Ion Redline Questions

The model is "Red Line", not "Redline".

Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

The Saturn website also had 87 octane listed as the minimum octane like all of the engines offered. This may be a bit of wishful thinking the moment you spin the supercharger up.

Some of the mechanics I deal with recomment that you do not use synthetics until the engine is fully broken in (1st. 15k miles). Some of the Saturn engines use oil pressure to maintain proper load on the tensioner of the timing chain. If you run the oil for too long it will increase viscosity, lowered oil pressure, and may lead to failure of the timing change. I'm not aware of unusual sludge or varnish buildup in the Saturn engines, so regular oil should be ok.

Well, I hope that you do return to this post to read this. First of all, yes you do need to run synthetic to properly maintain this particular variety of the ecotec engine. W/O getting into technicalities, Saturn thouroughly tested and proved that Mobil 1 would assist in keeping the engine running proper and safe under duress using this oil. Using plain oil WILL void your warranty and eventually allow damage to pistons, etc. The supercharged ION engines pistons are oil cooled, and Saturn has designed this engine to use the advantages of Mobil 1 to keep this engine running correctly and w/o consequential damage that would occur from using regular oil. You bought a performance car, and should maintain it like a performance car.

If cost of Mobil 1 is a factor, then I can suggeat buying your own from your local parts store, and let Saturn do it or do it yourself (but if you do the latter, do bring it in for a check up once in awhile, missed service bulletins can be costly!)

Secondly, the red line ION has a Supercharger and thus requires premium gas. Superchargers and turbos require higher octane that premium gasolines have and mid and lower grqades dont.

Lastly, I am hearing so much from new Red Line owners that have bought from ignorant salesman that it makes me wanna scream! Not to mention that Saturn has never printed a specific owners manual for the ION RL, which is going to leave alot of new owners misinformed and hurting.

DO check out

and , you can find alot of RL owners there that can help you too.

marx404

failure

Possibly true years ago, but not so much now. Now the amount of friction from motor oils is a function of friction modifiers added to all motor oils. I still waited until 6,000 miles anyways.

Also - the definition of "synthetic oil" is rather nebulous now. Some are made from the traditional "synthesized hydrocarbons" like Mobil 1, while others are highly processed petroleum oil (most of the major brands in the US now).