Once the oil flow slowed to a few drops, Marcos pointed to the oil filter, which was covered in grime and slightly rusted. "There it is. Now, Alex, use this filter wrench and loosen that piece. Just be careful: sometimes it's tighter than it should be."
Alex took the filter wrench and, with some effort, managed to loosen the filter. As he removed it, a small amount of residual oil began to drip out. He carefully set it down in the container for disposal, and looked at the empty space where the filter had been.
"Now take the new filter," Marcos said, holding it in one hand. "Before you install it, lubricate this rubber gasket with some clean oil. This helps create a better seal and makes it easier to change next time."
Alex took the new filter and, following Marcos' instructions, ran a finger dipped in clean oil along the gasket. Then he carefully installed it, twisting it until it was secure.
"Remember, kid," Marcos added, "tighten it by hand. Don't use tools for this. The filter just needs to be firm, not tight like you want it to never move."
With the filter installed and the crankcase plug in place, it was time to refill the engine with fresh oil. Marcos handed them a funnel and a jug of quality oil. "Now, Alex, pour the oil in slowly. We don't want any spills, do we?"
Alex tilted the jug carefully, watching the golden oil flow into the engine. The difference between this clean oil and the dark tar he had drained was abysmal. Meanwhile, David watched from the sidelines, making sarcastic comments.
"Are you sure it's not cooking oil? Because it looks like extra virgin olive oil," he joked.
Marcos looked at him with a neutral expression. "If you put cooking oil in this engine, David, I guarantee you there's going to be smoke coming out of the exhaust. And not the good kind."
Once the engine was full, Alex checked the level with the dipstick, making sure it was at the right point. Finally, Marcos inspected the work and nodded in approval.
"Perfect. An engine with clean oil is always a good start," he said as he wiped his hands on a rag. "Now on to the hoses. The cooling system is just as important. If we don't fix it, your engine is going to boil over like a kettle on its first start."
Alex smiled, feeling a mix of tiredness and satisfaction. It was a small step, but he knew he was making progress toward his goal.
The next step in the Civic's revival was to tackle the cooling system, one of the most critical parts to keep the engine from becoming a pile of hot junk. The hoses connecting the radiator and other parts of the system were completely worn out, full of cracks and obvious leaks. Marcos, with his characteristic expertise, decided to turn this task into a practical lesson for Alex and David.
"Listen, guys," Marcos began as he pointed to one of the main hoses that connected the radiator to the engine. "This is like replacing the arteries in a heart. If these hoses aren't in good shape, the engine can't stay cool. It overheats and dies. So, if you're going to do this, do it right."
Alex leaned in to get a closer look at the connections, while David, arms crossed, looked at him with some trepidation. "What if something goes wrong? The engine blows up or something?" David asked, with a mix of sarcasm and concern.
Marcos laughed. "No, it's not going to blow up, genius. But if they don't fix it properly, you're going to be stranded in the middle of the road with smoke coming out of the hood. And I guarantee you, that's not fun."
Marcos handed them a pair of clamp pliers and pointed to the first hose that needed to be removed. "Alex, start with this one. Loosen the clamp and pull the hose carefully. Sometimes they're stuck together from heat and time, so if it doesn't come off easily, use a screwdriver to loosen it a little."
Alex took the pliers and started working on the clamp. The hose was so old and stiff that it didn't give easily. After a few minutes of effort, he managed to disconnect it, but as he did so, a stream of rusty, smelly coolant shot out, splashing his hands and part of the floor.
"Ugh, what the hell is this!" Alex exclaimed, backing away as he looked at the dark green liquid.
"That, kid, is old coolant," Marcos explained with a smirk. "Or what's left of it. This engine had been running on that for years. It smells bad because it's full of rust and contaminants. That's why we're changing it."
David, determined to help, grabbed the pliers and walked over to another of the smaller hoses. "Let me try this one. It can't be that hard." But as he pulled, the hose suddenly came loose, and a fresh burst of coolant splashed right into his hand.
"Oh, gross! This smells like it came out of a drain," David yelled, shaking his hand as he tried to wipe the liquid off on a rag.
Once all the old hoses were removed, Marcos pulled the new ones out of the box. "Now we're going to install these. They're more flexible and designed to withstand the pressure and heat of the engine. But make sure the clamps are tight. One leak here and goodbye to the cooling system."
Alex and David began attaching the new hoses, following Marcos' instructions. Each connection required patience, especially when adjusting the clamps. "Don't tighten them too much," Marcos warned. "Just enough so there aren't any leaks. If you kink them, you can damage the hoses."
After a few minutes of effort, they managed to connect all the hoses. Alex ran a hand across his forehead, feeling the satisfaction of having completed another important task.
