# My 1999 Chevy Prizm may be an oily lemon

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-1999-chevy-prizm-may-be-an-oily-lemon/65332>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** valves, oil\
**Created:** [June 10, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-1999-chevy-prizm-may-be-an-oily-lemon/65332 "2011-06-10T02:19:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-1999-chevy-prizm-may-be-an-oily-lemon/65332/21 "2011-06-22T19:50:01Z")

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Yes, a compression test is definitely a good thing to have as an evaluation of a used car. A leakdown test at teh same time is a good test too. Checking the coolant for signs of cross contamination is inconclusive because anyone worth their salt that knew they had a bad headgasket would change the fluids before putting the car on the market, so fluids will always show good.

Other good tests:

Cooling system pressure test.

CRITICAL: complete and thorough visual examination of the brake system on a rack for evidence of fluid seepage, corrosion, outright leaks, stuck calipers/cylinders, and parking brake function. Low pads would be a negotiable item bu not a dealbreaker. Loss of brakes can kill you. Don’t overlook this.

A complete and thorough examination of the chassis as well as anomolous wear patterns on the tires.

In a framed vehicle, like a pickup, a thorough examination of the frame for rot. In a unibody, a thorough examination of the underbody for rot.

A check of the lights, wipers, etc. All these things functions should be “run through their paces”. Wiring problem can be a bear to get stuck with.

Evidence of a past accident. A neighbor bragged about the great deal he got on his used car and found out a month later that the rear of the vehicle was pop-riveted on…and not very well at that.

A good road test including highway driving. Push the car on the highway and see what happens.

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-1999-chevy-prizm-may-be-an-oily-lemon/65332/22 "2011-06-22T20:13:18Z")

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If I were buying a car with more than 50k miles I would want a compression test.  
It’s not a big deal, especially since I would take out the spark plugs to get a look at them anyway.

I had a '76 Chevy Nova that was puking oil from all over due to a plugged PCV valve and hose.  
But it only leaked at highway speed.  
That’s when I learned about the PCV system from a wise but not so old mechanic.

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