New member with a few questions and looking for advice

[SimplyRandom]

I have a 2007 Vibe, bought in 2009 with somewhere around 12,000 miles. I started having issues with it in October of 2015. It would seem to hesitate sometimes when I would go up a hill, or accelerate (like getting on the 4-lane). Everyone I talked to told me it sounded like bad gas (I had just filled up the day it acted up) and to put some seafoam in it. The seafoam didn't help, and eventually it started having issues a little more frequent. It would smoke when it first starts, hesitate when accelerating or going up hills where I would have to push more gas. The car runs perfect otherwise... makes absolutely no engine noises, no knocking, no anything.
I took it to the garage where I purchased the car in '09 to have it checked out and after 6 days of them checking everything they could think of, they told me it was burning oil and the 'best thing for me to do is to buy a good engine for it or drive it until it quits'. After talking to a few more people, everyone says it sounds like the rings just on the way it's smoking, but I don't know for sure.

I've been keeping an eye on the oil, adding 1/2 a quart to 3/4 quart every 2-3 weeks. I don't have any problem driving short trips (point A-B) but the more the car warms up, the more I have issues with the smoking, the acting like it doesn't want to pull, things like that)

I'm really trying to get some advice I think on what my options are and what I should do. I'm a single mom of 2, and take care of my elderly mother on top of working outside the home, and I don't have the money to get an engine, and don't have someone that could replace or fix the engine if I could get one... or be able to pay labor to have it fixed/replaced. The car has a little less than 61,000 miles on it, so I don't want to junk it either.

I was wondering if I could trade it in and pay so much extra down if I could find a good used car somewhere, but I'm worried that I wouldn't get anything of trade in value with it needing an engine. Should I try to trade it in, or would my best option be to try to sell the vibe for... something (I wouldn't even know a price to ask) or try to sell it for parts? If someone had the money to put into it or new how to fix it, it would be a great car... I just can't afford to do it.

I probably didn't explain any of the too well, but would appreciate any and all advice!

[mr.clutch]

Random , Sorry for your situation . Don't know where your located but in Michigan. If you have time for a repair you may want to look into your local high school / vocational center. They will take cars in for repairs ( student training) and all you are ever charged is for parts NO LABOR. They are also a good place for a second opinion depending on the instructor. It would be unlikely to need a major repair like that with under 100k unless mileage on car was altered or it has been neglected. Good luck

[SimplyRandom]

I'm thinking that I am the 2nd owner although I can't say that for sure. The car had went too long without an oil change. My oil light didn't come on, and I don't travel/go too many places other than work and to the grocery story so I hadn't had the oil changed like it should have been. In the almost 16 years I've owned the car, I've put 48k miles on it. As far as I know, mileage hadn't been tampered with before I purchased it.

Someone had mentioned maybe checking into the high school/vocational school but it is 2 towns away, and I don't have another car to get to work, store, etc.

I realize that its my fault the car is messed up. I just don't know what my best option would be. I need to get something dependable and reliable but discouraged because I don't know if anyone will take it as a trade in, or what any other options are.

[trb]

Welcome, and sorry you are having problems with your Vibe. It is really low mileage to have those kinds of problems. Seeing your additional note, the oil should be changed on schedule, every 5,000 miles or 6 months or so or that is what can unfortunately happen. With a good synthetic oil you can stretch it to a year if the mileage is as low as what you run. Oh, and the oil light on these cars is just a light to let you know there is no oil pressure, which is usually too late since your motor is almost toast by then. It does not have any service reminders or oil change indicators or even a low oil light. Economy car, economy notifications!

