I couldnt say for sure about the synthetic. stick with normal oil and change it like every 2000-2500 or so, use 20-50 in the summer. 2- 87 octane is fine for a non-turbo. 3- some might say if the fluid has been in there for so long, to just leave it as changing it at this point might actually be bad, I say throw some synthetic in there. 4- i did the bushings in my car years ago, cant even remember what I did, but it shifts fine. 5- you dont need to beat on the car, just make sure you do rev it up now and then, you dont even have to do it flooring the gas pedal, just bring the revs up thats all. 6- if youre on the highway, leave it in 5th, if you want to pass- downshift to 3rd or so. 7- that light comes on under light acceleration, when you put a little more gas, it shuts off, the exact reason for this light- god only knows, it was probably some idea to give the car better gas mileage telling people to shift earlier, ignore it compleatly, there is a way to dissconnect it under the hood I believe, I just dont know how.