Nothing special - just wanted to share my thoughts and observations.

#1
I do my own oil changes. It has always bothered me that I couldn't drain all the dirty oil out. The last few drops always look the dirtiest and it just simply bothered me that I couldn't get that out too. I would leave it for half an hour to drain properly but I still wasn't satisfied because I knew there was more of that sh*t inside on the bottom of the pan... So what I do now is I drain the oil, then just pour 1/2 a bottle of new oil down through the oil fill opening with the drain unplugged to kind of "flush" all the dirty oil out. I have been doing that for the past few oil changes with no ill effects. Now I don't have to wait that log for all the dirty oil to drain and I have a piece of mind knowing I got more of that sh*t out of there. (Do I have an OCD? Does this really make any difference? But I thought I would share this anyways.)

#2
The rear windows wind noise TSB calls for using the foam tape in the window seal to help reduce the noise (http://www.innerbean.com/housecor/wi...ind_noise.html - thank you housecor). I did that but still had some noise. What I noticed when I looked at where the door presses against the door seal (not window) is that certain parts of the door were dirtier that others meaning dirt was able to get between the door and the seal. Then I took more of the foam tape, removed the part of the door seal where it was allowing dirt to get between, and put the tape in the channel on the back side of the seal where it installs on the frame (used the the same principle that is shown in housecor's instructions just applied it to the door seal too). The goal was to push the seal outwards, closer to the door in order to get a tighter "fit". Anyways, I am happy to report that the noise is now even less audible. I wish I could think of using something firmer than the foam tape because I think it will deteriorate over time and is too soft to begin with, but it will do for now.

There it is.

 

Wow, you average about what...15 posts per YEAR? So we definitely know that when you post it is going to be something worthwhile!

And it's true.......thanks for contributing. I'll have to try #2, because i still have some wind noise as well, even with the housecor fix....

 

i did that wind fix and it didnt help AT ALL.

i'll try that too

 

I had the TSB taken care of at Nissan a LONG time ago and the noise has returned, so this might be something to check out for myself as wel.

Thanks for the informative post.

 

If you can think of anything else to use instead of the foam tape it should be much better because the tape is too soft to push the seal out as far as it needs to go. I was thinking of using a piece of 18 ga. wire but have not tried it yet.

 

I do something odd to get some of the old oil out too. After all the oil drains out I give the car a quick crank and shut it right down. Not even for a second. After this more oil always comes out.

 

I think its a bad idea to crank your engine with no oil. I think there as a little OCD by pouring in fresh oil to flush out the 3 drops, but I am going to do it anyway from now on.

 

not necessarily 3 drops...It's a good idea and will get many of the dirt particles out of the engine...it can only benefit your motor, not harm it...


About the windows: I'm actually one of the few that do not have this problem

I did the fix as a precaution anyway a long time ago and I still get a good seal with no wind noise.

 

If you ever have a chance, take out a valve cover of any engine, you will notice that much of the oil is in "pans", it doesn't drain into the oil pan, this prevents engine from running dry when car sits for a long time and then cranked for the first time. that said, you will understand that it is impossible to get most of the old oil out and the 1/2 a quart you waste by pouring into the engine just to have it drain out is just that...a waste. Just my 0.02.

By the way, the engine should never be cranked dry. Very bad practice. one of these days you will forget or not be fast enough with you fingers and its gonna crank and start and you will putting alot of money into a new engine.

 

Like you just said there is still some oil in it. I'm not talking about running it dry, I'm saying just barely turn it over and cut it right off. Definately not long enough to "forget" or even take your fingers off the key. There's still plenty of oil to protect it for 2 or 3 revolutions.

 

great tips!

 

Regular old generic foam tape does breakdown over time. I know there is vinyl and polyurethane/latex foam tape out there that may be worth a try. I had the same idea, but wasn't sure if putting foam tape there would compromise/occlude the rubber rain gutter. It's a stupid design IMO anyway. It collects more dirt and debis than rain and dumps it onto the inner door faces/sills where you're most likely to brush up against it when you get in/out. I've thought about ripping the whole thing out and filling the space with adhesive-backed black memory foam. I'll have to do that someday when I get fed up with cleaning that channel.