I have a '95 Saturn 1.8L with 120k miles. It runs great and my wife uses it to transport the dogs, so it's a perfect "old" car for that.

It is using about 1qt of 10W-30 oil every 1k miles (maybe even using a bit more by now). No smoke and no leaks. Nothing strange getting in cooling system.

The cost to rebuild engine is more than car is worth, so...

Is there some way to slow this down?

A heavier weight oil perhaps?

I read online that someone went to straight 40W and it helped.

I live in San Diego and it never gets cold here, so do I really need the "10W" part?

Thanks...

. Ensure there are no leaks; i.e. drain plug, oil filter, oil pan, or valve cover.

. Replace the PCV Valve--it may be allowing too much crankcase airflow.

. Remove spark plugs and check each cylinder's compression.

. Use full-synthetic engine oil (e.g. Mobil 1 10W-30). Synthetics withstand the heat much better than conventional engine oils (they have higher NOACK Volatility ratings). Your problem may be that the oil is evaporating; i.e. the light molecules are being burned, due to heat. Change synthetic oil and filter every 6,000 miles or 6 months, whichever comes first.

Thanks!

A couple of questions for clarification, if I may:

As I recall, there is a way to check a PCV valve by blowing through it. It's a check valve, isn't it? Should only allow airflow in one direction?

What should the cyl compression be (approx)?

The synthetics sound good. Would it help to go to a heavier weight?

Thanks again...

I would replace the PCV Valve, since it likely has never been done before. Clean the hose with brake cleaner.

Compression should likely be around 150 psi. If it's less than 120 psi, you may have a problem. They should not vary from one another by more than 20%. You should check a manual for the specs on your engine.

If you want, use Mobil 1 15W-50.