I have a 1996 Saturn that required $2000 worth of engine work recently. A few days after I got it back the temperature light was coming on. I had to take it back to the shop. I was informed that it is getting oil in the antifreeze and I have a bad head. I was told that it is not worth it to fix the problem.
I am taking a road trip soon that is a 16 hour drive both ways and I'm wondering if I'm going to make it!
2007-12-07 04:54:55 · 6 answers · asked by faierylady 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
I had to have my O2 sensors replaced and my engine flushed (among other things). The mechanic said that he didn't notice the problem when he did the work. He said that he noticed sealant in the system though. I think that should have told him something! It has never overheated (knock on wood) and the temp gauge has never gone into the hot section.
2007-12-07 05:27:39 · update #1
let me guess the engine work was an overheating problem
the machene shop may have done a bad mill job (they should pay the bill)
or your mechanic didnt mill the head or damaged the gasket on install shame on him he should pay the bill
or you cracked it (that sucks as a crack can be missed )
first oil in the antifreeze will make all your radiator / heater hoses fail as it will eat them up they could die any time 2 to 30 days
they will fail
get them changed
thain the oil leaks more they will fail agin
dont take any trip you dont want to walk home from
barrow or rent a car get it fixed rite they are a good car kind of
2007-12-07 05:25:09 · answer #1 · answered by mobile auto repair (mr fix it) 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just like the answer above said, you have to worry about oil contamination, the car overheats already so if you continue driving you will be shopping for a whole new engine instead of a head repair. Add that to the tow truck bill if you decide to risk the trip.
Just curious if you had $2000 worth of engine work done, did the head come off? if it did they may have installed a wrong head gasket or not followed the proper torque procedure to tighten the head, in that case you should get it fixed for free.
Fixing a blown head gasket on a 4 cylinder Saturn is not a hudge amount of money, rough guess $400.
2007-12-07 05:13:53 · answer #2 · answered by cimra 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
96 Saturn should have an aluminum head, so if the wrong coolant was used in the engine, it could have damaged the gasket. I wouldn't recommend driving it anywhere, although you may be able to put in some "stop leak" type product and get a few miles, but certainly not a 16 hour drive.
I would also start looking for a new mechanic, as a mechanic myself, I always take some time to do a complete inspection and test drive of a vehicle, and make customers very aware of any issue with their vehicles BEFORE it leaves the shop.
2007-12-08 17:23:02 · answer #3 · answered by Dave 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not long, borrow a car or rent. When that happens the oil breaks down from the antifreeze and will not protect the bearings and valves.
2007-12-07 05:00:44 · answer #4 · answered by rage43130 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you shouldn't drive it at all with a bad head-impossible to tell how far you will go. 2k worth of engine work?what did they do? it could be related to repair or misdiagnosed..tell us what was done,it may be the shop's fault/responsibility-I can tell you with the right info
2007-12-07 05:10:36 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get it checked soon because coolant can get into the oil.
2016-05-22 00:40:56 · answer #6 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