FYI, it is a good idea to regularly check the oil level in your car. If it gets too low, very, very bad things can (and probably will) happen.
I learned this the hard way yesterday when my engine "broke" on the way to work. The car was shaking and rattling, and all kinds of white smoke was puring out of it. In my judgement, this was a bad sign, and I was right. When the tow truck driver arrived, he found a piece of my engine on the ground under my car. Also a bad sign.
To make a short story shorter, turns out that I need a new engine. Since this would cost me $4,000, and my car is nine years old, I'm seriously considering a new car. Probably another Saturn.
Whatever happens, I will certainly be more attentive about keeping the oil in my car at an acceptable level.
