOHC

Maintenance/Repairs
41

Sounds like your rings and/or cylinders may be in bad shape, imo

1 Like
42

Restore is less than $10, get your oil&filter changed, add the Restore. It canā€™t hurt.
How much oil are you using in miles per quart?
Gray smoke, is the gray light gray/white? Are you monitoring your coolant level?
BTW, eventually the oil burning, what ever the source, will eventually affect your catalytic converter.

2 Likes
43

can a camera be used to look inside the valve cover and see the oil drain back holes and determine if they are clogged?

44

No that would not work

45

Possibly (but doubtful); youā€™ll get a much better idea by removing he valve cover, not that big a job.

1 Like
46

I have had some luck using 5 minute flush to clean an engine enough to stop dirty lifters from clacking. Never had any luck with a thick oil product but no harm in trying.

You could not get a remote camera under the valve cover through the oil fill hole in my Saturn because of the splash shield. But you can use one of those remote cameras to look inside the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Just be sure to blow off all the accumulated dirt and sand away from the spark plug hole before you remove the spark plug, otherwise it falls into the cylinder.

BUT, have you checked the PCV valve yet. I would actually replace it even if it does pass the rattle test simply because they are so cheap. BTW, if you pull the PCV valve and its grommet, you might be able to get that remote camera under the valve cover for a look see. A bad PCV valve can cause most if not all the symptoms you are having.

47

Thanks so much for your continued support; yes I did change the PCV valve. If I add a bottle of Marvel Mystery Oil to a cold engine and let it sit overnight before I start it - would that remove the gunk from those drain back holes if they are the issue? I donā€™t want to clog up anything else with loose gunk. Please advise. Thanks again. p.s. if those drain back holes are clogged would I see smoke coming out of the top of the valve cover if I remove the oil filler can and pcv valves

| keith
October 30 |

  • | - |

I have had some luck using 5 minute flush to clean an engine enough to stop dirty lifters from clacking. Never had any luck with a thick oil product but no harm in trying.

You could not get a remote camera under the valve cover through the oil fill hole in my Saturn because of the splash shield. But you can use one of those remote cameras to look inside the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Just be sure to blow off all the accumulated dirt and sand away from the spark plug hole before you remove the spark plug, otherwise it falls into the cylinder.

BUT, have you checked the PCV valve yet. I would actually replace it even if it does pass the rattle test simply because they are so cheap. BTW, if you pull the PCV valve and its grommet, you might be able to get that remote camera under the valve cover for a look see. A bad PCV valve can cause most if not all the symptoms you are having.

48
  • oil filler cap

Thanks so much for your continued support; yes I did change the PCV valve. If I add a bottle of Marvel Mystery Oil to a cold engine and let it sit overnight before I start it - would that remove the gunk from those drain back holes if they are the issue? I donā€™t want to clog up anything else with loose gunk. Please advise. Thanks again. p.s. if those drain back holes are clogged would I see smoke coming out of the top of the valve cover if I remove the oil filler can and pcv valves

| keith
October 30 |

  • | - |

I have had some luck using 5 minute flush to clean an engine enough to stop dirty lifters from clacking. Never had any luck with a thick oil product but no harm in trying.

You could not get a remote camera under the valve cover through the oil fill hole in my Saturn because of the splash shield. But you can use one of those remote cameras to look inside the cylinder through the spark plug hole. Just be sure to blow off all the accumulated dirt and sand away from the spark plug hole before you remove the spark plug, otherwise it falls into the cylinder.

BUT, have you checked the PCV valve yet. I would actually replace it even if it does pass the rattle test simply because they are so cheap. BTW, if you pull the PCV valve and its grommet, you might be able to get that remote camera under the valve cover for a look see. A bad PCV valve can cause most if not all the symptoms you are having.

49

Why do you think the drain back holes in the head are a potential problem? I donā€™t think adding a bottle of anything will clean them overnight just by sitting.

50

I tore apart a Chevy 305 once because it would not pass the smog check due to smoke out the tail pipe. The only thing I found wrong was the rear most oil drain holes were completely clogged up. The engine sits on a slant (RWD) so the oil filled up enough to flood the rear cylinder(s) valve stems and get into the combustion chambers.

The rings had almost no wear, no cylinder wall taper or ridge at the top. Valves all good. The engine only had about 40k on it, but it was a 75 and GM called for a 7500 OCI (oil change interval) using 10w40 oil, which at that time had a very low misting temperature. Sludge build up on these was very common.

At the time, people would blame Quaker State oil for this but in truth, all 10w40 oils at that time did this. Shame to have to rebuild the whole engine because of the clogged drain back holes.

51

Wow! Thanks for all of your support and expertise