2002 SL1 ... or so I'm told ..

[Kevin]

1. Anything I should keep a close eye on ? (beware of)

Keep the oil filled.

2. It came with no Owners Manual - where on the vehicle is the
"SL1" model stated ?

is it a Single cam (SL1) motor, or a dual cam motor? (SL2)

hint - if you pop the hood, is the top of the motor metal (SOHC/SL1) or
composite (black) - DOHC/SL2

 

[SnoMan]

Hello group.
I just bought a used 2002 SL1. My first Saturn.
Auto transmission (5 speed ?); 1.9 litre; PW; PL; no cruise.
I have no maintenance history - looks clean & straight.
70,000 km
1. Anything I should keep a close eye on ? (beware of)
2. It came with no Owners Manual - where on the vehicle is the
"SL1" model stated ?
Any comments or advice appreciated.
John T.

Start out with changing all the fluids (coolant, engine oil and
tranny) and then change engine oil no more than every 3K miles. Saturn
have a tendancy to gum up and have piston rings stick with age if you
do not change oil often. Also since it is a aluminum engine it is hard
on coolant and personally I would use more than 50/50 is any aluminum
enegine for best protection. When mazda first launched the rotory
engine in 70's with a aluminum block they shipped with 90/10 but 60/40
or 70/30 will do fine and a lot better than 50/50.

 

[SnoMan]

Thanks for the info.
I've always been careful about oil changes - about 6000 km
in my previous cars - I'll knock that back a little to 5000.

Yes no more than 5000Km or so. Cheap insurance for that motor

I'll definitely do the trans fluid soon.
Is it a do-it-yourself job, for the driveway ? or dealer ?

Pretty easy and straight forward. It holds a little over 4 quart so
get 5 so you can top it off and do change filter too

The external trans filter seems like a good idea - a little
hard-to-get-to .. maybe ?

Not really

I'll pay more attention to the coolant also - not something that I
generally fussed-over in previous cars.
John T

Do watch coolant with a aluminum motor. GM tried to use dexicool as a
solution to problem and though many will debate it. 50/50 is not
enough and if you live up north you want more regardless for better
cold weather protection. BTW, Dexi is a not a bad coolant as much as
it is that fact that the reactivety of a aluminum block with it in
50/50 mix can bring out the worst of it sometimes.

 

[_jj_]

Hello group.
I just bought a used 2002 SL1. My first Saturn.
Auto transmission (5 speed ?); 1.9 litre; PW; PL; no cruise.
I have no maintenance history - looks clean & straight.
70,000 km
1. Anything I should keep a close eye on ? (beware of)
2. It came with no Owners Manual - where on the vehicle is the
"SL1" model stated ?
Any comments or advice appreciated.
John T.

 

[_jj_]

Keep the oil filled.

is it a Single cam (SL1) motor, or a dual cam motor? (SL2)
hint - if you pop the hood, is the top of the motor metal (SOHC/SL1) or
composite (black) - DOHC/SL2

Ahhh. OK. It is SOHC. hence SL1.
I didn't know what the model name meant.
Thanks for the info
John T.

 

[_jj_]

Start out with changing all the fluids (coolant, engine oil and
tranny) and then change engine oil no more than every 3K miles. Saturn
have a tendancy to gum up and have piston rings stick with age if you
do not change oil often. Also since it is a aluminum engine it is hard
on coolant and personally I would use more than 50/50 is any aluminum
enegine for best protection. When mazda first launched the rotory
engine in 70's with a aluminum block they shipped with 90/10 but 60/40
or 70/30 will do fine and a lot better than 50/50.

Thanks for the info.
I've always been careful about oil changes - about 6000 km
in my previous cars - I'll knock that back a little to 5000.
I'll definitely do the trans fluid soon.
Is it a do-it-yourself job, for the driveway ? or dealer ?
The external trans filter seems like a good idea - a little
hard-to-get-to .. maybe ?
I'll pay more attention to the coolant also - not something that I
generally fussed-over in previous cars.
John T