2002 Saturn SL dropped 10mpg after oil change

Jalen · #11 10-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Would a pure Synth help me get better FE? I've heard that it does, but... I don't know.

Jalen · #12 10-09-2008, 12:15 AM

Well, I got my oil changed, and they dropped my tire pressure to 30 in the front and 26 in the back. I asked them to fill them back up to the sidewall and they refused. Did have straight synth put in however, along with some Lucas stabilizer. Now, I filled up just before this with my new spark plugs and hit 37.8 mpg.
I pumped it back up to the sidewall pressure (35) myself, and today had to do some long distance travel. Came back to a nice 41. And all this without using a SG :P Gona take me some time to save up to delve into that.

jstol3 · #13 10-09-2008, 08:20 AM

I always air up my tires myself. I do it weekly - that way I always know that they are ok. The guys in the tire shops and garages are idiots. I once asked the manager at an NTW store to have his tech check my tires for sidewall psi and he looked at me like I had asked him to kill someone and then he launched into a tirade about how unsafe that is (max sidewall).

Showbizk · #14 10-09-2008, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalen

Well, I got my oil changed, and they dropped my tire pressure to 30 in the front and 26 in the back. I asked them to fill them back up to the sidewall and they refused...

Jalen, I'm immensely curious; did they specify why they wouldn't increase the pressures? I would have made it clear it would be my last visit there under the circumstances, for sure. I could understand if you were running max+ pressures, but not that they refused sidewall max.

Jalen · #15 10-10-2008, 03:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Showbizk

Jalen, I'm immensely curious; did they specify why they wouldn't increase the pressures? I would have made it clear it would be my last visit there under the circumstances, for sure. I could understand if you were running max+ pressures, but not that they refused sidewall max.

Yes, they did. They stated that they will only fill to manufacturer specified pressures as per the plate on the inside of the door for liability purposes, as that is all the manu has listed as 'safe' pressures for the tires.

pdw · #16 10-13-2008, 08:07 AM

Can't blame their safety strategy too much; they are being cautious. (Of course we are slower and more careful when hypermiling at the higher pressures ... but they don't know that.)

I wiped out completely in the 94 Saturn recently in the process of avoiding an unattentive motorist who shot out onto the highway from being stopped at a stop sign .... to cross almost into my rightside. The 'maxed' rear tires lost grip in the evasion which took too strongly left ... overcorrecting back too late but fast (back-end this-time lost stability completely the opposite way) ... managed past him thanks/indeed to his last second braking. In that evasion process my Saturn's polymer side-panels barely escaped what would have been a brutal front Ford-van bumper by merely a few inches.

The resulting sideways slide had seemed long and helpless after that ... but gradually nearly backward-sliding ... hit one of those slim metal snow-guideposts with backwheels that spun/jerked the nose around/forward with slow-motion-entry into the opposing ditch ... and deepenough to hide the car. The Van-driver watches me exit the vehicle from 1/4 mile, then drives away as if nothing happened, leaving me there on the dark lonely highway for someone else to deal with.

POINT is: There was precious little rear-track stability in going left (escaping Engine to Engine contact with the bigger Van) ... but then by yanking right ... instantly lost the backend outwards inside that correction like having too little grip back there ... or as if cold pavement and colder rubber is somehow less grip overall. It was cold and frosty outside; yet the pavement was as dry as can be.

Perhaps this is why tire-care providers preach only the best tires and at propper pressures (6lbs lower in the rear) just for the unexpected event to provide some extra prevention.

I got the same 2002 5 speed in the yard (the wife drives it) and was getting just over 400 miles per tank consistantly ... lately it is getting less occasionally (like what you are saying).

We troubleshot a P0301 code with the new scangauge II ... after changing cables and plugs the engine still vibes on idle at stops ... which could mean EGR ... which is next on the agenda.

That tirepressure reduction operation (which happened at your oilchange) .... happens consistently to us at those lube-shops too.

[Colder weather is claiming FE as our climate begins to cool-off now in the fall. That, and increased front-end tire pressure, are two items that definitely make a big difference to FE on the Saturn.]

Jalen · #17 10-21-2008, 02:24 AM

It doesn't help that around Denver, all fuel is E10. I have no idea what they put in during summer months, but in the winter, because smog tends to cling low to the ground, they put the full 10% in. Of course, I never noticed much of a differance when I went east into Kansas and started using 89 and straight gas vs the e10 87 they sell as midgrade up here.

I will say this though, every other state where they sell even e10 fuel, the cost is about 20 to 40 cents cheeper on the gallon. We get ripped off in the Mile High.

FSUspectra · #18 10-21-2008, 08:28 AM

The old Saturn SL's are a rare breed... and very easy to work on. I would check the Engine Coolant Temp Sensor (as diamondlarry mentioned) and make sure it is the brass-tipped one and not the plastic one. They're $9.00 at Autozone. Also, I would clean the EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) valve. It's the little cylinder canister looking thing on the right side of the valve cover. The O2 sensor in the headers may be getting lazy if it hasn't thrown a code yet. You may also be due for a tune-up. Standard wireset and copper plugs are all you'll need. Platinums and Iridiums don't tend to play nice in those 1.9's.

There are great directions and other suggestions on the forums over at SaturnFans. Check out the stickies and posts in the How-to-Library and check out the S-Series board as well.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

Jalen · #19 11-02-2008, 02:39 AM

Well, l put platnum plugs in, Boche. I have the SOHC 1.9l 4i engine. It's not too old and the miles are low. The platnum plugs actualy boosted me a couple MPG over the old ones. I actualy asked around to a lot of different mechanics and shops and all told me that a basic platnum plug was my best option.

I'll start poking around that saturnfans forums and see what I can find.

Thanks!

diamondlarry · #20 11-02-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jalen

Well, l put platnum plugs in, Boche. I have the SOHC 1.9l 4i engine. It's not too old and the miles are low. The platnum plugs actualy boosted me a couple MPG over the old ones. I actualy asked around to a lot of different mechanics and shops and all told me that a basic platnum plug was my best option.

I'll start poking around that saturnfans forums and see what I can find.

Thanks!

I'm fairly certain that what you will find at saturnfans.com forums will be pretty much what I saw there: platinum plugs don't play too well with the SL engines. It seems to have something to do with the waste-spark setup of the ignition system but don't quote me on that as it's been awhile since I've been over there. From most of my reading there, they recommend the NGK V-Power plug which is basically a standard copper core plug with a v-shaped groove cut into the center electrode. The part number is BKR5E-11 for the SL2 and BKR4E-11 for the SL1. As an added bonus, they're cheaper too.

The increase you saw was more likely due to just having fresh plugs.