LeSabre needs some maintenance...

[lspitzley]

The LeSabre isn't quite what it should be, so I might get around to do some maintenance on her since I have a long weekend

On my last fill up I was only getting 19mpg, and it should be way better than that(about 200-ish country roads, 75 city, I think...)
My plans are:
New spark plugs
New spark plug wires
Fuel filter

What plugs and wires should I get? Same with the fuel filter...

Any other suggestions are welcome as well, but I don't have a ton of money to spend right now

[bill buttermore]

My first choice would be:

NGK TR55 plugs
Belden premium wires (NAPA)
AC Delco fuel filter

[lspitzley]

Thanks. I will probably go out and get those before I head home for the weekend

[wjcollier07]

I agree with Bill B.

Here's a suggested maintenance guideline.

Brand Suggestions are in the parentheses.

• 1987-2005 Bonneville / Buick 3800 Maintenance List
  
  Run Seafoam through gasoline and intake every 5,000 miles or at every oil change. One pint of Seafoam in a half tank of fuel is a good mix. The intake is optional, but recommended.
  
  Grease: Ball Joints, Tie Rods Every 5-8k (Green Grease recommended) http://www.greengrease.net/
  Air Filter Every 15k (Amsoil EaA, Purolator PureONE)
  PCV Valve Every 15k
  MAF Sensor Element Cleaning/TB Cleaning Every 30-50k http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... =48&t=1661
  Fuel Filter Every 15-25k (Purolator, AC Delco, WIX)
  Spark Plugs Every 30k (NGK TR55 or Autolite 605) (Never Bosch)
  Ignition Wires Every 30k (Napa Belden, AC Delco, Autolite Pro, NGK) (Never Taylor or Bosch)
  Oil & Filter Every 5-6k/1 year (Mobil1, Purolator PureONE, Amsoil EaO or WIX) (Never Fram) http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=45&t=214
  *Conventional Oil Every 3k/3 months (Pennzoil with a WIX (Napa), Delco or Purolator filter)
  Transmission Flush Every 20-50k (Always make sure filter is changed when flushed)
  Cooling System Flush Every 25-30k/2-3 years (Peak or Prestone Green Coolant Only) (Never Dexcool)
  Oxygen Sensor Every 80-100k (30k for non-heated) (AC Delco or Denso) (Absolutely never Bosch) http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... f=48&t=794
  
  *Special Considerations*
  All 3800s, LG3, LN3, L27, L36, L26, L67 & L32, especially important on vehicles factory installed with orange Havoline Dexcool Antifreeze/Coolant: http://www.dex-cool.net/
  Lower Intake Manifold Gasket Replacement, every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your engine oil, this happening can cause irreversible lower engine damage, requiring replacement of subject engine)
  
  Series II, Naturally Aspirated, RPO:L36:
  Upper Intake Manifold Plenum Replacement, every 80-100k (ignorance of this can allow coolant to enter your intake manifold, possible damage to occur can be hydrolock, irreversible damage to emissions devices, misfires, etc. Most times, engine replacement is required if ignored long enough.) http://www.pontiacbonnevilleclub.com/fo ... =53&t=1061

[lspitzley]

Well I got this all done on Thanksgiving...couldn't watch the Lions any more
I seafoamed it, changed the plugs and wires (which was a lot easier than I thought for the back ones), changed the fuel filter, and gutted my airbox with a hammer for the hell of it. Worked pretty good.

The old plugs were pretty bad. Same with the fuel filter.

I haven't filled up again, but it don't look like it has done much. I'll let you know when I can get a number

[sandrock]

What of the O2 sensor? That would play a major part in fuel mileage.

[lspitzley]

I might have to try that. I'll let it go a little longer and see what I get but I'll probably end up doing that over Christmas break sometime, along with all the maintenance on Bonneville...

[lspitzley]

Filled up for the first time since replacing the parts...not good

I got a whopping 13.6 MPG out of 80 miles country, 100 city. We got a lot of snow this week so that hurt it a little, but given the circumstances I think it should be at least 20, maybe a little more.

Another thing: I don't really let my car warm up in the morning for more than a minute, so I'm not really wasting gas that way.

[00Beast]

I'd say O2 sensor, and change the PCV valve. I know it sounds weird, but when I changed it on my SSEi, i gained about a tick of boost on the gauge at WOT. Not sure why, but it did. I think that can hurt gas mileage.