Hello, this is my saturn sl2, this is a picture from when I put lights on it and im currently fighting with the tape removal process now that christmas is over. Its a 5 spd manual, 350k, all stock with small modifications (but I plan to mod it more), and Ive owned it for about a year now

 

Very festive.

Welcome.

 

Wow! You went all out and are now facing the consequences of your fun. I suggest Goo Gone and some sturdy rags. DO NOT use paper towels. Welcome to the forum. Has the engine ever been replaced?

 

I was going to ask at what mileage it was rebuilt, but his ownership has been short so unless the previous owner had it done, the mileage may never be known. Must have been well taken care of somewhat outside the rust belt to get that many miles out of it.

 

I believe the engine has never been replaced, nor has it been rebuilt, its honestly surprising how it still runs "okay"

 

Its a family car, my grandmother bought it brand new off the lot in 98 and it has been passed down through to my mom, dad, and to me. Maybe even to my kids if I keep it around for long enough

 

That's got to be an SL1. With an sohc

The dohc in the SL2 is an oil burner and between the oil burning and the compression brings wearing down, there's basically very very little chance in hell that that is an original SL2. Unless you change the oil every 1500 miles. I'd be surprised if the original timing chain would last that long but then again if you change the oil every 1500 miles who knows.

Please confirm SL1 vs SL2.

Inquiring minds want to know 🙃

 

Engine has not been rebuilt as just confirmed with my grandmother, I do burn a decent amount of oil, and will now change it more often. It however is a dohc SL2, and I change the oil ussually every 5000 miles.

 

Welcome!

 

Switch it over to Valvoline Restore and Protect full synthetic motor oil and use a quality oil filter, not some cheap one. I swapped my son's oil burning Kia Soul over to the V R&P and it reduced the oil consumption, remarkably. We went from adding almost 5 quarts between 5,000 mile oil changes to about a quart. That's some great oil. I run it regularly in my 2017 Forte with 186,000 miles and add about a pint between 5,000 mile oil changes. Don't take my word for it, though. Do some research on your own about how well it works.