Pre-washing the front undercarriage and then later the engine compartment. If weather permits (warmer I hate getting wet and cold lol) then the tire rotation and complete undercarriage pressure washing and treatment.

 

Today the engine compartment get a wash. I only cover a couple of parts instead of removing them. I just did the intake service so I really did not feel like removing the air filter. I also cover a couple of my add on electronics even though it is not necessary . A little water that will dry in a few hours will not harm anything. Most all of the OEM connectors are water prof.

 

Ok back in the garage and some first step engine bay detailing.

 

Tire rotation and complete undercarriage cleaning and pressure washing. I do this about 2-3 times a year.
I have never ever had so many small pebbles in a tire tread before. Wow it took almost 15 minutes per tire to remove them all.

 

 

Summer weather is coming up fast. And with some road trips coming up I decided to change the tires and upload my MPG C/H Callisto#1 ECU file
Versa Tune Pro (full version for DIY calibrators and or Professionals Calibrators)


City average now



Highway average now @65MPH



I went with a rather new brand of tires after trying 4 other sets before deciding on this set.
These are not meant for sport driving but rather for comfortable traveling

 

This is an absolutely fascinating thread; too much to read and too many things to get my car in the same conditions.

However, just randomly clicking through pages, found one about cleaning the plastic roof strips

I removed the strips and cleaned the channel. Quite surprised how much crud accumulates in ten years of the previous owner and never cleaned. I also gave a thin layer of Waxoyl in the channel before replacing the plastic strip.

A more recent cleaning was to remove the stone guard below the door cills. Again, behind the front wheel, managed to collect around a mug of accumulated road dirt / dried leaves that was trapped and slightly damp. Cleaned, bit of under-seal applied to the pinch weld and the stone guard replaced. I will be adding some mud flaps in due course which would reduce the crud inside the stone guard and protect the cill paint from stone chips.

 

I do a complete HVAC system cleaning /flush service every 2 years. It basically means removing all the freon and running a AC flushing fluid through the system using professional HVAC service equipment. This will remove most all contaminates and clean the system. This service is not usually done at the short intervals I do but I like to have a perfectly running AC system and to prevent problems. Next year I will replace the drier and condenser. The condenser mainly because it gets hammered as it is in front of the radiator and gets impacted every time you drive. At some point you do loose some air flow which not only effects the AC but also the coolant system to be 100 trouble free and effective at controlling the engines running temperatures.
The picture below shows how quickly and at what temperature my AC blow cold air. Ambient (outside temperature) 99-101F and less then 4 minutes of starting the engine turning on the air and driving to get approx. 42F of cold air registered out the top vent.
This service for those interested if you were to have it professionally done is about $300 + .