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so long fg2
April 15, 2007
it's been totaled! possibly an fa5 on the horizon?

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installed
March 17, 2007
[go]
injen cai + hydro shield
greddy evo2 catback
comptech short shifter
speed source shifter bushings

[engine bay]
greddy radiator cap
mugen reserve tank cover
jdm black oil dip stick
samco red silicone radiator hoses
mobil 1 full synthetic
new honda mtf

[exterior]
volk te-37 time attacks 18x7.5
rays engineering lug nuts (black)
goodyear eagle f1 gs-d3 225/40-18
hfp front/rear underbody spoilers
ep3 front h emblem
dc5 rear h emblem
removed civic badge & lev stickers

[interior]
custom si door sills
csx storage bin
alcantara shift boot
greddy seatbelt pads
red key fob emblem decals
oem cargo net

[lighting]
oem fog lights
yellow lamin-x (fogs)
varad dome leds
varad white plate leds
varad front led strips

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coming up
summer:
tsx hid retrofit
h&r 15mm wheel spacers
koni fsd shocks
eibach pro-kit springs
progress rear sway bar
magnetic drain plugs
improved grounds
hondata intake manifold gasket
throttle body gasket
dc5-r valve cover
fit horn

probable:
ctr steering wheel airbag cover
ctr shift knob
ctr dead pedal

possible:
ips k2 8620 cams
valvetrain
hondata
race header
big brake kit

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full synthetic
February 07, 2007
The fg2's trusty maintenance minder indicated it was time for my second oil change so I stopped by a Mobil 1 Lube Express to get it done. I decided to go full synthetic since I drive the car pretty hard and I might end up keeping the car for a long time. I waited until the second oil change to ensure the engine would be pretty well broken in.

I almost got the oil from Wal-Mart ($37 for 6 quarts) but it turns out to be a slightly better deal to just get it from the garage because they charge a flat $20 extra (the Si needs about 4.5 quarts.) I also decided to replace the transmission fluid with the new Honda one that just came out (p/n 08798-9031) and the guy was nice enough to do it for free.

Overall I was happy with the Mobil 1 Lube Express and I will be going back. The tech was really friendly, the whole thing took less than 30 minutes and I really liked how I could stand in the garage and watch him work. They also have these $10 off coupons on the web so with full synthetic it came out to $44. Considering I paid $32 at the dealership for the last one this is a much better deal. Some remarks:

ALWAYS make sure you check your oil level before you leave the shop! The mechanic consulted his computer system and said my car needed 4.2 quarts of oil even though I repeatedly told him my manual says 4.6. At the end when he checked the dipstick it was on the low mark and only because I was hovering over his shoulder did he top it off with another third of a quart. I suspect the numbers they use are purposely on the low side to save them money because most people will never notice. Especially since the same thing happened after my first oil change at the stealership, except that time I didn't check the oil level until the next day and had to top it off myself.

I forgot to ask so I got stuck with a cheap oil filter! For an extra $5 they can use a Mobil 1 but you have to ask for one. Next time I'm going to either buy a HAMP filter online and bring it in or just get a Mobil 1. I think I remember reading the Mobil 1 was one of the better filters available.

The new transmission fluid is silky smooth! Third still has a little bit of notchiness sometimes but it definitely feels better and is well worth the $12.

My first tank after this oil change was my best ever! I averaged 27.8 mpg over 335 miles, including about 75% highway and 25% city driving. Of course part of it was due to the fresh oil but considering my previous best was 26.6 mpg the synthetic oil must be partially responsible. So while the oil changes are going to cost more, it's looking like I'll definitely be saving on fuel.


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fog lights
November 25, 2006
Consider having fog lights installed at the stealership. The install is kind of a pain in the ass. If you decide to DIY, expect it to take at least 3 hours and leave you with a few cut fingers. Now can someone tell me how we're supposed to level them when they only turn on if the headlights are on as well?

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dc5 dead pedal
November 09, 2006
Last week I ordered the dc5 dead pedal to fit over the ugly black stock foot rest. Once it arrived I started by pulling out the plastic foot rest and drilling/boring two holes to match the mounting points of the dc5 dead pedal. I test fit it into the car and liked the size and shape. I decided the hard part was going to be cutting off most of the stock dead rest without affecting its mounting position and stability. But once I saw the dc5 pedal in daylight I noticed it had a brushed aluminum finish while the pedals in the si have a polished finish. It was too bad because I found it quite noticeable. So I'm going to return it and wait for the civic type r dead pedal. I kind of think it looks weird because it's so huge but it should be easier to retrofit and will probably look better overall, as it's a direct match to the accelerator pedal.

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rev happy
November 03, 2006
After a four week wait my new plates arrived. It took a long time to make up my mind but in the end I settled on kind of a "sleeper" personalized plate, which at first glance might look like a state assigned pattern. But once decoded you'll find it's an excellent 2-word description of the k20z3.

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