Thanks for all of the replies......

I will first try that premium fuel. When regular is $2.70, I suppose $3.00 for premium does not make much difference huh?


DerryB - yeah, the oil pressure is "pegging" when I get to about 1800 RPMs when the engine is above 80*C. The higher the engine temperature, the higher the RPMs before it gets to "3", but always at "3" by 2000 rpms, even when the engine temperature is at 100*C. When engine temperature is between 60*-80*C, it pegs at "3" at about 1200 RPMS. Even with the gauge at "3" it still pings *IF* engine temperature is above 90*C. I drove it again this evening and temp only went to 80*C and no pinging occured. I must also say that I am not comfortable with the engine temperature going to 100*C (which it does in city driving when outdoor temperatures are above 80*F, but one thing at a time I suppose. Summer is coming and 85* days are very commonplace here. I am also dealing with the stalling issue now when the engine reaches those temperatures.

Miles on the timing chains? Who knows but the car and the original owner, wherever they are. I bought this car from the second owner who bought it in 2000 when it had 199K miles. He bought it from an auction, because the original owners had traded the car in and the lot sold it at auction, so he never personally talked to the owners. He drove the car up to 263K miles and told me had had never put in a timing chain, etc. He said all he had ever done was a fuel pump in 2002. The car now has 266K and I suspect that the chains, tensioner, etc. have been changed at least once, or would have been gone by 266K? I do not know how long the chain/tensioner/rails/guides typically last on these cars.

I have only been driving the car on my days off and going about 3 trips per day in it on those days, but I am thinking of using it less and only driving it to and from work- about 14 miles per day. I think the car should last a couple of years with no more driving than that.

Strife.... what do you mean about the temperature sensors? This could cause pinging? Hearing that the pinging is very bad and damaging is disturbing. I hope my car is not self destructing.