7.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
142,550 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. not sure (7 reports)
  2. engine oil burn solution (1 reports)
1998 Chevrolet Prizm engine problems

engine problem

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1998 Chevrolet Prizm Owner Comments

problem #8

Jan 012017

Prizm 1.8L V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 57,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

please see the following link for the solution to this issue. It will take mechanical know how!

http://www.toyotanation.com/forum/131-8th-generation-1998-2002/402362-diy-oil-consumption-fix.html

- Vince A., Albuquerque, NM, US

problem #7

Oct 302012

Prizm 1zzfe 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 183,300 miles

I bought this oil burning piece of sh*t. It's burning a quart of oil about every 50 damn miles. I wish I could stick this car straight up Chevy and Toyota ass... Me and my son were coming down the mountain and it started smoking like hell. My son said... Daddy, the car smoking like a choo choo train... so the car got named Smokey ........... going to trade this oil burning bitch as soon as I can

- kk4kli, cana, VA, US

problem #6

Jul 272013

Prizm 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 278,000 miles

I have a 98 Chevy Prizm and the car runs great and get great gas mileage (35 miles per gallon) but the engine burns oil like crazy and don't know what to do. I have tried thicker oil & lucus oil addtive with no help. I drive about 500 miles a week and I have to put more oil in than gasoline every week...this sucks. Anyone with advice or recommends to help slow down the oil burning problem. That would be helpful...Thank You

- John M., Albrightsville, PA, US

problem #5

Feb 222010

Prizm 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 158,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I got my 1998 prizm because I have a 1991corolla yrs ago and ran great, but after a week i checked the oil it needed a quart, so I just figured it was time for a quart. I added a quart and I check my fluids once a week, noticed i needed nearly another quart, i had drove 473 miles that week. First thing was I thought was I have a leak! Well I had it checked and no leaks, the mechanic said that the 1.8 corolla's engine was bad for that, he recommended engine restore and 10w30, well I decided to not use anything and waited and it didn't get better, so I put the restore in and now its every 1200 or so miles, the restore helped alot. Try it with your next oil change and see for yourself.

- Tom R., Martin, KY, US

problem #4

Apr 042009

Prizm LSI 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 95,000 miles

Well, here's the deal. I bought a 1998 Chevrolet Prizm with 95,000 miles on it last Thursday. It had a full tank of gas. Before the tank was empty the check oil light came on. I checked the oil and needed to add three quarts. Then 292 miles later I checked the oil again and was down two quarts. Does anybody know if there are any solutions to this particular problem? I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks.

- Bruce B., Manitowoc, WI, US

problem #3

Aug 012005

Prizm 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

The Prizm burns oil like crazy. I have to add oil almost as often as I fill up the gas tank!

There are no leaks, so it must be burning. Cylinder compression is good.

I bought the car new and the problem started suddenly around 60,000 miles. Oil used to be absolutely steady and then one day I checked and found it was several quarts low. The problem has continued for several years and the cost of oil definitely adds up in the same way gas costs do. Worse still, I think it is throwing off my emissions testing, which I barely passed (I was at the limit).

This is apparently also a major problem with the 2001 Prizm.

- J R., Berkeley, CA, US

problem #2

Mar 212007

(reported on)

Prizm LS

  • Automatic transmission
  • 161,000 miles

Similar the the other post about this problem, my Prism uses a fair amount of oil between oil changes. We bought the car used with less than 10,000 miles, and have changed the oil every 3-5000 miles since then. A couple years ago we were warned during an oil change that the oil was very low, but the oil light had not turned on. I know the oil light works because I did run it low enough once that the light would turn on with the engine at low RPM.

If the problem is rings then I won't waste my money, but a friend fix his high miles Escort by replacing the valve stem seals. I have no idea how difficult this is to fix but I do know that he was able to buy the parts and BORROW the tools at Autozone to do the job. It did not involve pulling the head. His advise to me if I decide to attempt the repair was to make sure the piston in the cylinder I'm working on is at TDC, otherwise the valve could fall into the cylinder, which would require the head to be pulled.

- nguzzard, Edgerton, WI, US

problem #1

Feb 202007

(reported on)

Prizm LSI 1.8 V4

  • Automatic transmission
  • 148,000 miles

I find my 1998 Prizm is burning about a quart every 500 miles and I get no warning until it us almost empty. The only good thing is that I get my oil changed at one of those fast lube places and they will top off my fluids between regular changes so at least I don't have to shell out any more money to keep the oil level up.

- mikeohio, Columbus, OH, US

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