Fix or Sell

[zombiefreak]

I have an 2002 Mazda Protege 5 with about 130k miles on it. It had been misfiring, so we replaced the wires, coil packs and the spark plugs. After that, it became an oil eater. I've had to put about 2 quarts of oil in it every other day. So I take it into the shop today, and they tell me that 1) the coil packs I put in were the wrong ones and they fell apart when they were taking them out, and 2) that I'm more than likely going to need a valve job. They said my best option would be to replace my engine. I'm thinking about getting a replacement from either protegegarage.com or just letting them find me one. After it's fixed and running, I'm thinking about just selling it. Other than the engine problems, cosmetically, she's gorgeous.

What do you guys think I should do?

 

[MP5_SCREWSTONE]

thats a thought decesion..but ill will replace the engine instead of selling it!! ...i bet most of protege5 owners have the same problem with the oil burning so quick..!!

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

Sorry, I'm a bit confused...how did new plugs and coils make the car an "oil eater?" And how did you install the "wrong ones?" I thought the P5 coils were pretty different than all other coils. Are you burning the oil or just leaking it? Sorry, just trying to troubleshoot the problem and diagnosis for you...

PS- If you need a valve job, replacing the engine would be big time overkill. Get the valve job done for whatever it costs (I don't know, but not as much as an engine replacement!) or get a low mileage head swapped in from protegegarage. I think you can get low mileage, 1 year warrantied heads from them for around $400. I would just do the whole head if I were you...

 

[nealric]

I'm also curious as to how you could put in the wrong coil packs.

Sounds like a new head is the best option for you. Best of luck!

 

[16902]

2 QUARTS EVERY OTHER DAY!!!???!!! That thing must be smokin' like crazy.

And this shop smells fishy. Do you trust them? Get a second opinion.

 

[jville]

head is prolly big bucks, hows the rest of the engine, oil in the intake? possible pcv issue? valve seals? compression test? all would be needed to know b4 decision should be made.

 

[MazdaSpeeder]

2 QUARTS EVERY OTHER DAY!!!???!!! That thing must be smokin' like crazy.

And this shop smells fishy. Do you trust them? Get a second opinion.

+1 on the shop...forgot to mention that earlier

 

[P-Funk!]

Get a second opinion.

I don't like the sound of this shop...

 

[kcbhiw]

Replace your PCV valve and watch your oil consumption. It cost only a few bucks to do and is worth a shot.

 

[Nomad]

A quart a day? Did you notice the thick blue cloud behind you everywhere you went?

Just go to a different shop and have the headwork done. No need to buy a new one just yet.