[Kryptik]

Hi everyone! Before I get started I just want to say thanks to all of the contributors here on the forums! I've already learned a lot and taken care of a few issues thanks to you guys-you rock! ;ol;

Okay, so here's my story: a few months ago I decided that I needed to downsize my fun car collection and the solution, naturally enough, was to buy another fun car. After a lot of research and reading I decided that a Saab convertible looked like the best fit for what I wanted and a couple of months ago I took the plunge and bought (and probably paid too much for) a 2000 9-3 SE 'vert that hadn't seen much action, especially in the last year and a half or so. Since I've had it I've been busy ironing out a few minor problems (brakes and rotors, illegible SID, &c.) that really kept me from driving it much at all. Dropping the oil pan has always been on the short list of things to do for me but playing whack-a-mole with the stuff that kept it off the road kinda sidetracked me from that and next thing you know, I was just pulling off the interstate on Saturday (first time I had really let it stretch its legs) and what should I see but the dreaded flickering oil light.

It still starts and runs (I pulled right off the side of the ramp and killed the engine just as the red ! lit up and chimed at me) so my tentative plan for the moment is to drop the pan and see what I've got in there (praying that there aren't any chunks of metal or other signs of a dying engine) then get it all cleaned up and pretty if there's nothing worse in there than a bunch of varnish and gunk.

In all honesty my car knowledge is at the just-enough-to-be-dangerous level and I wasn't quite ready to get hip-deep into potential engine problems so any input and advice on how to tell if she's okay will be greatly appreciated. I also don't know what else I should check/fix/replace/clean other than the sump (maybe drain it for now and pour a gallon of gas or so into the engine to help dissolve some of that crud while it waits for me to get to it?) and the PCV fix so any recommendations there would be great as well. Thanks all! :cheesy:

 

[teeuwen]

It could be your sensor as well from what i have read, but one thing is it will definetly be audible if you do have the sludge issue from what i have read and seen in my reading.

Will have to wait for an expert to chime in as well though.

 

[TDonn]

DO NOT pour gas into your engine. It will "clean" the grease right out of your bearings, and then sludge is the least of your concern. How do I know? I had a bike with a leaky carb once. I let it sit for a few weeks with the petcock on, fuel flowed freely into the engine, said fuel cleaned the grease out of the rod bearings, and the next time I fired it up, I got about a mile from home before the bottom end destroyed itself.

 

[Kryptik]

Well that's what I meant about knowing just enough to be dangerous-I never would have thought of something like that! Guess I'll stick to arxing it after cleaning out the oil pan and anything else that I can/should clean. ;oops:

As far as hearing the sludge in the engine I actually kinda thought the same thing myself but after reading this thread here and listening to the way that engine sounded I sure couldn't tell that it was ready to die. That actually made me even more nervous, especially since crispin9-3's oil light started flickering without any other noticeable symptoms just like mine.

 

[08flstc]

You're going to want to pull the valve cover as well. That was my first sign of a MAJOR and un repairable sludge issue on my 02 9-3. I had the pan pulled anyway, but it was a waste of time. If its in the upper end, its most likely in the lower end as well. The PO of my car had also neglected to perform the PCV upgrade. Mine was toast at 80,000 miles. Since I love the car itself, I dropped in a used motor that HAD been taken care of and 100,000 miles later she's still running strong. Good luck...

Chris in PA
2002 9-3 SE
186,000K and counting

 

[Kryptik]

Engine looks great!

Thanks 08flstc! I had been thinking about taking that step first but I wasn't comfortable with pulling the valve cover myself so I went ahead and took it to my mechanic to have him do it. To my surprise the engine was nice and clean inside and all of the oil passages were free and clear. He thought it was highly unlikely that the pickup screen was significantly clogged given the cleanliness of the engine and the condition of the hoses and instead recommended that I check/replace the pressure sending unit. I guess I might have been barking up the wrong tree...