BettyLou Maintenance Log

RESEARCH:

BETTYLOU LINKS including vendor sites for parts and tools as well as sites for MoPar organizations

HISTORY:

RESTORATION LOG includes log entries of repairs and restoration between the time of arrival in Florida and the present.

MAINTENANCE:

BETTYLOU MAINTENANCE Ever changing detailing, oil change, lube, etc. maintenance routines developed for BettyLou based on the BillyBob routines, including required tools, materials and procedures.

Ever changing detailing, oil change, lube, etc. maintenance routines developed for BettyLou, including required tools, materials and procedures.

DETAILING CONSUMABLES
Table
ENGINE COMPARTMENT DETAILING PROCEDURES
Degreasing/Washing
MONTHLY MAINTENANCE (monthly/500 miles)
Check Lights
Check Transaxle Fluid Level
Check Brake Fluid Level
Check Battery
Check Engine Oil
Check Radiator
Check Windshield Washer Fluid Level
Check Power Steering Fluid Level
Check Tires

The table below lists to products I'm currently using in my detailing efforts.

ITEM PURCHASED APPLICATION COMMENTS
Westley's Bleche-Wite Discount Auto Parts whitewall/blackwall tire cleaner Works for me
Black Magic Tire Wet Discount Auto Parts tire dressing Works for me
Purple Concentrate Discount Auto Parts Heavy Duty Degreaser General Purpose Degreaser/Cleaner
WD-40 Walgreens coat various concealed bolts, threads, etc. to retard corrosion Spray or apply with rag
Pyroil Multi-Purpose Silicone Lubricant Discount Auto Parts coat various exposed bolts, threads, etc. to retard corrosion Spray or apply with rag
Westley's Glass Cleaner Discount Auto Parts Clean Windshield Works for me
Armor All Protectant Discount Auto Parts Dress exterior and interior rubber, vinyl and plastic items The new wipes are the most convenient application method
Meguiar's Cleaner Wax Discount Auto Parts Wax (non-rustoleum) painted parts and chrome items with painted inserts Works for me
Autosol Metal polish The Eastwood Company Clean and polish rusted and pitted trim. Works for me
TurtleWax Chrome Polish Bennett Auto Supply Clean and polish chrome and stainless steel. Works for me
Saran Quick Covers Publix Super Market Protect items like distributer and carb intake from water and degreasers These things are great - they come in three sizes
CRC Battery Cleaner Discount Auto Parts Clean battery exterior and battery box Works for me
Simple Green Publix Supermarket general purpose spray cleaner Works for me
Archer Cleaner Degreaser Radio Shack electronics cleaner/degreaser Works for me
OxiSolve Eastwood Company Rust Remover and zinc phosphate coating Good for surface rust removal
Rain-X Blue Coral-Slick 50, Ltd. Exterior glass treatment Good substitute for marginal windshield wipers
Rain-X Anti-Fog Blue Coral-Slick 50, Ltd. Interior glass treatment Good substitute for marginal defroster
303 Aerospace Protectant Leon Rosser Jeep Dress tonneau cover Great stuff but expensive
Blue Magic Leather & Vinyl Cleaner Discount Auto Parts Clean seat and door panels Works for me

Degreasing/Washing

  1. Gather tools - air compressor, goggles, grime blaster, garden hose and water source, one gal 20/80 purple degreaser/water mix;
  2. warm up engine;
  3. spray engine and compartment with 20/80 degreaser/water mix, use brushes on thick build-ups, rinse engine and compartment with water, blow water off with compressed air;
  4. dry electrical connectors with hair dryer

Check Lights

  1. park in front of glass doors or storefront so you can see the reflection of the lights from the driver's seat;
  2. check parking lights and turn signals, check driving lights and headlights high and low beam;
  3. turn vehicle around and check taillights, brake lights, backup lights and turn signals

Check Transaxle Fluid

  1. gather tools - ATF +3 auto transmission fluid, filler funnel, shop rag;
  2. check at normal operating temperature with engine running;
  3. pull out and wipe dipstick, return and pull out again, determine transaxle fluid level;
  4. if necessary, add ATF +3 fluid through dipstick tube with filler funnel

Check Brake Master Cylinder

  1. gather tools - DOT 3 brake fluid, squeeze bulb filler tool
  2. check brake fluid level in translucent reservoir and top off with DOT 3 brake fluid, if necessary

Check Battery

  1. gather tools - electrolyte, filler tool, volt meter;
  2. pry off cell cap(s) carefully (keep dirt out);
  3. using filler tool, add electrolyte, if needed, so that level is just touching split-ring filler port extension (about 1/2" above plates), don't overfill, and replace cell cap(s);
  4. using volt meter check voltage across battery terminals (should be a between 12 volts and 13 volts on a twelve volt system)

Check Engine Oil

  1. gather tools - SAE 10W-30 oil SG or SG/CD grade, filler spout, shop rag;
  2. pull out and wipe dipstick, return and pull out again, determine oil level;
  3. if necessary, add oil through valve cover cap with oil spout tool

Check Radiator

  1. let engine cool first, if hot;
  2. check coolant level in translucent overflow tank and top off with 50/50 coolant/water mix, if necessary

Check Windshield Washer Fluid

  1. check fluid level in windshield washer filler tube and top off with washer fluid/water mix, if necessary

Check Power Steering Fluid

  1. gather tools - power steering fluid, shop rag;
  2. pull out and wipe dipstick, return and pull out again, determine fluid level;
  3. if necessary, add fluid

Check Tires

  1. gather tools - air compressor, tire filler attachment, tire pressure gauge;
  2. check each tire and bring up to 35 PSI (P205/70 R15 tires), if necessary
  3. check spare tire and bring up to 50 PSI (spacesaver spare), if necessary

You can email me at  webmaster@laroke.com

Issued Monday August 28, 2006

Updated Wednesday April 25, 2018

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