Just changed the oil on wife's ION 3 sedan. Some comments & observations 1) I use the Sure-Drain oil drain plug replacement by Fram. Don't believe them - the SD-4 works just fine on the 2.2 liter Ecotec engine. Fram states on their package not to use it on Saturns. I suspect that prohibition is only for the SL series, not for the ION. There are other GM products using the 2.2 liter Ecotec and they recommend the SD-4 for it. 2) The combination of the Sure Drain and the cartridge type oil filter on the Ecotec 2.2 liter engine means that it is very easy to change oil without spilling a drop. The sure drain lets you use a hose directly into a waste oil container (no splashing) and the cartridge oil filter in the engine block means that it can be easily changed without spilling any oil. 3) The Saturn manual says not to go over 6,000 miles between oil changes. Curiously, the oil life monitor is perfectly happy to let you go beyond 6,000 miles. IT doesn't tell you that your 6,000 miles are up. Curious. No, I don't work for the Fram people (and I don't even like their oil filters). But, their Sure Drain seems to work pretty well for me.
