28th Apr 2006, 16:52

Well, Darwin, this is common practice up north. And NO, you won't ingnite the entire block if you bottom out.

28th Apr 2006, 21:22

Yeah, the previous poster is right. People "up north" where they use salt on the roads do spray used motor oil onto their undercarriage to keep the floorboards from rusting out. I've never heard of a car catching on fire because it bottomed out, though. It really does help keep the rust off.

29th Apr 2006, 09:56

Um, okay. I lived "up north" for 26 years and lived through some of the worst winter storms ever and I never heard of such a thing.

But whatever floats your boat.

29th Apr 2006, 15:49

Looks like your "undercarriages sprayed with an oil mixture will burst into huge fireballs" theory just went up in smoke. Don't pardon the pun.

29th Apr 2006, 18:25

It's nothing that helps you in any way to survive a winter storm, it's a long-term maintenance routine. The oil spray simply forms a barrier to water that is laden with dissolved salt from the road crews, so it prevents the electrochemical reaction that causes rust. It's something that some people do in the Fall to get prepared for the winter. I have seen it done in the upper Midwest, like Minnesota and Wisconsin. I had never heard of diluting the oil with kerosene, though, so I guess everybody does things a little differently.

21st May 2006, 20:13

Has anyone heard of replacing the steering wheel and/or steering column of the 93 Metro with a later model that contains a driver's air bag?

4th Aug 2006, 21:00

I have a 1993 Geo Metro that I received from my great, great aunt. I love it. I live in Minneapolis, Minnesota area and I've never heard of anyone using the motor oil method of keeping salt from rusting the under side of the car. When I read that I didn't think of flammability issues, but I sure thought of the EPA.

Things have rusted under the car, but I didn't think that it was too much faster than anything else. I have a little rust starting at the bottom of the passenger door, but not much more than that.

As far as the airbag question goes, no I haven't heard anything on that. Probably pretty hard to set up correctly though.

22nd Mar 2007, 02:46

At a guess the kerosene is there to allow the mixture to be sprayed more wasily (I doubt if you could spray engine oil, it's too viscous).

It will evaporate off very rapidly though so it's not likely to cause a fire.

25th May 2007, 12:56

OK... I have a 93 metro automatic. It is the smallest car I've ever owned. I only bought it to chop up and make something cool out of. I also have an awsome F_250 4x4 king ranch jacked up with 22's. When I get out of the truck and into the car it's like being in a toy. Kinda fun to drive actually. I think I have a blown head gasket right now. I'm hoping to tear into that real soon.

27th May 2007, 22:20

No, kerosene is about as flammable as diesel. You really have to try to light it (its difficult); usually it needs a wick. I live in Minnesota and will have to try that; however, I imagine it smokes like hell if you get any near the exhaust / catalytic converter.

21st Feb 2008, 19:21

Cut out a piece of card board,put it agaist the radiator on the outside part it blocks the cold air. It helps it keep the engine area warm and your heater. Just remember to take it off after winter. Works for me.

19th Mar 2008, 09:16

The card board trick is a great idea!!

These engines (the 3 bangers) are aircraft approved by the FAA, one of the things they have to deal with is loss of heat.

There is a mod for the air craft to adjust the radiator up and down to reduce air flow and increase temp. This is also done on BIG trucks ever notice the fancy flaps out front in the winter? Other rigs use a shutter system in front of the radiator. Never thought much about it myself (I'm in Florida).

3rd May 2008, 05:28

I am the original owner of a 2000 1 liter Metro with 60,000 miles, I have never had any problems with it, it still does not burn any oil, and I have discovered that if you commute late at night (as I do), and you can drive at 45 mph without bothering the faster traffic, you can get up to 55mpg, I am still amazed at this cars ability to squeeze every last mile out of a tank of gas. With the five speed manual transmission the acceleration is tolerable. I have traveled at 75Mph for hours at a time without complaint, and the front wheel drive pulls good in the snow, I'll miss this car when it finally wears out.

2nd Jul 2008, 01:01

I have a 93 with a contrary automatic. When its cold it shifts correctly. When its hot it stays in high and slowly speeds up. If I manually try to shift it, it won't stay in high. Any repair tips or sane advice from anyone? I like the feeling of low power. It reminds me of my Riverside 50cc motorbike from Montgomery Wards, when I was 14 years old.

23rd Sep 2009, 12:28

I agree with the owner who wrote this review. These cars are junk and yes they do rust too. With any model there are good and bad ones. The Geo Metro... stay away! Nothing but problems.

13th Jun 2011, 21:01

Wow, used motor oil is some nasty stuff, I wouldn't have anything to do with it other than drain it out and dispose of it properly. I can see the benefit of thickened, sludgy oil to the underside in preventing rust, but why not slather on some type of really thick waxy, silicone-based stuff or that rubberized spray-on underbody stuff. I mean, I would look into almost any other option than using used motor oil. (!)