Well I thank you. I'm definitely getting a bit burned out on the BS filler classes, but I really enjoy the math and sciences.
The trunk mat seems to have come out okay. It's not perfect, but good enough for who it's for.
I changed the oil and filter today. Used cheap conventional 5w30 Supertech and the previously shown Carquest filter. I also added 4 ounces of Seafoam to the crankcase per the instructions on the can. Don't know that it'll actually help anything, but I doubt it'll hurt. The rattle noise is no different, but I'm not seeing any oil light on the dash and I did let it get up to temp. This will be a short interval, I have some 5w30 Maxlife for it on the shelf.
Here's the filter I pulled off. I'm guessing that date code is 2018? I tried to cut it open, and failed miserably. Not a photo-worthy cut and post. There was some carbon chunks inside. I saw some sparkles but I'm 90% sure that was a result of my failed cut-open job.
View attachment 246825
As for the timing belt, it did cross my mind. I peeked at it while I had the valve cover off and it didn't look too bad. Not dry-rotted or anything. I might do it eventually, but I'm not in a big rush for that job. Still trying to keep my investment low until this car proves itself a little bit.
ya I was reluctant to throw something else on the to-do list, but you're right, see if this is even worthy of the investment of a timing belt change. I agree..
about the BS filler classes.. I remember the "wanting to get on with it" sort of thing and feeling like the classes were just time wasters. But I remember what an engineering math professor said to our class.. He said "you cannot keep your brain bathed in engineering or mathematics 100% of the time, you have to schedule down time where you don't even think of it at all" We asked "what's the problem with being immersed in math and engineering?" He said "oh you think that your brain was designed to be "on" all the time? We pressed him some more, he said "ok.. how about losing your mind and ending up in a mental institution?" Whoa.. He then told us the story of how when he was an underclassman there was a guy who was always "on" thought he could hurry up and get through all of engineering.. Turns out he had a mental breakdown, running naked through the dorm hallways, screaming.. Yup he never returned to college..
I'm not saying that you'll go that way, just saying that I did learn to not pressure yourself to get through the BS classes just to get to the "good stuff" Enjoy the ride.. Like Aerosmith said "Life's a journey, not a destination".. I did what that professor said and I found something amazing, I actually learned and absorbed more of the material by just turning-off and coming back to the material.
Ok that was a long story but wanted to be able to explain, that professor was one of the awesome ones that I had.. and to this day he made an impact on how I think and view things. Yup this is way off topic from used car but hey it triggered a memory.. pass along good advice I had when I was in your place in time.
back to the car.. who knows if seafoam will do anything, probably won't hurt. The rattle you're talking.. I listened to the video it sounded normal. but..Do you have a mechanic's stethoscope? They're at harbor freight if you don't have one they're like $8. Take a listen to the fuel injectors while it's running. Then push the throttle plate open, raise the rpms.. See if that rattle is really the injectors.
Then move around to the power steering pump, a/c compressor, alternator (on the civic it was underneath the side of the engine). Might start to help isolating where you're hearing this rattle.
If the injectors are making noise, you could try to clean them with a can of BG Products 44k fuel cleaner, but with my injectors I tried that, they were just tired and worn out at 200k miles lol
ya that glitter was probably from trying to cut the oil filter casing. have you thought of sending it off for a used oil analysis? Not blackstone they are getting really bad lately, AMS Oil has polaris do their tests much much better.. hey just some suggestions..
