[V8] Gas mileage doubled/Starter Solenoid..

[toml99 at todomundo.com]

Hey, well I had to pull the starter on the 93 pearl(DOTC/parts car/ 
junker whathaveyou), and didn't even consider replacing the  
solenoid.  My local starter/alternator guy got a new solenoid($38),  
and said there were 3 plastic pieces that guide the Bendix/sliding  
piece that were broken/worn.  He fixed all for $75(plus tip) and  
works great.  Took a day+ to get it out(first time), and took less  
than an hour to get it back in.  It was sunny(fresh freak snowstorm)  
so I decided to change the plugs as I haven't done anything to this  
since I got it as it was still in it's keep/part's car  
phase.........anyway, had 8 fresh Autolite 103's that I bought when  
someone convinced me to try them, and lo and behold, 6 of the 8 were  
loose, 2 were close to coming OUT!....Like I said I hadn't really  
done anything to this car.  They were all bosch 4prong plugs, and  
most were semi clean.....2 were quite bad(loose ones)......One"hole"  
had a huge amount of oil in it, and the valve cover gasket at this  
hole is leaking into the "hole".......Could a loose spark plug in a  
hole full of oil(full), have caused my big oil burning?????.(think  
vacuum.....(burned/leaked no oil today!............Ran the car up to  
the ski area today(mt Baker), and it went from the 14 mpg(running  
rich/burning oil/idled better than many older cars) to the 21.5mpg   
in the 80 mile round trip.  Wen"t today from feeling like a parts  
car, to "gotta get some new shocks)..Have no choice at this point to  
buy new shocks/front rotors/and left front  
axle........:-)........it's a keeper  Blew me away that  It could  
have had all 8 plugs leaking/in my case yes/ but since they're  
"torque to fit " plugs, just something to consider when something's  
"just not right". don't overlook the plugs!...Happier than a"pig in  
snowwwwwwww.
...Tom