hey guys i have a 2000 mazda protege LX 1.6L

its been a great little car.
a little history.... oil change every 6 months.

2002 hydroplain into a cyrb,
the factory tires loved to make the car slide in the rain.
only bent one wheel and flat tire. $28 from junk yard.

2004 new pirelli AWT tires, wow very nice ride!
brakes changed and sqeeking like mad!

2006 drivers side electric window came off rail $135 fix.
Optima redtop battery added.

2009 firestone tires... bring on the hydro plaining and road noise
also had all belts and hoses replaced and a nagging vacuum leak fixed.
new brakes again and again brake sqeeling for at least 3 months.

2012 New battery and alternator.

2013 Electric drivers side window only worked on hot days, thought it was the door switch, but it turned out to be the window motor and regulator.
new $99 and $35 to get installed.

new bosch sparkplugs, ngk spark plug wires, air filter, pvc valve, 02 sensor.
catlytic converter is getting a little dirty check engine light is going on and off.

third sparkplug had some motor oil.

also just fixed a nasty vacuum leak, car felt like it was pulling or losing power. heard air blowing when i hit the gas. found the hose between the intake manafold and brake booster, a $2 fix.

some future things i want to do:
tint windows.
pirelli tires and wheel spacers.
car painted dark metallic brown.
timing belt changed.

 

For the Catalytic situation watch the Video below.

Hope the motor oil on plug 3 doesn't cause misfires which are no good for catalytic.

 

thanks for the video, i actually found the vacuum leak after watching his videos saturday night. but the cigar thing was going to be a no-go as im not a smoker hehh.

the guy at my import shop was going to run a smoke machine for $45, i got lucky by just revving the engine and moving some hoses by hand.

after googling a bit, i might have a leaking valve cover gasket thats making the oil leak on the sparkplug. i will get that changed also when i get the timing belt done.
then run the laqer thinner in the gastank.

 

Glad the oil is leaking on outside of spark plug and not building up on the inside spark area! Whew!

I have done the lacquer thing but used 1/2 of what he said. Tanprotege also ran it (don't know how much he used) but it does help clean O2 sensors and catalytic converter.

 

"after googling a bit, i might have a leaking valve cover gasket thats making the oil leak on the sparkplug. i will get that changed also when i get the timing belt done."

Exactly!