Okay, so to set the record straight: engine failed at 100k miles due to a combination of a bad MAF and the boost being cranked in an unsafe manor (T7 Suite). Always used fully synthetic M1 @ 3,000 miles- cleaned the oil pickup screen about 5k before the engine blew and there was NO signs of sludge. Rebuilt a B234 with forged internals, running a TD04-19T-6cm (and about $5k in go-fast goodies) and expect to get conservatively close to 350whp/400wtrq.
It's imperative to change the oil in these engines. The turbo engine needs a fully syntethic oil. 5W-30 or better! Use known, high quality oil. It will gain you in the end...
Oil change should be done AT LEAST once a year, every 15 000 km or 10 000 miles.
The problem with these engines (T7) is that the crackcase ventilation is bad. This is a low-friction engine, and so the pistons are a little smaller than they should be. These factors cause the compression to enter the crankcase past the pistons. After a while the pressure in the crankcase gets higher and this what causes turbo-failures and oil leaking from the headgasket.
This can be somewhat be avioded if the pistons are changed to f.e. Wössner pistons.
They are a bit bigger and seals better. Pistonrings can get "stuck" in the piston and then more gases gets into the crankcase. This combined with ethanol fuel creates a wearing condition, and then you end up with either ticking pistons due to wear, oil leaks, slacking timing chain, leaking valves (oil) or broken turbo.
The older T5-engine most commonly found in the Saab 9000 and '98-'00 9-3 didn't have this problem, as of another crackcase vent. and as it wasn't a low friction engine.
My Aero wagon just blew up at 60K miles last week!!! The only nice thing I own. Why did i spend $80 on synthetic oil changes? This is my FML week!! I'm gonna tell the whole fucking world about this until I get a new engine in a crate. It's at the dealer and they quoted $7-10K. I don't know what to do?? What ended up happening to you? I'm too worked up to continue this message. Expect a video and possibly an arrest (it still has enough power to drive through the dealership window)!!! -Clayton
@JessicaColonyarts An indy shop will do a motor swap MUCH cheaper, and learn to do your own oil changes... I pay $20 for full synthetic oil and a genuine filter.
@YS3Caero I was running a T7 Suite Stage 1 ECU, plus readapting to high octane fuel. The engine leaned out under full boost and the #1 piston melted and the con rod punched a hole right through the engine block. I suspect the mass airflow sensor was probably also a culprit.
I sold a 9000 Aero with 286000 km and it runs like new. And Saab is bankrupted because during the GM period they did not have the brilliant idea of building a proper small hatch (9-2X is not a Saab). If they made it they could have profit to launch the new 9-5 earlyer.
Further more, the few things that bother me in my new 9-3 come from the GM heritage.
@TheWorldofAaron Too bad you never owned one to find out the reason why 1) GM purchased Saab to rape the technology from them and 2) they refuse to let them be sold due to releasing the technology out.
Too bad you're talking out your ass. My family currently has a 2.3 hot aero saab that has done 20k since we've had it and the only thing on that car, that has went wrong is a rear ball joint.
@ChrisCam84 I had a fairly heavily modified 1999 9-3 run for 250k and I beat the shit out of it daily (Cheap mods heh...). Nothing ever went wrong except a seal on the oil cooler blew (The little rubber seal things)
@imailwizz Yup, B234R with forged pistons, bored and sleeved out to 93mm, rebuilt the head using stiffer springs and a more aggressive cam. Running a B204 crank + larger bore will equal about 2.8L of displacement. Gonna run a customized JZW ECU tune based on his stage 5 T7 map. What else, Spec stage 3+ Clutch, Siemens 630cc injectors, Genuine Saab king cobra turbo pipe and intake, ETS intercooler, Walbro 255 fuel pump, TD04-19T-6CM turbo (upgraded from a TD04-15T-5CM). Should haul once it's done
I blew my 93 aero a month ago, $6500 later its back on the road with an engine with 40k miles on it, sounded just like that and was only a spun rod bearing, but it did crank damage :(
The cause of this would most likely be a crappy engine oil. Use full synthetic next time, stay away from Mobile 1 as they make their oil from a lesser grade base.
@alejandrogti8 I left that comment a long time ago. I have now tried Mobile 1 5W30 in my cars and it seems to be fine. My apologies to Mobile 1. In your case the newer SAABs use 0W40 or 5W40 oil, which is more THICK when it is heated up than the 30 weight oil, which I like to use in my 2002 Viggen and other SAABs that we own. 0W or 5W only stands for "winter," when temperatures are low, making it a bit more thick. 0W would most likely be a bit thinner than 5W when it is cold.
IDK if its the same thing but I just blew up my motor too on my 9-5. The MAF went with no CEL and wore a hole through my piston from running too lean!
That might be why Saab didn't give it 300hp...
