2012 Toyota Yaris MPG

Start trip mileage- 1005
End trip mileage- 1298
293 miles on 7.92 gallons with no AC and mostly freeway
---  37 mpg

2002 Honda Civic Manual Transmission Oil Change

Drain plug and washer

Drain plug can be removed using a socket wrench

Transmission fluid draining from the drain hole

Washer around the drain plug squashed as intended

The squashed washer may have to be cut using a wire cutter

The squashed/used washer on top and the new washer on the bottom

View of  the drain hole on the bottom and the fill plug on top.

Fill plug on top with squashed/used washer on left and the new one on the right

Homemade setup to add manual transmission fluid

Top view of the setup to add transmission fluid

Fill hose inside the fill port

2002 HONDA CIVIC HX TIMING BELT CHANGE

First order of business is to take off the incredibly tight crank shaft pulley bolt. This requires the special Honda  tool that can be purchased online.

Jack stand to support the extensions for the 1/2" breaker bar. Also another breaker bar is holding the Honda special tool and is angled such that the floor is supporting and opposing the torque applied for opening the pulley bolt.

Honda tool, breaker bar, and the extensions

General setup to open the crankshaft pulley belt

A galvanized pipe was purchased to add muscle to the breaker  bar and generate enough torque to  break loose the pulley bolt

Propane torch needed to help loosen the crank shaft pulley bolt by applying the flame directly to the bolt right before applying torque for removal.

Removing brackets around the valve cover

Removal of the power steering bracket 

Removal of the ignition wire harness over the valve cover

Removal of the spark plug connectors

Removal of the air filter housing cover

Removal of the alternator

Alternator lower bracket

View of things with the alternator removed

Bottle jack to support the engine via the oil pan while the driver side engine mount is removed

Driver side passenger engine mounting bracket removed for access to the timing belt

View of the crank shaft pulley, pully pin, and the pulley bolt after removal

Lower Timing belt cover

Water pump removal

Plastic pans positioned under the water pump to catch the coolant that will gush out of the block

View of the engine block behind the water pump

New timing belt in place

Timing belt tensioner

new timing belt tensioner and the pins holding it. The pins will remain in place while the  crank shaft is rotated to check for alignment and TDC position

Removal of the older and vitrified valve cover spark plug seals 

Ignition wire harness and the AC lines out of the way for smooth reinstallation of the valve cover.  Non-hardening  Permatex Sealant was used to hold the rubber seal on the valve cover prior to positioning it back in place.

Cracked rubber seals on the valve cover bolts that needed to be replaced. 

Engine block coolant drain plug with the squash washer

New lower radiator hose

The thermostat on the left is generic. Note the air bubble relief feature on the seat is facing the wrong direction with respect to the coolant flow from the block. The flow in this case would shut the orifice and the trapped air would have difficulty getting through.  Its recommended replacing with  Honda thermostat and rubber seal on the right.