What did you do to your car today?

Got up this morning and drove from the east end of Wisconsin to the west end to pick up a new family pet, then, turned around and drove back.

Set the cruise at 70 MPH, ran the A/C as needed (about 100 miles), stopped 3 times in all, Scangauge average was 69 MPH at the first stop, 68 MPH after the 2nd stop and was 67 MPH when I filled up at the end of the trip. 3 people + the pet (sun conure weighing a few ounces) and my usual couple hundred pounds of crap in the trunk. I filled up on the way out of town, and filled up again when we got back into town - same station, same pump, same direction, same day, etc.

577.3 miles on 10.154 gallons = 56.85 MPG

I'm pretty happy with that - not as good as it used to be, but for my modifications, I think it's great.

This was one of the rare (for me anyway) chances to make a round trip in the same day all at interstate speeds to check my MPG's. It's right in line with my other driving which typically includes 2 lane rural roads at 60 MPH and average speeds for the tank being ~45 MPH which I thought was part of the reason for the MPG's I've been getting.

For those who might think this is a 1 tank fluke - my previous 4 fills were 53.6, 54.2 and 56.2 MPG.

Installed a half-heigh MFA cluster and stalk. Cursed at the airbag, but everything else went well.

With this, I will have popped my post cherry. Been hangin around observing for a while, just haven't posted until now.
Today, I started into my stealth EGR mod and EGR cooler delete. And since I was in there, I decided to clean the intake manifold so I am now covered in the fun stuff that came out of there. Not too long ago, I did the elephant hose mod. A couple days ago was vacuum lines and what a difference THAT made!! I discovered in doing the job, that someone had broken off the main vacuum connector coming off of the check valve! Their solution to the problem was to put a very restricting piece of tubing in there and silicone around it.. FAIL! Its no wonder why I had intermittent boost problems! I know its been said on here numerous times to check vacuum lines, but I always thought that since I had good power assist in braking that I couldn't have any vacuum issues. I now know how wrong I was. Its nice having my turbo back.

Oil change this weekend turned into a bigger effort than I planned. I was just going to use the Pella, and suck the oil out the top, but I couldnt find the vacuum thing with the handle on it. So I dropped the skid plate. Hmm why is there that big spot of oil on the inside there?

I crawled underneath and there is oil all over the back side of the engine block. . It appears to me that when I tightened up the return line after installing the new turbo the line got angled over the the side a bit. When it worked its self back straight it loosened the fitting in the block. So the oil was leaking out between the block and the return line. Strange thing is that it has been at least 10k miles since the new turbo.

Glad that I couldnt find the vacuum thing for the Pella because I never would have caught it from the top of the engine. Happened since the last time I changed the oil, because I scrubbed the crap out of the skid last time. Of course I have driven coast to coast since then

Mike96ZJ, I seem to remember doing the same thing the first time I put my 17/22 on as well. Since the housing is ever so slightly larger, it kinda pushes the return line into a funky spot. If you're not dead on in how you get it on there, it'll loosen up over time. Sounds like you got it fixed right this time though!

Farfromovin said:

Mike96ZJ, I seem to remember doing the same thing the first time I put my 17/22 on as well. Since the housing is ever so slightly larger, it kinda pushes the return line into a funky spot. If you're not dead on in how you get it on there, it'll loosen up over time. Sounds like you got it fixed right this time though!

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This time I got it tightened up with no twist in the line. Just glad I caught it when I did.

Haven't done much yet with only 350 miles. I did get the windows tinted, a necessity in New Mexico, but for the first time I also had a not very noticeable tint put on the windshield that offers 99% UV protection.
Very happy with the job that was done. I also got my plate frame from tdiclub.com Thanks Fred!

delvi__acevedo said:

to the car today: washed and also cleaned the engine bay.

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What did you use to clean the engine bay? My car's overdue but I don't know what to use. I've seen cars cleaned with Black Magic's Engine Shine and it seems to work great, but I can't find it locally.

IndigoBlueWagon said:

What did you use to clean the engine bay? My car's overdue but I don't know what to use. I've seen cars cleaned with Black Magic's Engine Shine and it seems to work great, but I can't find it locally.

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is not as good as the old one but still gets the job done

http://www.autozone.com/autozone/ca...063-10&displayName=Engine+Degreaser&store=562

Got the exterior of the car done - never made it to the interior. Looks good, though mostly undone with a wet drive in the following morning. Some quick pics (unfortunately a very overcast day) here:
http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/fitzski613/Clean Car/
These are notes about everything I did... as much for me as for sharing, so that I can learn something for next time.

