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

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.

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

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

Not really

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

----------------- TheSnoMan.com

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.

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.

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

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