4G63PWR 13 hours ago
Those are the rims I want on my 2003 9-5. So you just rebuilt the motor?
ultimatepimpinsti 2 days ago
Okay, so to set the record straight: engine failed at 100k miles due to a combination of a bad MAF and the boost being cranked in an unsafe manor (T7 Suite). Always used fully synthetic M1 @ 3,000 miles- cleaned the oil pickup screen about 5k before the engine blew and there was NO signs of sludge. Rebuilt a B234 with forged internals, running a TD04-19T-6cm (and about $5k in go-fast goodies) and expect to get conservatively close to 350whp/400wtrq.
ChrisCam84 1 week ago
Saab NEVER had a 2.4! they has a 2.0L 2.1L(older 900) and a 2.3L with is what is in this 9-5
osvst 1 week ago
Was this stock or modded ? engine should handle 315hp stock...
xReventonx 2 weeks ago
It's imperative to change the oil in these engines. The turbo engine needs a fully syntethic oil. 5W-30 or better! Use known, high quality oil. It will gain you in the end...
Oil change should be done AT LEAST once a year, every 15 000 km or 10 000 miles.
Niggagger 1 month ago
This has been flagged as spam show
I'm a saab-tech from Sweden.
The problem with these engines (T7) is that the crackcase ventilation is bad. This is a low-friction engine, and so the pistons are a little smaller than they should be. These factors cause the compression to enter the crankcase past the pistons. After a while the pressure in the crankcase gets higher and this what causes turbo-failures and oil leaking from the headgasket.
This can be somewhat be avioded if the pistons are changed to f.e. Wössner pistons.
Niggagger 1 month ago
Continue:
They are a bit bigger and seals better. Pistonrings can get "stuck" in the piston and then more gases gets into the crankcase. This combined with ethanol fuel creates a wearing condition, and then you end up with either ticking pistons due to wear, oil leaks, slacking timing chain, leaking valves (oil) or broken turbo.
The older T5-engine most commonly found in the Saab 9000 and '98-'00 9-3 didn't have this problem, as of another crackcase vent. and as it wasn't a low friction engine.
Niggagger 1 month ago
Comment removed
Niggagger 1 month ago
Saab's are AWESOME! Maine is AWESOME!
LaPavoniMac 1 month ago
YOU used the wrong oil. I had the same problem I BUY CHEAP OIL. I HAVE NOW 2004 SAAB 9-5 MILAGE 235 ON CLOK EXCELLENT RUN
flaga85 3 months ago
@flaga85 I was running fully synthetic Mobil 1 0w-40.
ChrisCam84 2 months ago
My Aero wagon just blew up at 60K miles last week!!! The only nice thing I own. Why did i spend $80 on synthetic oil changes? This is my FML week!! I'm gonna tell the whole fucking world about this until I get a new engine in a crate. It's at the dealer and they quoted $7-10K. I don't know what to do?? What ended up happening to you? I'm too worked up to continue this message. Expect a video and possibly an arrest (it still has enough power to drive through the dealership window)!!! -Clayton
JessicaColonyarts 3 months ago
@JessicaColonyarts
call Goldwing Saab and buy a good used motor
unctarheelz2332 3 months ago
@JessicaColonyarts An indy shop will do a motor swap MUCH cheaper, and learn to do your own oil changes... I pay $20 for full synthetic oil and a genuine filter.
ChrisCam84 2 months ago
Which part of the engine normally causes the problem?
YS3Caero 4 months ago
@YS3Caero I was running a T7 Suite Stage 1 ECU, plus readapting to high octane fuel. The engine leaned out under full boost and the #1 piston melted and the con rod punched a hole right through the engine block. I suspect the mass airflow sensor was probably also a culprit.
ChrisCam84 2 months ago
Saab can make a 2.4L 4cyl that's 260hp stock, too bad they can't make that engine run for more than 15 minutes.
TheWorldofAaron 5 months ago
Too bad Saab was owned by an american company...
YS3Caero 5 months ago 5
@YS3Caero
Saab was bad from the get go, they've gone bankrupt twice already and now GM doesn't even want them.
TheWorldofAaron 5 months ago
@TheWorldofAaron
There must be two possible situations.
1-You never owned a Saab.
2-You owned a bad used second hand Saab.
I sold a 9000 Aero with 286000 km and it runs like new. And Saab is bankrupted because during the GM period they did not have the brilliant idea of building a proper small hatch (9-2X is not a Saab). If they made it they could have profit to launch the new 9-5 earlyer.
Further more, the few things that bother me in my new 9-3 come from the GM heritage.