• detailed engine bay (degrease, wash, rinse, treat with 303)
• detailed door sills (as above)
• washed car (Duragloss wash, clay bar - wasn't too dirty, actually... only the second time I've clayed the blue car, followed up with another Duragloss wash, dry with waffle weave, then parked and let it thoroughly dry for a day)
• polish, stage 1 - Makita rotary with 6.5" LC purple foamed wool pad and Menzerna SIP; 3 pea drops on pad; used rotary at 1 to start and get coverage, worked up to ~2.5 until broken down, then finished at ~1.5; no pressure; left noticable holograms, but got rid of spiderwebs and most mild scratches; polish broke down nicely.
• polish, stage 2 - Porter Cable 7424 with 6.5" LC yellow CCS cutting pad and Menzerna SIP; 3-4 pea drops on primed pad; used orbital at 1 to start and get coverage, then max speed, with high pressure, to break down polish; never really broke down nicely - worked panels for 1 to 2 mins; had to hand buff panels to finish - could try a wipedown with Meguiar's Detailer Glass Cleaner (5:1 dilution) next time
• polish, stage 3 - PC with 6.5" LC white CCS polishing pad and Zaino PC Fusion; 2 larger pea drops on unprimed pad; used orbital at 1 to start and get coverage, then max speed, with medium pressure, until polish broken down; broke down nicely, leaving smooth glassy finish (no need to buff)
• wax, stage 1 - Zaino Z-1 Polish Lok (instead of ZFX, which I'm out of); lightly primed applicator, *very* little product (small dabs from the bottle, fold the applicator on itself to spread); dried overnight
• wax, stage 2 - Zaino Z-2; applied on top of Z-1, with same method; dried overnight; hand-buffed with Monster towel; followed with 2nd coat (didn't have time for a 3rd coat, unfortunately)
• wax, stage 3 - Zaino Gloss Enhancer spray; just a wipedown to remove dust.
• wheels - removed from car (and rotated front to back), washed, clayed quickly to remove obvious contaminants, towelled dry and then throughly air dried; waxed inside and out with Wheel Wax (applies easily, dries quickly, removes easily)
• tires - treated with Forever Black tire treatment - easy to apply using bundled applicator, but would prefer something contoured; applied in two treatments, allowed to dry for 10+ mins, then quickly wiped down with rag; be very cautious of getting product *anywhere* but on tires - remove immediately!; tires are matte black, not at all glossy or over done - "factory new", I'd say
• trim - used Forever Black... **VERY** disappointed with instructions and applicator - I did not know, and could not know, that you had to depress the sponge completely, to unstopper a pin/plug and release product into the sponge; as a result, initial application was not very successful (couldn't get any product out!!!), and once I figured it out, the applicator was very unpredictable and I had a couple of gushes spill out - NOT GOOD. Wasted two towels and 10 mins cleaning up the mess it made on the drivers door as I tried to touch up the black plastic mirror base. Further, it did very little to treat the window gaskets - so little, that I didn't bother doing all the doors. I'd use it again for the front and rear lips, but that's it - not worth the mess and hassle otherwise.
• additional - dusted with Monster buffing towel - really great, and wow, LOTS of dust... grrr; installed chrome mirror caps (cracked drivers side aspherical glass somehow... <shrug>); installed clear bumper markers (w/orange bulbs - would like to replace with orange LEDs to get rid of the egg yolk); 3mm spacers in the back; new antenna

IndigoBlueWagon said:

What did you use to clean the engine bay? My car's overdue but I don't know what to use. I've seen cars cleaned with Black Magic's Engine Shine and it seems to work great, but I can't find it locally.

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I use Simple Green, on cold engine, and agitate where needed with old toothbrush, bottle brush, etc.
When out of SG I've mixed Dawn and hot water, 30/70, and sprayed it on everything with the empty SG bottle.
Hose either off and then go for a good long drive to heat/dry everything. Delvi's correct on Gunk though, works great but is a little aggressive for my comfort level on a car this electrified ( I use it all the time on my old Ford's)

My son's car was cleaned with simple green and it never recovered. I suspect the PO didn't rinse it properly. But given the appearance of his car I'm reluctant to use it.

The real issue on the TDI is not grease or oil, but scaling from road salt.

fitzski said:

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thats stuff is great

try properautocare.com

they sell everything..there is also how to's

road salt, don't I know it, DOT up here applies salt in liquid form now, makes a unbelievable mess underneath the car.
If SG is too harsh then try soap and water,
After its all dry I also spray all the bare metal parts with Boeing T-9, seems to leave a film that keeps the salt/crud from digging in ( on the head most of it probably burns off though). T-9 is spendy however, I've got loads of it from the yard so I tend to use it heavily.

