does this sound like bullsh--?

e_nough · 03-08-2001, 04:06 PM

i have a friend that has a '94 saab turbo and his mechanic has told him he needs a new engine because his head gasket is blown and this supposedly caused the engine to corrode?!? the mechanic says that the leak has "been going on for a while" and that the engine is corroded and has to be replaced?!?!? this sounds strange.

this guy was driving along and his car started to hesitate and then he noticed a bunch of smoke behind him. this sounds like normal symptoms for a blown head gasket. i told him to check his oil the next day and he said it was way over full and frothy which sounds like coolant mixed with the oil which you would expect. but this corrosion thing sounds like a bunch of bs to me. corrosion takes time to happen and we all know that you are going to overheat just as soon as you get any amount of coolant in your oil and therefore you will immediately know when your gasket starts leaking.

this doesnt add up to me.

what do you guys think?

i think the mechanic is trying to take advantage of my friend. (who is clueless about cars)

asidrave · asidrave's Garage

i agree that the mech might be taking advantave of your friend. to be sure i would yalk to some saab owners or try to find a saab bb like this one. im sure they will have the answer.

Blackfoot · Blackfoot's Garage

to corrode (like oxidize/rust) the metal would have had to be exposed to oxygen for a some period of time. i don't know if the oil mixing with the coolant would be enough to do it. depends also how long the head gasket was blown...my guess...only a guess...is the mechanic is deliberately misleading him.

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it's all the oxidation...

kukunaokala · 03-08-2001, 06:10 PM

I've seen corrosion between the water jackets but that is only because the idiot owner didn't put anti-freeze. Tell me I'm wrong. Aloha, Neal

Scott R · Scott R's Garage

I was a tech for GM for a few years and we had a motor that was in all the early 90's cadillacs called the 4.5. I would warp it's head's under high heat conditions and allow the coolant and oil to exchange through the now leaky gasket. Meaning usually that you had coolant in the oil. This in turn causes great lower bearing damage, and other parts that would not normally have access to water to rust. In almost every instance the engine would have to be replaced. Granted I know nothing about Saabs, but I have seen this on a few cars other than just GM.

Rollins · 03-08-2001, 06:58 PM

Saab is made by GM now isn't it? Like since 1995?

wolfrpi · 03-08-2001, 10:13 PM

Your friend should take his car to the dealer. Frequently they have recalls for problems like this.

Erick

Obin Robinson · 03-10-2001, 05:11 AM

Swedish
Automobiles
Always
Break

sell the damn car and get something cheaper and more reliable... like a Maserati

obin

[This message has been edited by Obin Robinson (edited 03-10-2001).]

AMCPorsche924Powerhaus! · 03-10-2001, 11:29 AM

hey volvos don't break, "sawb" is front wheel drive, thats the reason they break.

Magnus_944 · 03-10-2001, 11:47 AM

Try to find a saab forum and ask them, the only I know of is http://drive.to/saabforum It is in swedish, but may swedes speak english so give it a try.

click "forum" and then "Nytt meddelande" to post a new topic.

/Magnus

lazarus369 · 03-12-2001, 05:16 PM

alright obin....very funny, I appreciate the humor, but it is mis-placed.

Saab are very reliable cars. I wouldn't doubt that they have problems; but hey, so do porsches. I drive my Saab during the winter thanks to the front wheel drive, but enjoy the 944 on clear roads.

My saab, has rust SOOO bad, and yet the engine/trans/everything under the hood runs PERFECT for being 16 years old. Even my 944 doesn't run as well (but is sure as heck goes ALOT faster!)

so please keep in mind the other side of the story next time? thanks

PS- www.saabnet.com the greatest only only.

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Gabriel "Lazarus" Johnston
'85 Saab 900 Turbo
'88 Porsche 944 Base
Paintball Lover

85944na · 85944na's Garage

i dont think its misplaced. I've had nothing but terrible luck with saabs. They never start, and break all the time. Newer ones are fine, but the old 900's yuck!! But maybe I just had bad luck. But front wheel drive, no thanks, i'll drive rear wheel drive all winter.