GTi Maintenance - Oil Change

 Just jotting down some maintenance for the GTi

Oil Change

Maintenance Update:

Mileage: 76,440

- New Mann oil filter and drain plug

- 6 quarts Liqui Moly 5W-40 Molygen

NYST Open Track with S2K Takevover

I've been itching for a track day to relax so when the opportunity for an open track day with S2K Takeover came up at NYST, I had to go. We only had 20 something cars so we had so much room to play around and try different things. 

NYST - 8-8-2022

I was expect tons of laps so I started off taking it a bit easy but knowing that the afternoon temperatures were going to skyrocket, I wanted to make the most of the morning.

NYST - 8-8-2022

Unfortunately, one of the cars had their drain bolt back out and spilled a ton of oil on most of the track so we had about 2.5 hour delay between morning and afternoon. The heat made it pretty much impossible to put in quick lap times but I was very happy with how the Continental Force tires were consistent lap after lap even after 12 laps in one of my sessions. They're no the fastest thing out there but at least they're predictable and that counts for a lot. 

NYST - 8-8-2022

I ended up putting in a meager 1:44.3 which is quite a bit off my personal best but I had such a blast. The heat did eventually get to me and I had to call it quits after I started to feel the onset of heat exhaustion and I didn't want to risk not being 100% mentally present on track. 

NYST - 8-8-2022

NYST - 8-8-2022

NYST - 8-8-2022

S2K Metro NY Bear Mountain Cruise 2022

It's been a few years since S2K Metro NY set up a bear mountain cruise but thankfully we were back in full force. The plan was to meet up at the Croton Gorge Park and start our drive there. A few different groups met up at various spots before heading to main meet up spot. I drove up with some of the Northern NJ crew that met up at the last rest stop on the GSP at the crack of dawn.

Part of North NJ Crew - Croton Gorge Park - 7-31-2022

James Gandolfini Service Area

We drove up to Croton Gorge Park only to find that it was closed. It was 7am and the park didn't open until 8am. Some NYS parks are open ahead of time even though the attendant isn't there but they barricaded the entrance so we couldn't get in until opening time. We got in touch with the organizers and set off to our alternate meet up spot instead. We had a terrific turnout of about 55 cars.

Secondary Meet Up Spot

Once all the various crews arrived, we had a quick drivers meeting to discuss safety and logistics then drove to the usual Wendy's to regroup and reorganize before the start of the main drive.

Regrouping + coffee + bathroom break

A friendly officer came by who happened to also be a fellow S2000 owner. He offered to help get everyone get onto our main route once we were on our way which he did. Unfortunately, a bunch of us got stuck behind some traffic and by the time we hit the intersection where we were supposed to turn he had already left causing a number of cars to go straight and miss the rest of the crew. Thankfully I had driven this route many times before and quickly realized the error and made a u-turn to get back on track but most of the people behind me got lost by going straight following the rest of the cars that had missed the turn. 

Group photo at Brother BBQ

Most of us made it though to the final spot at Brother BBQ. It was a great drive, albeit quite a bit hot by the time it hit noon. It was great seeing some friends I hadn't seen in a several years due to the pandemic and also making new S2K friends. I think the vast majority of people that made it through the entire drive really enjoyed the event and are looking forward to doing this again. This is now 11 years since we first started doing this and while some cars have come and gone and there are both new and old faces, I'm glad the tradition continues and we're all able to share in the same passion we have for these cars.

S2Ks taking over Brothers BBQ

Fixing the oil catch can drain

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a few drops of oil on the ground after parking Bumblestook. Looking underneath, I saw that the AN coupling going from the hose that comes from the oil catch can to the bung on the oil pan was a bit wet. I decided to drain the oil to inspect the fitting as I had the same issue last year from a cracked coupling. The coupling looked intact but the leak was for sure coming from it so my conclusion was simply that it wasn't sealing properly.

New coupling (blue) and Early's conical seals (169110ERL) - 7-17-2022

To fix this problem, I ordered a new AN10 coupling that seems a bit beefier and also was a bit longer so that I could give the hose a little more slack. After reading up online about AN coupling seals, it seems that a lot of people recommended Earl's conical seals made of soft aluminum which is supposed to work great on potentially damaged mating surfaces. I figured they basically act like conical crush washers and aren't overly expensive so they were at least worth at try.

Early's 10AN conical seals (169110ERL)

Conical seals fitted to the male end

Finally, it was just a matter of putting the coupler back on and tightening it all back up. Last time I did this I didn't have a good way of holding on the hose end so I bought an adjustable AN wrench and this time I felt I really got it properly snug before hooking up the other end to the bung going to the oil pan. 

Coupler installed

I poured some oil into the catch can to let it flow down the hose just to check for any leaks and so far so good. I won't know for sure until I give her a proper run. We've got a big track day in a 3 weeks so I'll be able to really test it out.

Filling the oil back up - Amsoil 10W-30

Maintenance Update:

Mileage: 61,606

- 5.5 quarts Amsoil 10W-30

- Didn't change the oil filter this time as I had just replaced it 1000 miles and 3 months ago.

