Delhi To Leh - Possible on a Ford Ikon ?

[hvkumar]

Rohtang Pass-Keylong circuit is one of the worst in early summer - (a) the descent from Rohtang to Gramphoo can be treacherous with lots of mud, and (b) the stretch from Gramphoo to Khoksar/Tandi can also be very muddy.

But if you wish to go to Kaza, you have to turn off at Gramphoo. After Gramphoo, there is no pucca road, it is mud track all along, and you can expect heavy snow melts and river overflows. The climb up to Kunzum La is also quite steep and have bad sections.

You can also come to Kaza from the Kinnaur Valley side (NH21) via Shimla, Rampur, Sumdo and Tabo. THis is much better.

[Rudra Sen]

One may get drivable road right through or not. There's no guarantee about weather or road. Landslide can happen for any small reason. It's a question of taking chances.

Here are few shots from our 2006 July/August trip.

[vnabhi]

One look at the picture of the Tavera getting stuck should deter even the most daring of drivers.

[diezel]

hehehehe.. That's a good load of post. Thanks guys, but I guess you all are right, after looking at all the pictures, I firmly think that its time I get hold of an SUV, preferably a Gypsy and make run. Can afford to bust our ikon, valuable money has been spent on it...

Thanks a lot to all of you... and special thanks to HV for sending across his travel log.

Cheers

[tsk1979]

dang, I was thinking of doing Keylong in the indica, guess I will just do Sangla/chitkul etc., some time.
The indica like most NA diesels gets AMS at high altitude, and near the top of the revband(where you are when you are going uphill in 1st gear), it skips a beat and misses sometimes. Happens only above 3100mts above MSL though.

I wonder how to petrol cars(NA) behave at high altitudes where the air pressure is very low?

[hvkumar]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I wonder how to petrol cars(NA) behave at high altitudes where the air pressure is very low?

mpfi cars run very well. But I believe carburettor cars require resetting of their carb settings.

[digitalrider]

I did see a spark doing zoji la and a Fusion doing Manali - Leh in May 2007... so i dont think it should be too much of a problem.

a question - How do the rally esteems, fiestas and palios manage then? considering the way they drive!

[phamilyman]

tanveer yaar,

no point getting worried. In late may, saw a couple of indicas among the hordes of sumos scorps and taveras

@diesel. You think even a 4wd could sail through that slush? which is why go by the srinagar route. its easy in comparison.

and trucks do it all the time. they are good ole 2 wd. so chill and don't think too much. Its just a road man.

[gd1418]

Just for record on carb driven cars, I did Bhuwali, Kausani, Ranikhet, Almora and back some years ago in my 1999 Esteem LX. Before embarking on this journey I took it to my mechanic for a general check-up. He, at the end of all work, removed a black tube out of the few that went into the carb and plugged it with a screw.

Now that kept bothering me, but what I noticed was pulling power increased. It reached Bhuwali without any issues and after my stay there when I left for higher hills, I removed the plugged tube and put it back where it belonged in the carb. Now it would climb the gradients laboriously and stalled at few places as the height increased. I, then removed the tube again and plugged it with the screw and the Esteem just covered those heights with ease and no issues.

Probably that tube used to provide air that he plugged to make the mixture a little richer thus enhancing the pulling power.

Originally Posted by hvkumar

mpfi cars run very well. But I believe carburettor cars require resetting of their carb settings.

[hvkumar]

If you want to drive your own car to Ladakh, wait till September when you have better roads. In June, even the toughest 4WD will have a bad time on these tracks.

[tsk1979]

I have done Kasauni etc., and even half way upto Hatu peak in the indica. No issues. However there was slight missing when the altitude crossed 3000mts en route to Jalori pass.
It was a pedal to the metal in first gear at 20kmph for over 30 minutes(the car was not overheating however).
As soon as I descended back to 2800-2900mts the car became completely normal.

[phamilyman]

my 'umble P180 sailed through in end may maalik despite lotsa lunar sections

yeah, the pang nullah - that could've been a pain.

@tsk: Your post means TC indicas won't be affected? i thought the fuel injection method was what helped in MPFI vehicles. In diesel, TCing makes the difference?

[tsk1979]

A turbo charged car will not be affected as much as a NA diesel in high altitude environments.
Even a ECU equipped NA diesel will do good. In my indica's case there is neither a TC or a ECU, so what comes out of the exhaust is partially burnt diesel soot, just like the trucks and buses.

