The other day, I introduced a method of removing rusted nuts that ordinary tools can't handle by heating them with a torch. Did you know that there was a large hole in that muffler? For vehicles over 20 years old, there's a limit to predicting their condition before taking them in for service. Even if everything was fine during the previous inspection, internal corrosion … [Read more...] about The Art of Making Do With What’s Available
General Maintenance
Methods for removing excessively rusted corroded nuts, and the wonders of the brain accidentally noticed due to visual abnormalities
Removing a nut that has corroded to the point where its corners are gone cannot be tackled using ordinary hand tools, literally. Normally, we use a powerful "flame" generated from a mixture of acetylene and oxygen gases. Apply the blue-white burner, which emits a pleasant sound, until the target becomes red-hot, While it's still red, bite into it with a … [Read more...] about Methods for removing excessively rusted corroded nuts, and the wonders of the brain accidentally noticed due to visual abnormalities
Trends in Low-Viscosity Engine Oils, Engine Wear, and Countermeasures (Part 2)
In an engine where metal parts rub against each other, it's impossible to completely avoid metal wear. Engine oil circulating inside plays a crucial role in reducing direct metal-to-metal contact and minimizing wear. The most significant wear occurs during cold starts. It takes at least a few seconds for the oil pump to circulate oil throughout the engine and stabilize … [Read more...] about Trends in Low-Viscosity Engine Oils, Engine Wear, and Countermeasures (Part 2)
Trends in Low-Viscosity Engine Oils, Engine Wear, and Countermeasures
In an era where 0W-XX engine oils prioritizing fuel efficiency are becoming mainstream, we recently serviced a vehicle with the following specifications in its manual: 0W16 for turbocharged engines and 0W8 for naturally aspirated engines! The manual recommends using specified brands to maintain optimal performance. A footnote mentioned that 0W20 could be used if the … [Read more...] about Trends in Low-Viscosity Engine Oils, Engine Wear, and Countermeasures
“I Can’t Take It Anymore!” – Dealing with Unbearable Degradation (Part 2)
Some imported car models develop severe "stickiness" on their interior parts due to degradation of the surface coating. When the car is new, these parts have a smooth, pleasant touch. However, in areas exposed to direct sunlight, this stickiness can develop as early as 5 years (at the time of the second vehicle inspection). Even in favorable conditions, it often appears by 9 … [Read more...] about “I Can’t Take It Anymore!” – Dealing with Unbearable Degradation (Part 2)
“I Can’t Take It Anymore!” – Dealing with Unbearable Degradation (Part 1)
For domestic cars, it's generally about 15 years, and for imported cars, about half that time - 7 years - before various signs of exterior degradation appear, no matter how meticulously you maintain them. The yellowing of the now-common polycarbonate headlights is a typical example. As I've mentioned in several articles, restoring their appearance is relatively easy by … [Read more...] about “I Can’t Take It Anymore!” – Dealing with Unbearable Degradation (Part 1)
How to Dramatically Improve Your Touch-Up Paint Skills (Part 3: Correction Edition)
I have previously shared information about touch-up painting twice. 1. How to Dramatically Improve Your Touch-Up Paint Skills (Brush Selection and Technique) 2. How to Dramatically Improve Your Touch-Up Paint Skills (Part 2, White Pearl and Silver Edition) Even tiny scratches on body panels become more noticeable when a car is new or well-maintained. I believe you've … [Read more...] about How to Dramatically Improve Your Touch-Up Paint Skills (Part 3: Correction Edition)
Comprehensive Comparison of Commercial H4 Bulbs ~ In Search of the Brightest Halogen Bulb ~
Especially during rainy twilight hours, even with headlights on, it can sometimes feel so dark that you wonder if they're actually illuminated. While more vehicles are now equipped with bright light sources like HID and LED as standard, there are still many drivers using cars with halogen bulbs. Visibility is difficult during rainy twilight even with HID or LED … [Read more...] about Comprehensive Comparison of Commercial H4 Bulbs ~ In Search of the Brightest Halogen Bulb ~
What You Can Do to Make an Aging Car Look Clean and Tidy
The aging of various car parts is unavoidable. Accumulated dirt and deteriorated areas, even if they're just small issues, can make the entire car look old. Brake dust stuck to the inside of aluminum wheels cannot be easily removed, but by using ○○○○○ that can be easily purchased at drug stores, you can clean them to the condition shown on the right side without damaging … [Read more...] about What You Can Do to Make an Aging Car Look Clean and Tidy
What happens when you cool long-unchanged coolant? – An experiment with Super LLC past its replacement period –
Currently, many vehicles use Super Long Life Coolant (hereafter, Super LLC) as engine coolant. Similar to the previous Long Life Coolant (hereafter LLC), the main component is ethylene glycol, a polyhydric alcohol (ethylene glycol is a divalent alcohol because it has two hydroxyl groups in the molecule). While conventional LLC required replacement every 2 years, Super LLC … [Read more...] about What happens when you cool long-unchanged coolant? – An experiment with Super LLC past its replacement period –
