Intake manifold Runner Flapper Delete + valves cleaning

So what is intake manifold Runner Flapper Delete (RFD™) kit means?

The runner flaps are individual plates, much like a throttle body flap. They are located within the intake manifold runners. Unfortunately even when fully opened, the flaps still represent an airflow restriction. For additional technical information please follow this link.

This is how RFD kit looks like:

RFD: intake manifold  runner flaps stubs.

Taking an advantage of already dismounted intake manifold (the access to intake valves was open) - intake valves were cleaned.

The carbon deposit accumulation on intake valves is a well known problem of all direct injection engines. So if you have one and your car millage is 80,000 km or more - it worth to clean them. It's quite dirty procedure, but you have no choice. Otherwise, these deposits will lead to reduced engine performance, bad fuel economy and other troubles. :-(

BG Gasoline Direct Injection Cleaner.

Before cleaning.

After cleaning.

After valves cleaning you may see that the valve's bodies are started to shine.

Intake manifold (before RFD install).

With RFD kit in place.

The throttle body is also cleaned.

Throttle body before cleaning: no serious dirt is detected.

Important note:
You can't simply install RFD kit and go.
In addition to hardware installation it requires proper ECU software recalibrations that's supported by APR and some others tuning companies. Currently, I'm running APR Stage II+FP+RFD V3.4 software and it's performs flawlessly.

Odometer: 72,600 km.

Engine air filter cleaning

I adapted the BMC cotton air filter for the VWR air intake system 4 months before.
After ~8 thousands kilometers I decided to inspect and clean the air filter.

The filter is slightly soiled

Cleaned and oiled

This cotton filter must be carefully cleaned and oiled with the appropriate low viscosity oil. I used a special cleaning kit from K&N. 

Here you may see the cleaning instructions.

After the cleaning the filter has been returned into it's box and mounted back on car.

VWR air filter box

Odometer: 64,500 km. 

Intake air filter cleaning

It's recommended to clean air filter at least each 30K km.
I decided to clean the filter after 25K km. after performing preliminary checks at 15 and 20K km.
The clean process for the foam ITG filter, that located under the hood of VWR cold air intake is simply enough. Just followed the instructions of the filter manufacturer.
Its very important to exactly follow these instructions, if you want to keep you filter (and the engine) safe and working for a long time.

The foam filter need to be oiled with special foam air filter oil. I used this one from Castrol:

Foam Air Filter Oil

 After the cleaning and oiling, the filter was returned to its intake box.

By the way, if you want to see how to clean air foam filter by yourself, you're welcome to follow this link. Thanks to vwgolf.net.au forum member Lucas_R.

Odometer: 44,100 km.

Quick detailing

My car is one year old and it's look like a new.
I like to maintain the car's clean & fresh look - no matter how old it is.
Exactly for this purpose I bought some bottles with light polish and glaze. Before the polish, I used the light clay bar from Optimum, it's very easy to work with. Polish was made by hands with Chemical Guys Hex logic white hand-pad.

My car detailing set

It took around 3 hours of work, including the wash. The effect was clear - as you can see on the photos.
The paint coating has become very smooth and saturated under the sunlight.

Odometer: 14,050 km.