Bumblestook Maintenance - Diff

 Nothing much to report here other than, we changed the diff fluid on Bumblestook since it's been a while.

Diff fluid change

Maintenance Updates: 

Mileage: 61,598

- 1 qt 80W140 Diff fluid

Scarlett Detailed to Perfection

While we were in California, my wife had Scarlett detailed and ceramic coated at Detailer's Domain in Norwood. Their work reputation of course preceded them so I was expecting it to come and great and they did not disappoint. Phil and his team are true professionals and the attention and love they put into their work is second to none

Detail complete - 6-20-2022

It obviously first starts by getting the car perfectly clean. It then underwent paint correction to ensure that each panel was as color perfect and flawless as could be. Unfortunately by this time I had already received a rock chip on my front bumper but that's fine, it's all part of having a car that's actually driven. 

Getting clean

Polishing

After polishing, it was coated with Nanolex Si3D Max for incredible shine and paint protection. The way it lights up under artificial light is insane.

Ceramic coating

So Shiny

While I obviously want a clean shiny car, given Scarlett's age, I didn't want to to be too overly glossy and lose some of that vintage appeal. I'm glad to say that in natural light, she still looks clean and shiny but not too much that it looks too much like a brand new modern vehicle. 

a head turner

a head turner

a head turner

a head turner

Really loving how it all turned out and more importantly, with the ceramic coating, it should be easier to keep clean going forward.

The rest of the photos can be found here. 

California Road Trip 2022

As an east coast guy I've always dreamed of doing a west coast trip. I've just seen too many videos of the awesome roads that it's always been on my bucket list. We were supposed to do something in 2020 but then of course, the world shut down, so now 2 year later, we were finally able to make it happen. Since I couldn't bring my cars normally I'd have to resort to some boring rental or perhaps spending a lot of money on some kind of fun rental but I was so grateful that my friend, Kamil, was super generous and offered to let me use his 2004 S2000 for our road trip. It took the removal of the spare tire and foam for the jack and tools to get all our stuff to fit but we made it work with some serious Tetris. 

Our noble steed - 6-8-2022

Tight Squeeze - 6-8-2022

We started off in LA then drove up the Pacific Coast Highway US-1, but before we got too far north, we took a short detour through the mountains of Malibu so I could get my first taste of what would be many incredible twisty roads on this journey. The roads were so twisty and so engaging that I frankly didn't care about going fast, I just wanted to savor every moment of it. This was a dream come true and I didn't want it going by too quickly. 

Tuna Canyon Road - 6-9-2022

Tuna Canyon Road - 6-9-2022

The views on the PCH were breath taking. The vast Pacific Ocean to our left, the mountain to our right, and open road in front of us. We kept pulling over because there was one more interesting view to see.  

Head north to Morro Bay - PCH - 6-9-2022

We eventually made it to Morro Bay before sunset. It was the perfect spot to end the first day of our road trip. It was such a chill beach town, pretty much everything I imagined California to be. 

The next day we took off north to Monterey. I was most excited about this leg of the journey because I had heard and seen so many amazing photos of this section of the PCH. It did not disappoint! I was able to get my drone out for a few shots and while I enjoyed documenting the trip, I also enjoyed just tucking everything away and soaking it all in. I could've stayed on that road forever and been perfectly happy. 

En route to Monterey - 6-10-2022

En route to Monterey - 6-10-2022

We continued our way towards Bixby Bridge by Big Sur and it just kept getting more and more spectacular. There's no wonder why this is named one of the best driving roads in the country.

En route to Monterey - 6-10-2022

Bixby Bridge - Big Sur - 6-10-2022

We spent the next two days at Monterey taking a break from driving but we did go whale watching and while I did get sea sick, I was so happy to have captured this breaching adult Humpback whale. It was my birthday and it really put an exclamation mark on that day.

Breaching humpback whale in Monterey Bay - 6-11-2022

The final half of our road trip took us inland into onto Yosemite National Park. The drive away from the shore was still nice but not as nice as our drive up to Monterey bay and I was wondering if we were missing out not continuing northward. Any and all doubt was gone when we got to the park and just before entering the tunnel going to the valley, the view of El Capitan and the Half Dome in the distance was one I'd never forget.

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

What I wasn't expecting was the 6-7 hours of non-stop twisty road driving I'd be doing that first day at the park going from one jaw dropping spectacle to the next. Going to Yosemite was one the most rewarding and awe inspiring things I have ever done in my life. It was just pure, unadulterated beauty, mother nature at her finest. 

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

It's easy to take these places for granted or to defer a trip until "next time" but nothing in life is guaranteed. I probably couldn't have picked a worse time for a road trip with soaring record level gas prices. This trip cost a lot but I'll tell you one thing, if I had to do it all over again, I'd do in a heart beat. Money is best spent when building memories and experiences and this is up there among the best investments in my life. 

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

Yosemite National Park - 6-13-2022

I was going for an epic adventure, what I got was so much more...

You get one life....live it up!!!