Oil rag.
Flashlight.
Simple job.
Five minutes, maybe ten.
Her old conversion van sits beneath the security light behind the building.
The thing has character.
Couple hundred thousand miles if I had to guess.
New tires.
Fresh brake pads.
Engine sounds healthy.
She takes care of it.
Good.
I pop the hood.
Exactly what I expected.
The cabin filter looks like it hasn't been changed since dinosaurs roamed the earth.
“No wonder you can't breathe,” I mutter.
Five minutes later the new one's installed.
Engine filter next.
Easy.
I check the oil while I'm here.
Still clean.
Half a quart low.
I grab the bottle from my toolbox and top it off.
Might as well.
Coolant's good.
Belts look fine.
Battery terminals are clean.
Satisfied, I lower the hood gently.
Done.
I wipe my hands on the shop rag.