I haven't cried in 10 years but I sure want to now. Here is my story bought a used 03 g 6mt in sept 06 with 18k for like 20k which seem like an awesome deal. At first I went to the dealer for everything to fix any little issue I had since the warranty was about to be up at 36k. Then when that was up the dealer began raping me on charges and I started doing everything myself.

Now I am not a mechanic nor have I really done maintence on a car before this one. (this was a bad one to start I think). But I started changing my own oil and every 3500 to 4000 miles (never went over, never) and every time the oil would only have about a quart in it. So I ask my dad and some friends is this normal and they told me for this kind of car it is so I'm like ok. I don't know if I ever asked the dealer about it because i figured they would lie and try to charge me something.

My car has been burning oil for years and it finally caught up with me. Powertrain warrenty ended sept last year and mileage is at 73K. The moment I heard the engine make a light clicking or clanking sound I changed the oil (it was about time at like 3600 miles) Now whats even worse is that in the past year I barly drive this car since I work from home, I used to drive like a 100 miles a day to work and back. So the only thing that changed is the amount of time between oil changes increased not miles.

if you only read this part engine is dead (well it starts but you here the rod like it's broken hitting stuff) and powertrain warranty is gone. New engine is needed. What should I do after I stop crying?

If my car was burning 4 quarts of oil every 3500 miles how bad is that. I have proof of when I bought oil and changed it but I don't know what that will do.

 

Look for a good used motor and swap it in.

 

Did you get an owner's manual with the car? Have you ever read the owner's manual for any motor vehicle? Everone of them would have told you that you not only have to change the oil, you MUST maitain the level BETWEEN changes. Thats why there's a dip stick Jimmie.
Well, now you know.

 

Hate to say it, but your motor is toast. You knew your motor was consuming old, but didn't add oil to maintain the correct level. Like Jeff said, it's time to start sourcing a new used motor. They're fairly cheap ($1,000 or less) and most any decent shop could swap one in for around $1,000-1,500. It's not rocket science. What I wouldn't do is fix the motor. It's done. You didn't break a rod. What likely happened is a bearing or two is toast from inadequate lubrication.

 

its not really enough to cry about. you owned it for some time and didn't replace anything ever but oil. so you spent nothing to maintain and now i guess you just have to pay up front. most used motors go for about $500-700. it might run a little more because you can get a start-up guarantee or a 1 year warranty on the engine.

Either way your best bet is to get someone to put in a new motor. All in all should be less then $3000.

I dont know the figures and time but on average motor R and R is about 10-15 hours. At a extremely high labor rate of $150, thats about $2250 in labor and the rest is engine cost and etc. This is HUGE over estimate. You might be able to swing $1500- $2000 at a fair shop

 

Holy crap. I realize burning a little oil is normal, but not 4 out of 5 quarts every 3,500 miles. That's insane. I can't believe anyone would think this is normal.

 

yeahhhh lesson learned my friend. My 03.5 burned oil like that when I first got it. After meticulous maintenance and NEVER going over 3,000 miles between oil changes... It hardly burns at all now. I also replaced a gasket in the oil filter housing.. which caused it to lose a tiny bit of oil. Definitely get a new motor.. because at that kind of mileage... the car still has 2x or 3x more life than that left in it!

 

Yeah, that's not normal for any car. The absolute most i can see a car burning is maybe 1/2 to 1 quart for 4000 miles or so. But anything more than that is excessive.