At this point, I would probably pour a bottle of some No Smoke engine oil treatment in the oil next time you add some. I used it for several years in my Mustang that had leaking valve guides (causing the smoke on start up) and burned oil while driving, and it helped a lot in cutting down the oil burning. I added one bottle of the oil additive to each oil change, substituting it for the same amount of oil, and then added another bottle a couple months later instead of just oil. It cut down the oil burning from a quart every 300-400 miles to more like every 800-900 miles. Once you run the additive it might help with the compression of the motor, which is likely contributing to the reduced performance you are experiencing. I used Bardahl treatments on mine http://www.bardahl.com/en/products/oil- ... s/no-smoke

Where are you located? It is possible someone on here is close and could help or give you some recommendations on it. If you do decide to sell, it, yes, you will probably only get a $1,000-2,000 or so in trade. You could put it up on the classifieds or craigslist as a mechanics special and should easily get more than any trade in offer. It is still running, so there are many people that would be happy to buy it with plans to drop in a junk yard motor into it when it finally goes. My brother would be a certain candidate if you were close to me.

I'm sure others will chime in with advice, so good luck with it!

[SimplyRandom]

Thank you (both of you) for replying! I am in southwest Virginia. Honestly, $1000-2000 trade in value is more than I was even hoping I would get out of it.

The car is running perfect otherwise, and is getting me to where I need to go in the town I live in with no problems, but I am worried about when it is time to get a new inspection sticker... That it will get rejected.

[trb]

Well, try the no smoke or similar oil treatment. They sell it at auto parts places and probably Walmart also. Worth a try, and it might be good enough to let you pass inspections. I was able to pass the emissions inspections here in Houston where they use a tailpipe sniffer for several years using it.

If it cuts down on the smoking enough so it is not visible except maybe right when you start it and you can't smell it in the exhaust, then that is a win in my book. Might get you a higher price if you do decide to trade it in, but I would not deceive an individual buyer about it.

[mr.clutch]

Random, If you would really rather not replace your car I think you should take it to a garage that is willing to work on it. What I mean is if you have not kept up on maintenance you need to find out how bad the damages are. Have them start with compression test.Find out if it is one , two ,three or all four cylinders with issues. If it is a ring problem they can try to free it up. Sometimes if things are not to critical and just starting you can get them working again without to much effort. If you are mainly a city driver and they find out the problem is the rings. A good oil change and driving the car after it is hot ( up to operating temp ) they or even you can drive it through a series of different acceleration and deceleration test to possibly get things right again. I just would not write off a car with out knowing. HOPE IT WORKS OUT THE WAY YOU WANT IT GOOD LUCK AGIAN Mike

[handmedown03]

Here are some options from a different perspective. There are quite a few things that could appear to be smoking so it would be nice to actually know what is going on. A blown head gasket would resemble what you have described also.
First of all, I want you to know more than likely this situation won't get worse all at once. I feel like you have adjusted to the problem but want a long term answer.
There are guys on most Craigslist that are mechanics that will do good work for reasonable prices. Be very cautious, ask for references. Meet them only with another person. Be safe but there are decent people everywhere and when you are limited in choices, you have to include some options other people don't consider. I have been there and I know.
Small carlots are known to do "in house" financing. Ask around,check some references and just ask. The worst they can say is no and no is just a word.
Just another option. I am not in any way inferring on religous beliefs in any shape or form here but some churches are known to have repair programs that focus on single moms and parents in need. You will have to ask around.
Beat the bushes to try to find somebody who can do repairs on your car. Ask everybody you meet. Check out bulletin boards in stores. Ask at the local Autozone or similar places. They know who does good work and individuals who "moonlight". Just say no to Walmart repair centers.
Like I said, these are just some options on a long term answer. Others have presented some good options to help with the short term answers but not being mechanically inclined is going to be hard to overcome to find a long term answer without finding someone able to do the work. I wish you well. One final thing, don't get hung up on your car having low mileage. I have seen people pour small fortunes into cars because of that and the truth is that a well maintained vehicle with twice as much mileage is going to last longer. We inherit all the abuse the previous owners did to a car unfortunately and the ones who never change their oil need are the worst. Well wishes and good fortune to you.