YS3Caero 4 months ago
@TheWorldofAaron Too bad you never owned one to find out the reason why 1) GM purchased Saab to rape the technology from them and 2) they refuse to let them be sold due to releasing the technology out.
rarelibra 1 week ago
@TheWorldofAaron
Too bad you're talking out your ass. My family currently has a 2.3 hot aero saab that has done 20k since we've had it and the only thing on that car, that has went wrong is a rear ball joint.
racer17551 5 months ago
@TheWorldofAaron I've had saabs go OVER 400,000miles. This one was MODIFIED- so don't be hating.
ChrisCam84 2 months ago 10
@ChrisCam84 my dad got the 9000 to go 469k
CROFTwins 1 month ago
@ChrisCam84 I had a fairly heavily modified 1999 9-3 run for 250k and I beat the shit out of it daily (Cheap mods heh...). Nothing ever went wrong except a seal on the oil cooler blew (The little rubber seal things)
ZyklonKeller 5 days ago
@TheWorldofAaron
My 2.4 has 175k on it....it runs 254hp...
Mr3Muffin667897 2 months ago
@TheWorldofAaron It's 2.3L, and Saabs are probably one of the vehicles that stay on the road for a long, long time.
rarelibra 1 week ago
B2x5 - whorse engines in SAAB history. If u have 9-5, don't wait till it blow. Just swap on B2x4 from 9K/NG900.
b3ryLs44b 8 months ago
@b3ryLs44b ditto. get a B234 and never worry about a blown engine again.
imailwizz 5 months ago
@imailwizz Yup, B234R with forged pistons, bored and sleeved out to 93mm, rebuilt the head using stiffer springs and a more aggressive cam. Running a B204 crank + larger bore will equal about 2.8L of displacement. Gonna run a customized JZW ECU tune based on his stage 5 T7 map. What else, Spec stage 3+ Clutch, Siemens 630cc injectors, Genuine Saab king cobra turbo pipe and intake, ETS intercooler, Walbro 255 fuel pump, TD04-19T-6CM turbo (upgraded from a TD04-15T-5CM). Should haul once it's done
ChrisCam84 2 months ago
@ChrisCam84 well, goddamn. engine swap is a good excuse to make a decent vehicle out of a GM :-p. is the king cobra a 3"?
imailwizz 2 months ago
are you planning on selling it? What yr and model is it? how many miles on the body?
spazism 1 year ago
those have the worst engine, but they are sexy looking cars!
goigoitoy 1 year ago
@goigoitoy worst engine? LOL. What planet are you from?
rarelibra 1 week ago
buy a 9000 with b234r...thats an engine..
bergstein7 1 year ago 8
@bergstein7
indeed, imma proud owner of my 9000 aero with B234R :D
zoberish 6 months ago
These Saab engines have some serious problems...
multinjok 1 year ago
@multinjok serious problems? Really? What reference do you have to support such a statement?
rarelibra 1 week ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@multinjok serious problems? Really? What reference do you have to support such a statement?
rarelibra 1 week ago
what the fuck happend to it ?
xReventonx 1 year ago
I blew my 93 aero a month ago, $6500 later its back on the road with an engine with 40k miles on it, sounded just like that and was only a spun rod bearing, but it did crank damage :(
SitBackAndChillAx 1 year ago
yep, it's fucked
Dirtboyindahouse 1 year ago 2
nooooooooooo000000ooooooooooooooooooooo
carrier10 1 year ago
Dang. That sucks! You get it rebuilt/replaced? The rest of the car looks waaaay too nice to just scrap it. Especially with those RK's on it!
jrodigan5 1 year ago
The cause of this would most likely be a crappy engine oil. Use full synthetic next time, stay away from Mobile 1 as they make their oil from a lesser grade base.
valereydyachuk 1 year ago
@valereydyachuk is wrong with Mobil 1 0w40?
alejandrogti8 5 months ago
@alejandrogti8 I left that comment a long time ago. I have now tried Mobile 1 5W30 in my cars and it seems to be fine. My apologies to Mobile 1. In your case the newer SAABs use 0W40 or 5W40 oil, which is more THICK when it is heated up than the 30 weight oil, which I like to use in my 2002 Viggen and other SAABs that we own. 0W or 5W only stands for "winter," when temperatures are low, making it a bit more thick. 0W would most likely be a bit thinner than 5W when it is cold.
valereydyachuk 5 months ago
@valereydyachuk newer Saabs use 5w30 or 0w30. Don't ever use w40 unless the manual of the car you own specifically states to use it.
rarelibra 1 week ago
threw a rod and if its an aero yes b235r
eagletalonpl 2 years ago
IDK if its the same thing but I just blew up my motor too on my 9-5. The MAF went with no CEL and wore a hole through my piston from running too lean!
Icerider2001 2 years ago
=( Sludge?
Nathandm78 2 years ago
What happened? These things don't blow motors too often.
mikes1929 2 years ago
Ah, that sucks dude. It just occurred to me that I drove by your car on my way home from the dyno. Didn't realize what happened.
B234R?
akmjolnir 2 years ago