My favorite is when they want the turn signal click quieter.

Actually it's usually old grease that causes the issue, not dirt. The grease breaks down over time and turns into a sticky, waxy mess. That layer prevents the new paste from bonding to the metal properly. A thorough clean with degreaser is the real fix.

Yeah, the "way higher than we planned" part is the universal truth of renovations. We found asbestos tape on our ductwork, which added a whole extra zero to the HVAC quote we weren't ready for. It's never just the roof, it's the rotten decking underneath it too.

My old car's filter probably just waved at the gunk as it went by.

Got it close enough but now I see that patch everywhere, like when you learn a new word and suddenly hear it all the time.