diff --git a/sketch/obd2_gauge/meter.h b/sketch/obd2_gauge/meter.h
index 7c8f5ac..537a665 100644
--- a/sketch/obd2_gauge/meter.h
+++ b/sketch/obd2_gauge/meter.h
@@ -1277,9 +1277,7 @@ inline void renderPage0ToSprite(TFT_eSprite &s, int x_offset, int y_slice, int s
 
     String numStr = (val <= -900.0f) ? "---" : String(val, digit);
     s.setTextColor(priCol, bgCol);
-    s.setTextPadding(114);
-    s.drawRightString(numStr.c_str(), qx + 152, qy + 70, 1);
-    s.setTextPadding(0);
+    s.drawRightString(numStr.c_str(), qx + 152, qy + 74, 4);
   }
 
   // Crosshair dividers
@@ -1352,12 +1350,10 @@ inline void renderPage1ToSprite(TFT_eSprite &s, int x_offset, int y_slice, int s
     if (fillW < 4) fillW = 4;
     s.fillRoundRect(barX, barY, fillW, 8, 3, accentCol);
 
-    // Value text
+    // Value text (clean built-in font 4: zero padding artifacts, zero distortion)
     String numStr = (val <= -900.0f) ? "---" : (isInt ? String((int)val) : String(val, 1));
     s.setTextColor(accentCol, cardBg);
-    s.setTextPadding(100);
-    s.drawRightString(numStr.c_str(), cardX + 262, cardY + 22, 1);
-    s.setTextPadding(0);
+    s.drawRightString(numStr.c_str(), cardX + 262, cardY + 24, 4);
 
     s.setTextColor(0xC618, cardBg);
     s.drawString("`C", cardX + 268, cardY + 32, 2);
@@ -1365,7 +1361,7 @@ inline void renderPage1ToSprite(TFT_eSprite &s, int x_offset, int y_slice, int s
 }
 
 // 100% Flicker-Free Double-Buffered Mobile Slide Transition
-// Safe 25KB sprite with single font load and smooth ease-out pacing
+// Safe 25KB sprite with pixel-perfect clipping and smooth ease-out pacing
 inline void animateSlideTransition(bool swipeLeft) {
   const int slice_h = 40; // 320x40 = only 25KB (100% safe, leaves 70KB+ free for Bluetooth)
   const uint8_t numSlices = 240 / slice_h; // exactly 6 slices
@@ -1375,8 +1371,6 @@ inline void animateSlideTransition(bool swipeLeft) {
     return; // Safety fallback
   }
 
-  spr.loadFont(DSEG7_Modern_BoldItalic_34); // Loaded ONCE before animation loop!
-
   const uint8_t FRAMES = 28;
   // High-density sine ease-out deceleration over 28 frames:
   // Ultra-fine 10-18px initial steps smoothly tapering to 1-3px for zero visible refresh chop
@@ -1427,7 +1421,6 @@ inline void animateSlideTransition(bool swipeLeft) {
     delay(7); // Ultra-smooth high density pacing (~330ms total)
   }
 
-  spr.unloadFont();   // Unload font once at the end
   spr.deleteSprite(); // Release the 25KB
 }