Running like new

Finally I got around to swapping my plugs out and switching to a better
synthetic -> 7500 mile Mobile 1 (Cheaper than the standard stuff, oddly!) I
also put a whole bottle of MMO in my tank when it was 1/4 full and gave her'
hell down the road, and for the first time my Saturn actually ran like new
and I could do a dry burnout.

Holy shit, AC Delco plugs own over trashy Bosch.

List of improvements in the past 3 months:
New plugwires (Autolite Pros)
New Plugs (ACDelco)
Oil Change (x2)
New battery
Degreased my engine
Switched to 89 Octane gasoline only
Switched oil filters back to ACDelco
New air filter (no need to mention this, since its a shit napa one that I
had to wedge in there. Total crap)

Needed upgrades:
New tires! I've never put new tires on this car, period. It has two tires
that came with it, and two used but decent tires put on.

Switch to a better air intake.

 

A newer update. After driving it 14 hours this weekend (To Chicagoland and
back from Eau Claire, WI) it still runs great. Perhaps now I can invest more
money into more fun with my Saturn

 

<snip>

Why 89? Why not, say, 93 (or even higher, if you can find it)?

 

Why waste more money? If the car was designed to run on 87 octane and has
fixed engine timing, then what purpose other than wasting money is served?
say this since I do not believe a 1997 Saturn SC engine can advance the
timing. (The OP did not list the vehicle either, so another assumption on
my part it is his '97.)

Note, I am not advocating using lower octane in vehicles designed to take
advantage of higher octane fuels.

Bob

 

Really? Never payed attention... I just get Mobile 1. Depending on how
much you drive in 6 months of regular mobile 1 would be fine for 7500
miles. Did you have any oil consumption and if so keep watch to see if
there is a drop in consumption.
It has been stated from first hand accounts at saturnfans.com that this
has hurt gas mileage and gives not benefit. If it does your engine may
have carbon deposites. Comes down to fixing the symptom or fixing the
problem.


Good filter but the best are purolater Pure 1's. When I can I get the
longer filter than whats called for. More element, no difference in
cost.

 

Precisely why I asked. This has been discussed before here and there was
some disagreement, so I wanted to see what made the OP go for 89.

 

Alright, good response. What is the model of filter you suggest I use?

My car has heavy deposits. I just noticed I didnt get the website suggested
oil (75,000 High milage or someshit) I got the 7500 long life oil. But, I
must note that I have seen a drop in oil consumption to less than 1qrt per
400 miles (now using ACDELCO plugs - I am working on getting better ones
). from the hellishly high 1qrt every 200miles (with Bosch plugs as well)

 

Well I read that it helps stop knocking or timing retardation.

Plus around here it used to not be any more expensive (that is until the
fucking corn farmers ran out of corn and whatever, and ethanol went up in
price.)

So I figured "what the hell."

 

As the earlier response noted, use Purolator Pure One (silver box). These
are pretty much the best filters available. You can find them occasionally
on sale and stock up. If you want to go with OEM equivalent, the Purolator
regular filters (blue box) are pretty good as well.

Bob