What year(s) did Saab have the sludge problem w/it’s engines and what was the cause of this?
I hear so much about what engine is the best out of the three Saab has/had offered, being the 2.3 the oldest of the bunch I guess. Everyone seems to use the synthetic oil instead of conventional.Reason? Are the oil passages that narrow that you need something as thin as water to keep this engine from turning into a mud pool?
I’d love to get a 03-04 Aero, I don’t care much for the re-designed interior and headlight treatment on the new model. The interior is more cheap (GM) looking than the more aircraft inspired interior of the later models. Maintenance costs and reliability- dieing on me in traffic due to a failed DI cassette seems unheard of in car costing this much money due to a simple spark failure. This gives me caution to pursue a Saab purchase, but I like the car more than any other 4 door sedan in it’s price range for some strange reason. (Used prices of course) Please inform. Thanks!!
A bunch of engines have sludge problems but it is not only Saab. According to the Center for Auto Safety all of the following engines have the sludge problem from Saab:
1998-2003 SaabH engine B205/B235I4
1998-2003 Saab 9-5 B235 2.3 L
1999 Saab Viggen B235 2.3 L
2000-2002 Saab 9-3 B205 2.0 L
2000-2003 Saab 9-3 convertible B205 2.0 L
Here are the other brands that have issues – note that Toyota has extensive issues as well:
1998-2002 Chrysler2.7 L LHV6
2001-2002 Dodge Stratus/Chrysler Sebring
1998-2002 Dodge Intrepid/Chrysler Concorde
1996-2001 Toyota3.0 L 1MZV6
August 1996-July 2001 Toyota Camry
June 1998-May 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
July 1997-May 2001 Toyota Sienna
July 1996-May 2001 Toyota Avalon
November 2000-July 2001 Toyota Highlander
August 1998-July 2001 Lexus ES300
January 1998-July 2001 Lexus RX300
1996-2001 Toyota5SFEI4
August 1996-July 2001 Toyota Camry
June 1998-May 2001 Toyota Camry Solara
August 1996-April 1999 Toyota Celica
1997-2004 VolkswagenVW 1.8tI4
1997-2004 Audi A4 1.8t
1998-2004 Volkswagen Passat 1.8t
So it is not limited to Saab. To futher explain the H engine (the first Saab engine listed), here is a further explanation:
The H engine was introduced in 1981 in the Saab 900 and was also used in the Saab 99 from 1982 onwards and the Saab 90. It continued in use in the 900/9-3, 9000, and 9-5. The 2003 Epsilon based 9-3 switched to the GM Ecotec, leaving the 9-5 as the sole user of the H engine. The last model year for this family of engines will be 2009.
Essentially, in 2003 the Saab 9-3 went to a newer GM Ecotec engine on the redeisgn, so the oil sludge problems were eliminated on all 9-3 cars that year except for the convertible which stuck with the older engine for one more year before switching over. The old engine that has sludge problems dates back to 1972 on the Saab B engine (also listed above) which was an exclusive Saab/Scania design when Saab bought Scania. Unfortunately, the engine out of that merger was pretty bad – the worst thing is that GM still sells it today in the ancient 9-5.
Note that care of these engines if done right will prevent sludge, but it is just harder to maintain those engines. You did not mention which model you are looking at, but I am hoping this laundry list of all the engines with potential problems will help you.
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