"Now we're going to refill the system," Marcos said, pointing to the canister of fresh coolant he'd brought. "David, take the funnel and start pouring it slowly into the radiator. Alex, watch the connections. If anything drips, we stop everything."
David took the funnel and began pouring the coolant, which was a bright green color, very different from the dark, dirty liquid they'd drained. Alex, meanwhile, moved around the engine, inspecting each connection to make sure there were no leaks.
"This is like giving the car new blood," David commented, trying to make the process more fun. "Though, honestly, it still smells horrible in here."
Marcos laughed as he checked the work. "That's because you're standing where we drained the old coolant, genius. But you're right. With this new fluid, the engine is going to be a lot happier. Now, when you're done, make sure to refill the reserve tank as well. If the radiator needs more coolant while the car is running, it will take it from there."
David did as Marcos instructed, filling the reserve tank as well. Once everything was in place, Marcos checked each connection again, making sure the clamps were tight and there were no leaks.
Marcos leaned over the Civic's engine with the multimeter in his hand, checking the alternator connections. After a few minutes of checking, he nodded in satisfaction and disconnected the tools.
"Well, guys," he said, wiping his hands on a greasy rag. "The alternator is good. At least we won't have to worry about it… for now. Time to see if all this was worth it. Alex, get ready to start this thing."
Alex took a deep breath, his heart pounding as he climbed into the driver's seat. This was the moment he'd been waiting for. He carefully turned the key, and for an instant, everything seemed to stop. Then, the engine coughed, shuddered, and suddenly came to life with a low roar that echoed throughout the shop.
"We did it!" David exclaimed, raising his arms in victory. "This baby is alive!"
For a moment, the shop was filled with laughter and a sense of accomplishment. But the celebration was short-lived. Soon, a strange noise began to emanate from the engine. It was a rhythmic, constant knocking that didn't sound right at all. Alex quickly turned off the engine, worried.
"What the hell is that?" Alex asked, getting out of the car with a frown on his face.
Marcos walked over to the engine, leaning in to listen more closely. His eyes narrowed as he analyzed the sound. "That, kid, is an internal problem. It could be a worn connecting rod or a loose rocker arm. It's not catastrophic, but we definitely need to open up the engine to check what's going on."
David, who had been celebrating seconds before, now looked at the engine with a mix of concern and curiosity. "Is that expensive to fix?" he asked, trying not to sound pessimistic.
Marcos shrugged. "It depends. If it's just a rocker arm, it'll be a matter of tightening it or replacing it. But if it's a connecting rod, then we're talking about more serious work. The good thing is that this engine doesn't look like it's on its last legs. There's potential here."
Before they could continue, Alex noticed something on the shop floor. "Marcos, look at that. Is that… coolant?"
Marcos turned around and saw a small, bright green puddle under the radiator. "Ah, perfect," he said sarcastically. "Another thing for the list. That leak is small, but enough to cause the cooling system to malfunction. We'll have to check the radiator and decide whether to repair it or replace it."
"Repair it? Can that be done?" Alex asked hopefully.
"Depends on where the leak is," Marcos explained. "If it's one of the connections or a weld, we could fix it with a special sealant or even weld it. But if the radiator is badly corroded, it's best to replace it. Mind you, a new radiator isn't cheap."
Alex ran a hand through his hair, feeling frustration starting to build up. "It's a lot of work… more than I expected. It seems like every time we fix something, another problem pops up."
Marcos walked over and patted him on the shoulder, his expression combining seriousness and encouragement. "This is part of the process, kid. Every repair you make brings you one step closer to your goal. This car isn't just a bunch of parts. It's a lesson. It's teaching you patience, determination, and how to deal with problems one by one. Trust me, when this is all done, every damn second you spent here will be worth it."
Alex nodded, taking a deep breath. Even though the list of problems seemed endless, he knew he couldn't give up. This project meant too much to him. "Okay," he said firmly. "We'll keep going."
"So to speak," Marcos said with an approving smile. "Now, let's clean up this mess and get going. Tomorrow is another day of work. Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a Civic."
David chuckled. "Rome probably had fewer problems than this car has."
As they closed up the shop, Alex couldn't help but feel exhausted but proud. They had gotten the Civic to start, and while there were still issues to work out, it was an important step. He looked at the car one last time before leaving, and for the first time since the project began, he could imagine it racing through the streets, roaring like a real machine.
"You know what, David?" Alex said as they walked toward the exit. "Today was a good day. The car is far from ready, but at least we know it has life."
David nodded, shoving his hands into his pockets. "And when he's ready, we'll race him. And I'll be the co-pilot, of course."
End of Chapter 6