Curious what Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder things you guys do? Here are a few selected examples for me:
When changing the oil, I lay the stuff out and come into the garage from errands, toss on the overalls and try to get the plug out within 3 minutes of shutdown to maximize outflow speed and prevent particulates from settling. I also pull the oil cap so it just rockets out.
Our garage attic stairs only come down if whichever 80 is parked on that side is moved back a ways. Rather than start it to move it, I prefer to push it back and forth. Ironically, I have done this so many times over the years (at least 100 times) that I can easily feel the difference in friction between cold wheel bearings sitting over night and warm ones from recent use. Our headlamp switches are always on but I remember to turn them off before turning the key on so I can shift to N to avoid a needless headlight cycle...
When I go into the garage to get something out of the Cruiser glovebox or front seats, I go to the front passenger door instead of wearing on the driver's door.
Whenever I think of it, I give the rear washer a quick squirt to keep fresh fluid that has not evaporated off its alcohol anti freeze component in the line.
When I vacuum the interior, I carefully use the crevice tool on every stitched seam on the seat bottom cushion. While at Toyota, one of the seat leather vendors that came for our color and trim annual show told me that grit settling in these natural crevices progressively cuts the stitching and this is the only reason threads fail. My seat seams are all strong and tight after 13 years.
I used to have the high cold start idle until the head gasket replacement last month. Over the years, I developed a habit of 'false shifting' from P into N. The idle jumps as the engine electronics expect the load. Then I'd simultaneously put the heater on High and press the brakes which would briefly load the engine and slow it as I shifted into R to reduce the shift shock.
Given a choice in the parking lot of a store, on a hot day I'll park with the rear toward the sun to reduce heat load.
If turning on the A/C, I'll try to pick a time with slow engine RPMs such as at a stop light instead of while whizzing along to ease wear on the A/C clutch.
OK, enough. I could easily go on.....just stuff I do to subconsciously make operating the vehicle more complex and interesting to me.
DougM
When changing the oil, I lay the stuff out and come into the garage from errands, toss on the overalls and try to get the plug out within 3 minutes of shutdown to maximize outflow speed and prevent particulates from settling. I also pull the oil cap so it just rockets out.
Our garage attic stairs only come down if whichever 80 is parked on that side is moved back a ways. Rather than start it to move it, I prefer to push it back and forth. Ironically, I have done this so many times over the years (at least 100 times) that I can easily feel the difference in friction between cold wheel bearings sitting over night and warm ones from recent use. Our headlamp switches are always on but I remember to turn them off before turning the key on so I can shift to N to avoid a needless headlight cycle...
When I go into the garage to get something out of the Cruiser glovebox or front seats, I go to the front passenger door instead of wearing on the driver's door.
Whenever I think of it, I give the rear washer a quick squirt to keep fresh fluid that has not evaporated off its alcohol anti freeze component in the line.
When I vacuum the interior, I carefully use the crevice tool on every stitched seam on the seat bottom cushion. While at Toyota, one of the seat leather vendors that came for our color and trim annual show told me that grit settling in these natural crevices progressively cuts the stitching and this is the only reason threads fail. My seat seams are all strong and tight after 13 years.
I used to have the high cold start idle until the head gasket replacement last month. Over the years, I developed a habit of 'false shifting' from P into N. The idle jumps as the engine electronics expect the load. Then I'd simultaneously put the heater on High and press the brakes which would briefly load the engine and slow it as I shifted into R to reduce the shift shock.
Given a choice in the parking lot of a store, on a hot day I'll park with the rear toward the sun to reduce heat load.
If turning on the A/C, I'll try to pick a time with slow engine RPMs such as at a stop light instead of while whizzing along to ease wear on the A/C clutch.
OK, enough. I could easily go on.....just stuff I do to subconsciously make operating the vehicle more complex and interesting to me.
DougM
feet off the dash in the front passenger seat...
.................Oh wait....you were referring to maintenance procedures........ :whoops: 
