Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 14:21:36 +0000 From: Grunff <grunffnospam.com> Subject: Re: Major heart surgery needed to my 9-5 SE
turkishjim wrote: > Last night my beloved 1997 Saab 9-5 suffered a major breakdown and I'm > looking for help in deciding what to do. I bought the car 3 years ago > with 90K miles on the clock and have added a further 65K myself. Of > late the engine has been burning more oil, and for the last few days > sounding a bit "tappety". Last night the engine cut out and would not > restart (at an unlit busy T-junction of course!) and inspection > revealed smoke coming out of the oil filler tube and the horrible > greasy yellow foam suggesting a blown head gasket. > I was recovered to my local car mechanic where the car is serviced, > and my diagnosis was confirmed. As major work is needed to replace the > head gasket it makes sense to replace the cam followers at the same > time, and fitting new piston rings might improve oil consumption. This is crazy. Unless the engine has been seriously abused, there is *no way* it would need tappets and piston rings at 90k. Not even at 190k. Why do you believe this is required? -- Grunff