[sschivate]

Interestingly, it says change every 7500kms for diesel engines. The TATA service schedule is oil and filter change every 10000kms.

Rajesh,

This is exactly what my friendly mechanic had pointed out for my DLG TCIC. His recommendation was to ignore TATA's guidelines and to change the oil/oil filter every 7500 km. I have not paid attention to him because:
a. I believe that TATAs have achieved more refinement to recommend an interval of 10000km, and have not bothered to get the stickers replaced by the vendor, and
b. I have to abide by the service intervals to keep my extended warranty alive!

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

The part number is similar in mine too. 279018130106 cost 141.33 including VAT. Mine also says 7500 km but service advisor says to stick to 10K intervals.

Thanks.

I was just wondering whether there were other types of oil filters.

I have no problems with the 10000kms interval even with these filters.

[wanderernomad]

I think TATA cars would have a similar type of filter for most of their products on offer. Maybe it keeps the cost down.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by wanderernomad

I think TATA cars would have a similar type of filter for most of their products on offer. Maybe it keeps the cost down.

That would be prudent. But they could have asked the supplier to change / erase that line!

[trrk]

Hi,

On 06/06/09 I had to go to Ernakulam to buy some electrical parts (which were apparently in short supply with the State Electricity Board) and was needed to restore power to my 11KVA line.

Though there was not much of a rain during the up journey, it was cloudy and dark. The AC setting: the thermostat knob was almost close to the junction of white and red with blower setting at 2 throughout. I was alone.

The temperature while in the 4 lane stretch.



Just moving after stopping at the Aroor toll.



Inside the city, stopped in a jam.



In bumper to bumper traffic, going down the North overbridge.



As per records, I have not had a change of my coolant so far. I have had no problems with the electricals. AC system has not been touched so far. The cooling system for the car and the occupants is working as intended.


Slightly OT:

As a bonus, some shots of the Navigator:




Trip over. Car parked in my house portico.



Completely OT:

This is the price label of the item that I bought. Check the MRP.


But I was billed all of Rs 4000.00, can't even complain if he had billed me for the whole amount.

Back to the trip, the down journey saw a fair amount of rain and it was pouring when I reached home. At the setting that I mentioned for the AC, it was getting unbearably cold.

[svsantosh]

trrk, cool GPS, how much? which brand? which SW?

I got a N79 with GPS Capability, and MapMyIndia is offering me Life time SW for the nokia for 5000Rs. Is it worth it? Or do I need a GPS Unit seperately?

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by svsantosh

trrk, cool GPS, how much? which brand? which SW?

That is a Holux GP53Smile navigator. The software is the MapMyIndia Navigator Mireo via GPS 3.0 Black Edition. The navigator was about Rs 11000.00 and was bought off the internet by my friend in exchange for another GPS device (did not like the functionality) that he bought from the same place. Since he did not want this and wanted someting to record routes, I exchanged my standalone GPS receiver + plus the difference for this device. An older version of the software came with this device and was upgraded later. This has a much more impressive looking front end, but misses out on a couple of features the older version has.

Originally Posted by svsantosh

I got a N79 with GPS Capability, and MapMyIndia is offering me Life time SW for the nokia for 5000Rs. Is it worth it? Or do I need a GPS Unit seperately?

You would not need a separate GPS if your phone has an inbuilt GPS receiver. The online buy now link says Rs 3490 only. But in the list of Nokia phones, N79 is not there.

I really can't answer whether it is worth as it would be subjective. I am a sucker for technology and so try and use it whenever I can.

Please understand that these are not 100% accurate.

The same software that you see on the navigator does run on my HTC Windows phone also, just that it does not have an in built GPS receiver so cannot use it for navigation. Phone with GPS on will drain the battery quickly. Car charger is a must.

[gemithomas]

So you are the guy buying parts for the state electricity board. I was in need of some stay wire and never knew whom to contact.

[trrk]

Hi,

Originally Posted by gemithomas

So you are the guy buying parts for the state electricity board. I was in need of some stay wire and never knew whom to contact.

Well! When I have to put in 25 litres of diesel per hour to run my generator, the aim was to get the power back on as soon as possible.

Since one of my idiosyncrasies is not to use smilies, please understand that you meant it lightly and I took it lightly!

I am sure life has been keeping you happy.

[trrk]

Hi,

My Marina would be at the end of its theoretical extended warranty on 28/10/2009. Apollo launched its Acelere tyres just before I got this car. Somehow I wanted to try these tyres and so along with the alloys from the showroom, it was arranged with the Tata dealer to have new tyres replacing the original ones. So I never saw the original tyres (Bridgestone ones) that came with the car.

