u/coliseumltd

Low mileage, one owner 5spd manual SC2 sat for a decade in mild LA, CA weather. Woke it up a month ago and have been slowly going through all the systems, performing general maintenance. In general, it runs great and everything (other than the moonroof) works.

What mileage should I be getting? Just measured 26.6 mpg and thought that low. Have driven a combo of city stop ‘n go + some fwy stop ‘n go (hellish!), and clear fwy driving. One thing I have NOT done is replaced the fuel filter.

Thoughts/advice?

PS: this thing is such a fun little car. Having a great time driving it around 😁🏎️

Occasionally burping coolant, dripping down the surge tank when things get warm. Figure first things first, I should first replace the pressure cap, as this car sat for a decade before I woke it up recently and refilled a low radiator. Cap looks very original and states “15 p.s.i.” on the sticker. But check this out:

When you type 2002 Saturn SC2 1.9 DOHC into RockAuto, they list TWO pressure caps. An economy Gates, rated at 15 psi which has its own look, and an ACDelco oe cap. The kicker? The ‘genuine oe’ ACDelco cap looks EXACTLY like the original cap, down to the sticker design…except the rating: 18lbs. 🤔💭

Why the difference? Does 3lbs matter? The manual specs state 15lb cap. New and improved higher pressure cap for cooler running?

I also recently read if the cap ever broke its pressure relief seal to vent once, the seal is now permanently broken and the cap will forever burp fluid if it gets warm. True? Or False?