[jack33]

Our MPFI gypsy suffered major power loss at high altitude.I think a carb-gypsy, tuned for the himalaya may be better.I'm posting an unedited trip log i had entered in my PDA during our last trip.Guys, please excuse me for the spelling,grammer and other mistakes becoz the major part of it was typed when i was having serious Altitude sickness.
We bought a Gypsy King Mpfi from chandigarh on 18/9/06 and started the trip the same day...Here's the log
18/9/06.10.pm...started from Chandigarh to manali by 11.30 pm..the car stopped after 2kms...some ele problems..(fuse)
12.19/9/06 1:29 chandigarh to manali.luckly found the cause, a loose fuse,jayesh on wheel..the gypsy had some minor problems and was not reving fully. Also the engine ECM warning light was on.40159
13.bilaspur..19/9/06 4:49..40302..petrol handed over the wheel to reuben.
14. manali..19/9/06.10:01...alt..2000mts.1st priorty was to get the gypsy and searched for an authorised service centre and unfortunately we had to drive back to the delhi route for abt 16kms to find one closed.but luckly as the owner's house was just behind we could chat with the owner and accidently found the air sensor hanging out and cleared it..went back to manali and our friend (manger) offered a free room for refreshing...after bathing we rushed to a local workshop ...to do a general check up.bought some medicines,fuel can(leaky),spares,snaks,mineral water etc
15.to keylong 405201...19/9/06 16:57,petrol full 19.2lts
16..19/9/06 19:45..rohtangpass,the road was okay bearing the rushing sumo,s and other taxis
17..19.9.06.. 12..am..reached keylong,alt..3300 mts..stayed at snowland..01900222219....reuben and jayesh went back to tandi tofill petrol at tandi..( 40646)..total 67 lts( 18.8 in the gypsy),
18.20/9/06 11:46 leving kelong to leh.
(40654)
19.20/9/06 13:11.had fun in river side at darcha..sirshasan etc..some good pics 40684.spent abt 20 mins
20/9/06 14:04..40715...few kms after zinkar...ab 48 kms to sarachu, rueben is trying ti get some raw chicken directly from the lorry guys.. We r gonna have some sexy lunch..
15.25..leaving to leh after having dal and rice..got one raw chicken marinated....jayesh at wheel
7.pm..at pang..lefta 8 .12 pm
20/9/06 21:37...tangangla..
11.05.pm...tea at rumtse...relaxed a bit to regain from alt sickness...every one experianced mild headache and dizziness at tanglang
12.50..reached leh..alt 3200 .mts
1.40..checked in at hotel dragon...library rd..
22/9/06 14:44 leaving leh..41028..petrol full..5 liters
22/9/06..10.pm reached stayed kargil.., hotel siachen...shabby rooms,but the best in town
23/9/06 10:47 full petrol at kargil41250..19 lts...alt 2500mts
23/9/06 11:23 leaving kargil to srinagar..jayesh at wheel
23/9....14.50..sonmarg..lunch
3.10 2520 ,mts 41375
4.50..srinagar..stayed at hotel welcome..01942479667..odo..41460 petrol full..alt.1650 mts
24/9/06 11:37 leaving srinagar..41462...reuben at wheel
24/9/06 17:40..kud..41659..pet full..20lts
24/9/06 18:41.udhanpur..alt 705 mts
24/9/06 20:05 reached jammu.. 455 altitude
24/9/06 20:42.leaving jammu..jayesh at wheel
24/9/06 22:50 pathankot..pet full.21.4 ....41882
25/9/06 2:15...khanna...96km before ambala..42080..abt 100kms before delhi had flat tyre.
6.am reached delhi
25/9/06 6:29..thara apts..42374
...with oil on sides..ya..the diff oil seal gone and it was leaking from the front hub.
That is 2224 kms in 6 days...

[gd1418]

Your Indica is a diesel with loads of torque in the low band..And cool air does wonders to a diesel..

Originally Posted by tsk1979

I have done Kasauni etc., and even half way upto Hatu peak in the indica. No issues. However there was slight missing when the altitude crossed 3000mts en route to Jalori pass.
It was a pedal to the metal in first gear at 20kmph for over 30 minutes(the car was not overheating however).
As soon as I descended back to 2800-2900mts the car became completely normal.