Common Saab Engine Issues
No matter the make or model of vehicle your drive, the engine is the beating heart of your car, but many of us are relatively clueless when it comes to knowing the common causes and signs of engine trouble. Let’s change this by taking a closer look at the most common engine issues with your Saab and discussing what to do about them.
Low Oil Levels/Low Lubrication
If your engine is the heart of your car, then your motor oil is the lifeblood. Motor (engine) oil is needed to keep the moving parts of your engine and its connected systems lubricated properly. This prevents parts from grinding against each other. Without oil, parts will wear and eventually produce friction, which will increase engine temperature. Low oil levels can cripple your engine, and oil can produce sludge buildup which will choke your Saab engine too. Therefore, keep your oil levels topped up and change out the oil as directed by your Saab owner’s manual.
Oil Pump Failure
The failure of your engine’s oil pump will shorten the lifespan of the engine. When the oil pump fails, even if your oil levels are perfectly topped up, your engine will go unlubricated due to the oil not being able to circulate. Engine oil of the incorrect viscosity can directly impact your fuel pump’s function, so make sure you only use oil recommended by Saab.
Oil Sludge and Contamination
As we’ve touched upon, when your engine oil becomes old, it starts to break down. This will allow deposits and debris to settle around the engine system. The deposits particularly like to surround the intake valves and spark plugs as well as the combustion chamber. Having your Saab’s engine oil filter maintained as well as changing out old oil will help prevent this from happening.
Poor Fuel and Air Compression
When the compression of fuel and air inside your engine is inadequate, the health of your engine is in peril. Poor engine combustion is most commonly linked to broken valve seals, holes in the cylinders, and busted piston rings, which allows air to leak.
Coolant Leaks
When running, your engine produces a lot of heat. If you top up your Saab’s coolant only to find a few days or weeks later you need to do so again, then you need to investigate your car for coolant leaks. This will help ensure your engine is always kept cool.
Radiator Blockages
Low quality or expired coolant will cause your engine’s radiators to become gunked up with sediment and deposits. This will greatly increase the risk of your engine overheating. You should therefore only use coolant that is Saab compatible.
Prolonged Engine Detonation
When you drive your Saab, if you hear a knocking noise, your engine might be producing too much heat when it combusts fuel. This overheating creates high pressures and causes engine detonation, which is also called spark knock. Over time, this can damage the pistons, head gaskets, as well as the piston rings.
Faulty Oxygen Sensor
When the oxygen sensor starts to function incorrectly, your engine health as well as your Saab’s overall performance will be at risk. If the sensor isn’t able to provide the correct data of oxygen flow, then you will notice a decrease in overall performance, as well as increased fuel consumption which will cause you to spend more money refuelling.
Old Spark Plugs
When your spark plugs become worn, they will struggle to ignite the air/fuel mixture inside the combustion chamber of your Saab. This can result in frequent misfires, starting issues, and rough idling. This will also result in increased fuel consumption as well as engine damage.
Munich West
Here at Munich West of Decatur, Atlanta, GA, we 
know what it takes to make your Saab’s engine run perfectly. We are experienced in troubleshooting all major engine issues, and even if your engine produces a unique challenge, we will be able to figure out the issue. Best of all, we are so confident that we will fully fix your problem, that we offer a 2-years/24,000-mile warranty as guarantee. We look forward to becoming your trusted Saab service center.
