1999 SAAB 9-5 Whining noise (The dreaded sludge?)

[SuperFrankenfurter]

the best preventative measure you can take on any saab is to use full synthetic. It stands up to the heat of the turbo. I have a 2008 2.0t and I was using regular oil not knowing that it called only for sythetic and my oil would be completely black and burned up in a couple weeks I changed my oil three times in the first month.

[kulie01]

i had a similar prob with my 95,replaced turbo and noise disappeared.

[cellarman411]

120,000? just nicely run in then !! My 95 estate is on 174.000 and running like a swiss watch, the secret is regular oil changes ! I have an annual FULL service then six months later another oil change. For what it costs well worth the peace of mind !!

[autodog221]

if none of the other comments have worked you could check your turbo it might be cracked where it filters to exhaust. Which wont cause check engine or nescisarily a notice in engine performance.

[kaylakenny19]

My fiancee has a 2002 saab 9-3 His car overheats and wont start for a long time after he turns it off... He replaced the thermostat and the butt connector .. he put new coolant in there.. it still wont start. Also the heater wont turn on or off on its own we have to put the fuse in and take it out when we're done .. anyone know what this could be ?!

[Zoblings]

Who would have thought a Saab could ever produce that sound?

[autoworld100]

ah the dreaded General motors problem

[autodog221]

@autoworld100 in 1999 GM didnt fully own Saab

[autoworld100]

@autodog221

Its a general motors engine

[dicknasty3000]

Did you find out what the problem was? I have heard that oil sludge is a problem also for first generation 9-3's - do you know of any simple preventative measures that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of engine failure?

[dupamoodle]

It was a sludging problem. Basically the best prevention is to have the sump removed and the strainer and sump cleaned for peice of mind. Then I would advise changing oil more of than usual and maybe use an engine flush while doing so (check on what's safe/not).

Thse sump drop and clean cost us £250 all in at a main dealer. The car runs really well now.

[dicknasty3000]

Thanks dupamoodle, I'll have this done at my 9-3's next service in July. It's on about 120k. Saab's are great though, they last for ever don't they! I'm really pleased with mine.

[goigoitoy]

@dupamoodle did you know that the Catalytic Converter is right under the oil pan...

the oil pan is practically hugging it, and that's the hottest part of the exhaust on the car, so it causes your oil to sludge due to all that excess heat, all u have to do is extend the down pipe of the exhaust so the Catalytic Converter is away from the oil pan :)

[oljyhamina]

the problem concerns only the trionic 7. It is result from the bad crank case ventilation. you can buy a replacement kit from your saab dealer.

[clemsonscout]

Shut it off please!