I was quite happy with the tyres. I developed this idiosyncratic notion of not rotating my tyres since I had the Indica (did not work out the way I expected as I lost one of the tyres due to damage). I have continued the same with the Marina too. Is there a ?divine conspiracy against me, I don't know.

Eight months into the life of the cars and tyres, it had a rare out of state trip to Bangalore. Approximately 11180kms and the right front tyre had developed a 'weight' problem - a nicely rounded bulge. I drove with it back to my place and at 11923kms switched the front ones to the rear ones. With Apollo refusing to havea nything to do with the misfortune of the tyre (I have hence understood that tyre companies hardly have to honour warranty claims), I was forced to use that tyre with a tube as the stepney and put the 'until then unused' stepney on the right rear to go along with the older left rear. This was on 24/06/2006 with the odometer reading 12220kms.

On 04/06/2007 at around 24250kms the left front was turned inside out for an inner side wear. At around 35000kms, the front tyres were ready to be changed and an imminent long distance trip precipitated the change. New tyres were put in the front - JK Toronados of 165/80R14 - thereby undersizing the tyre. This was done on 24/12/2007. The left rear had a puncture also. This same tyre had more punctures and the latest was on 19/07/2009. This tyre was pronounced as 'unusable' by the tyre people (it was also worn on the innerside) and so for the present my 12220kms run 'bulge with a tube' tyre is doing rounds on the left rear side.


This place was blessed with 2 punctures already and this was the third puncture. It also has developed cracks / cuts. Nothing on the inside that I can see.


This was closeby and again nothing inside the tyre.

So on 20/07/2009, the longest running tyre of my original set went into a little premature retirement after it covered just 58747kms.

The JKs in front (our roads and improper attention from my side in taking care) have worn in so many different ways and will need change soon.

To continue with my idiosyncratic ways, I invested in the same JKs and is the stepney now as I have to get my suspension alignment corrected first before doing any new tyre changes. With the recent 'unhappiness' with my regular service centre, I am thinking of finding another non authorised service centre for my next (60000kms) service.


The one with the bulge - 12220kms old


The one doing duty since 12220kms (so is 46527kms old)

The second one if it does not face any unnatural conditions should be good for quite a long time.

[greenhorn]

trrk, I've always wanted to upsize to 175/65 apollos, but after your experience, I'm not so sure now.
I'm running my OE bridgestone S322's and they seem to be bulletproof

[ImmortalZ]

To be honest, we need tyres made from adamantium to cope with the state of 'roads' in our state.

[trrk]

Hi,

Man proposes and God disposes!

The forthcoming Onam Season and my daughter's examinations put me in a situation where I had to go for the known devil for the 60000kms service.

Please take a look at the following link. This and an unsatisfactory (to me) job on the front supsension prompted to look for an alternative after an association with Focuz Motors (nee Benz Motors) since 1996. But see the first sentence!

So at 60204kms it went for its 60000kms service. As usual wheel alignment, balancing and rotation were requested NOT to be done.

The bill details are as follows:




The bearing was a phone check in and approved change. I think it is on the left rear. My driver never bothers to check such things while taking delivery. Business pressures did not allow me to pursue the matter this time.

The service centre decided to pamper the car with Castrol GTX this time. I think this is the first time it is getting this oil!

Since the decision was taken suddenly to send it off for the service, my usual pre service oil dip stick photo was not taken. The oil a few days back was just a mm below the maximum.

But this is what it was after the service and new oil:

Usually it is a mm or so more than the maximum. This time it is a little more. I will check in a couple of days and update.

The engine bay:


Power steering pump reservoir:

No top ups yet!

Coolant reservoir:

Though not clear, the level is slightly above the maximum. I have never been billed for any top ups / change or coolant!

The air filter indicator:

Never seen it to show that cleaning is required!

The cumulative service charges come to Rs 31436.59 and comes to 0.52 paise per kilometre. Diesel expenses at the last tank fill (60230kms) stands at 4417.96 litres of diesel worth Rs 157505.35 at Rs 2.62 per kilometre and the efficiency stands at 13.98kpl.

[trrk]

Hi Folks,

Originally Posted by trrk

Please take a look at the following link.

Sorry for the goof up. I missed to paste the link as I got a phone call and was in a hurry!

Here it is:

Yahoo! Groups

[wanderernomad]

Nice looking engine bay. Another thing I ahve noticed is that while your coolant outlet is on the side its on the floor of the tank in mine. I think the side one makes more sense as the vertical one in mine keeps slipping off at times. Even the lock does not seem to hold it in for very long. At what mileage did you change your first tyres and was the one (longest in service) stayed as a working tyre for the entire time?