Topic: What did you do to your car today?

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I went to Princess Auto and bought a 3"x20' long Recovery Strap, and a 3/4" clevis.  I mounted the Clevis in a spare drawbar, so now I have a hard recovery point at the rear of the truck. 

I still want to get a kinetic rope, but that may wait a little longer.

[mlin32]

Wouldn't surprise me then that it's a contributor to the terrible mileage the Highlander is getting.  By no means the main one though, the cold and driving patterns are what's really killing it.  19.5L/100km the last tank!

When I changed the plugs on Bella's 323i, I couldn't believe how the old ones had wore down & how large the gap had become on them. I thought the new ones weren't gaped correctly because the old ones had such a large gap    Might be worth a try, can you get at the rear bank easily enough?

That's why I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it would be on my Peugeot. They're sitting right there, not even a plastic cover on the engine.

On the BMWs because of the size/length of the I-6, it was a job for small hands and patience, with some cursing along the way. And the half dozen plastic panels and 3 dozen clips for them 

[draghon]

Curious poll for you guys : How long do your spark plugs last ?

Coming up on the 2 year service mark for my 308, and the app says I'm due for new spark plugs at 50k.

Perhaps I'm used to the long service intervals for FGCs, but that seems kind of short. Not really a huge deal, I think I can do it myself- they're super-easy to access, not even an engine cover on the THP engine !

Maintenance minder said they were due around 160,000km. They were replaced with OEM iridium plugs, likely first and only time its required while I own the car.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

Curious poll for you guys : How long do your spark plugs last ?

Coming up on the 2 year service mark for my 308, and the app says I'm due for new spark plugs at 50k.

Perhaps I'm used to the long service intervals for FGCs, but that seems kind of short. Not really a huge deal, I think I can do it myself- they're super-easy to access, not even an engine cover on the THP engine !

The Iridium Plugs on my truck are due for change at 192 000 kms. 

Oddly enough, the maintenance schedule recommends replacing the brake fluid every 48 000kms.  I've never seen that before.

[Fobroader]

I went to Princess Auto and bought a 3"x20' long Recovery Strap, and a 3/4" clevis.  I mounted the Clevis in a spare drawbar, so now I have a hard recovery point at the rear of the truck. 

I still want to get a kinetic rope, but that may wait a little longer.

Great buy, love the fact hitches double as good recovery points with those clevis inserts.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[Gurgie]

I think what I'll do in the spring is pull the front plugs out and see how they look.  If the are fine I'll probably just put them back in and change at the recommended mileage.  The forums seem to suggest that the OEM Denso Iridiums are good plugs.

Here's a DIY for the rear bank. It's not pretty - https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/122-highlander-2nd-generation-2008-2013/413790-diy-2gr-fe-v6-spark-plug-replacement.html

Wholly crap!!!    I thought the ones on the 323i were a bit of a pain because I had to remove the cabin filters and part of the cowl, but it was waaaaayyyyyyyyy easier than that!!! I was done in 45mins!

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-3-Series-E90/ENGINE-Engine_Covers_Removing/ENGINE-Engine_Covers_Removing.htm

https://www.pelicanparts.com/BMW/techarticles/BMW-3-Series-E90/ENGINE-Spark_Plug_Coil_Replacement/ENGINE-Spark_Plug_Coil_Replacement.htm

[Gurgie]

On the BMWs because of the size/length of the I-6, it was a job for small hands and patience, with some cursing along the way. And the half dozen plastic panels and 3 dozen clips for them 

Only took me 45mins, and I don't have small hands, or much patience 

[KD]

Bought a new air filter for the IS-F.

Thanks for the reminder.    Bought new cabin and engine air filters for the GS-350 today.  I think I've only changed the cabin filter once.  Just something I keep forgetting.  The one i removed was filthy.  Took less than 5 min to change both.   

[tortoise]

It kinda surprised me that the engine air filter in the Golf is supposed to be swapped out every 100k km.