First I use this:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=17MSGZ0JGDA22CG1NNFX




and then this stuff to shine it up:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31G5NV1ETRL._SL500_AA300_.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.amazon.com/CD-2-Engine-Detailer-12-5-oz/dp/B0002JMAOS&usg=__EqnwFSgevifgWxm-4MCSWyT20ko=&h=300&w=300&sz=13&hl=en&start=7&sig2=WuWQ0LX7rM1srhEOGt2XDg&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=W1WHCg77jTdekM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcd2%2Bengine%2Bcleaner%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26tbs%3Disch:1&ei=v3gOTJutK4P88AaQ-J31Bg

I replaced the AC lamp and refinished the headlights.

CAUTION!! X-Rated Paint Porn

Picke up some goodies from the body shop today. All are painted Spice Red one of VW's sexiest colors. Otteniger Front lip spoiler on the way, will post once I get it back from shop.

GLI OEM rear lip

Otteniger Grill

FK Bumper scoops

Reiger SideSkirts M3 style

BBS RX II Wolfsburg rim centers

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Two Tone interior/door inserts

Stopped by the upholstery shop today to pick up my door inserts. My Jetta came with the beige interior which I hate especially the cloth door inserts. I have black leather seats, dome light, sunroof access cover, oh sh*t handles. Am shopping for black sun visiors, seatbelt covers, rear parcel shelf child seat covers. Now I have to find time to R/R my door panels. I am sure it will be very time consuming so I will tackle them one at a time.

On to the pics.........

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I'm having new Bridgstone Pole Positions mounted as I type.

Tightened my loose EJ DP AGAIN! Darn pipe just doesn't give room for bolts on the top two holes so hopefully my thinned down allen bolts grab enough. I did use loc-tite on all 3 mounting points this time. Usually, people can't get the DP's off, and I have the opposite problem.

If this doesn't work, I may have to pull it out of the car and do a little custom work to "make room" for the OE studs and nuts. Grrr...

Actually let Jetpuf drive it!!!!

Replaced several original vacuum lines including line to turbo actuator. Tested actuator w/ mitivac (good). Cleaned out N75 valve with brake cleaner. The "lag" type feeling it had is now gone. Removed EMP setup and fuel temp setup. Gauges have been out since it became wife's DD, she doesn't like looking at them. Removed walbro lift pump. Rotated tires.

What kind of vacuum hose did you use? OE or something aftermarket? I need to replace mine.

I used the silicone hose from Mcmaster as spec'd by Paramedick. IIRC the post can be found in the 101 how-to thread. I've had the hose for 2 or 3 years.

I can see one LilredTDI which will be hard to beat at the upcoming TDI Fest show and shine.......

Man!!!! that must have cost you a bundle in $ and time to put all that in.... Can't wait to see the end product... post some pics when it's all in ..

Are you trying to match your kitchen set ?

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LiLredTDI said:

Stopped by the upholstery shop today to pick up my door inserts. My Jetta came with the beige interior which I hate especially the cloth door inserts. I have black leather seats, dome light, sunroof access cover, oh sh*t handles. Am shopping for black sun visiors, seatbelt covers, rear parcel shelf child seat covers. Now I have to find time to R/R my door panels. I am sure it will be very time consuming so I will tackle them one at a time.

On to the pics.........

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Swapped out to the new style cable for my Blitzsafe iPod adapter so it will finally charge my iPhone (eagerly awaits the iPhone4 release).

I did Gretchen's first oil change week before last - 4 liters out, 4 liters in. Put the level to the top dot in the B area, when warm. Added about 200 ml of LL03 and brought it up to the bottom of the A area. This is a good thing to remember.

tothemax said:

I can see one LilredTDI which will be hard to beat at the upcoming TDI Fest show and shine.......

Man!!!! that must have cost you a bundle in $ and time to put all that in.... Can't wait to see the end product... post some pics when it's all in ..

Are you trying to match your kitchen set ?

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HaHa...Thanks! Not going to TDI Fest as it on the complete other side of the country. Would need 10 days off to drive there + attend. My best gal just needed some new clothes. I will post before's and afters. Prices were not that bad. I shopped for a long time for the parts it will end up being about $1000 for everything excluding new tires.

Picked up my retro fitted HID Projectors Looks like the bumper is coming off again