I also washed my HHR today.

 

You'd think it were a condiment the way PennDot and MD SHA (State Hiway Admin) spread it around!

I was going to say.... I remember driving on I-40 between Flagstaff and Kingman in March of 2006 and there was plenty of salt on the road!

 

Touched up two stone chips I found yesterday when I washed him after a 1650 mile round trip to Nashville, TN. Ran perfectly and got the usual great mileage. Turned 7200 miles.

 

Took a "road trip" today on Folly Island SC with Boo Boo, even taking the "long way", we managed to accumulate 11.2 miles for the complete round trip.

Hey, what can you expect for an island that's only 6 1/2 miles long and 1/2 mile wide. But thanks to my throbbing 2.4 with its GMPP intake and exhaust, we crested the highest peak on Folly at a staggering 15' 9" above sea level. Phew!

 

Changed the oil for the first time in our 2008 SS (23000 mi) that we've had for three months. Whoever said the filter change was easy is hallucinating. What a PITA. Cannister filters, in general, suck. They sucked on my dad's 55 Nomad and they sucked on my '62 Impala SS, and they suck now on the HHR. I used a 1-1/4" socket that fit very snugly on the cannister lid, and although I could loosen and tighten it just fine, I couldn't manage to pull it off after tightening. Finally, after some cursing, I managed to get it done.

Also found a large mouse nest in the engine crevices; removed with "grabber" tool. Gonna have to stuff the engine with dryer sheets. Nest appeared to be made of some dark blue wooly stuff which I assume is sounddeadening material from under the dash or rugs.

Jim

 

"I used a 1-1/4" socket that fit very snugly on the cannister lid, and although I could loosen and tighten it just fine, I couldn't manage to pull it off after tightening. Finally, after some cursing, I managed to get it done".

I use the recommended 32mm 'shorty socket', that fits properly..

You could sand a very slight bit off the cap hex flats to make it easy off..

I like the canister set-up.. Quick & easy access.

 

I washed the HHR and changed the oil, 8600 miles on M1 since the last oil change and the DIC said 40% oil life left. I put in M1 high mileage since the car has 90638 miles on the clock. The HHR is still the easist car I have owned to change oil myself. The hardest thing was locating the drain plug socket in my socket collection. Then a little jacking to get this old bod under to reach the drain plug. But why do I always spill used oil? I have a bag of kitty litter for such times.

 

Old Lar.....

I generally use a combo wrench, using the box end first then the open end. Even though my tool box has "tool rests" and hangers, I wrapped a piece of tape around the wrench to locate it rapidly. Also did this with my 4-way (star) tire iron...on the side that fits most of my cars.

Anyway you might consider doing something like this.

 

Didn't do anything today but Friday I got the oil changed, tires rotated and brakes checked. Washed her on Saturday and will be filling her up this Friday. It's really nice to consider a trip somewhere for New Year's and KNOW that I have RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION for a change and don't have to rent a car!!!!!!!! Such a nice switch from always worrying about "Well we'll have to budget $100 for a rental car." for a trip. NO MORE!! WOO HOO. :)

 

Drove back from Folly Island after stopping at the first mainland coin-op car wash to blast the salt off of Boo Boo, tomorrow it'll get a proper wash and detail but for now the salt crust is off the paint and running gear.

Good to be back home, island life is fine, but Kannapolis is home...and there's no place like home.