Kinda makes me wonder about Fram saying 20k km on the box.

[ArticSteve]

I think what I'll do in the spring is pull the front plugs out and see how they look.  If the are fine I'll probably just put them back in and change at the recommended mileage.  The forums seem to suggest that the OEM Denso Iridiums are good plugs.

Here's a DIY for the rear bank. It's not pretty - https://www.toyotanation.com/forum/122-highlander-2nd-generation-2008-2013/413790-diy-2gr-fe-v6-spark-plug-replacement.html

The rear bank is changed by standing underneath and reaching up between the firewall and the motor.  Let us know how it goes. 

[mlin32]

It kinda surprised me that the engine air filter in the Golf is supposed to be swapped out every 100k km.

Kinda makes me wonder about Fram saying 20k km on the box.

My Peugeot also needs a new engine air filter, but definitely I can do that on my own !

I'll still make a RDV at the Peugeot dealer for the révision/oil change and brake fluid change, but plugs and filters I can do on my own. I find it really cool that with Peugeot in France, you can get get on-the-spot quotes and schedule all by entering the VIN; lets you compare between service centres on the spot.

[tortoise]

The rear bank is changed by standing underneath and reaching up between the firewall and the motor.  Let us know how it goes. 

Yeeeeeeah.  The rear bank is going to be changed my me dropping it off at my mechanic!  It'll go smoothly.

[mlin32]

After being fed up at being mostly holed up at home the last 2 weekends, decided to go for a western drive in the Rheinland vineyards. There I found an open car wash- a rarity in Germany on a Sunday (the laws vary, but generally frowned upon or illegal)

In anticipation of the 308's birthday this week, bought a car wash for it. Also got the bonus of some sunshine and blue skies, about 30min before some clouds filtered in again. Woot ! Drove, wandered my way along the mostly empty roads thru the vineyards. It's a lovely grand tourer. You can push it hard into corners without protest, but that's not the character of the car, not me as a driver anymore.



Then meandered up to Coblence (Koblenz). Not a bad town, but well, a lot like all the other German towns I've been to.

378km loop.

[Firm]

Took advantage of the positive temperature to give both Caddy's a proper hand-wash in the driveway, cleaned the mats and did a good underhood check on both. Relatively speaking it's been a light winter, but the vehicles seem to be holding up well 

[Solstice2006]

Took advantage of the positive temperature to give both Caddy's a proper hand-wash in the driveway, cleaned the mats and did a good underhood check on both. Relatively speaking it's been a light winter, but the vehicles seem to be holding up well 

 

Good December, January above average snowfall, and colder than average.

Getting the pressure washer out tomorrow, using the low pressure tip, to rinse off the vans.  That's my proper hand-wash!  While I am at, I can rise off the driveway. 

[draghon]

The Acadia's oil life monitor has been telling me it's time for an oil change but it's been bloody cold lately. Finally bit the bullet this morning and did it since it was "only" -21. Next weekend its the civic's turn

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I went to Princess Auto and bought a 3"x20' long Recovery Strap, and a 3/4" clevis.  I mounted the Clevis in a spare drawbar, so now I have a hard recovery point at the rear of the truck. 

I still want to get a kinetic rope, but that may wait a little longer.

Great buy, love the fact hitches double as good recovery points with those clevis inserts.

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

The Clevis and strap got a work out today.  I pulled out a Canada Post van (a rented Ford Transit), a Fed-Ex van (he was very heavy, took a few tugs), a Hyundai Tucson, and a tow truck that got stuck trying to get to the Hyundai Tucson.

And I stopped to help a sedan stuck at the end of a driveway... All HE needed was a little push and he was on his way.

It was definitely my kind of day  . I'm so glad I have a truck again.  I really missed doing all that stuff when I got rid of the Ranger.

[quadzilla]

he was very heavy, took a few tugs

Keep up the great work and we are not here to judge.

[Seafoam]

GBA's Towing Service and Shed Removal.

[Bubba]

GBA's Towing Service and Shed Removal.