Long Term Ownership Report: Swift VdI- 2 lakh kms, Cost of ownership on Pg 3

kpzen · 3rd February 2010, 11:34

Boi !! 2lacs in 3 years.....

Now thats what u call a " LONG TERM" report.

Very well put down and it clearly shows that a diesel car with high mileage faces less issues than a car with less mileage.

How frequently did u change the fuel filter ?

KSM-Vtec · 3rd February 2010, 12:49

Wow that is one long term ownership review in a short time!!!! Thats the way to go...makes the image of the Swift D even better.

Jaggu · 3rd February 2010, 13:32

Took a while to read through the thread, but hey this is one excellent LONG KM's update! Very frankly you have put lot of longevity doubts to rest for many of us.

cheers
Jaggu

epicenter.rulez · 5th February 2010, 22:39

hey guys
thanks for all the feedbacks and everything.
forgot to mention that the steering rack bush on the left wheel develops a play and the bush is not available as a seperate part but the service center guys will advise a full rack replacement.
if you are friends with your service advisor, ask him to dismantle the rack and remove the bush and take it to a decent machine shop. a teflon round bar machined for a tight fit will do the job in about a 100 bucks odd which otherwise would take 23000 rupees to be replaced plus labor.
i did mine up that way.
symptoms are a rumble from the left wheel well which wont go away even if the lower links, ball joints and everything else is put in brand new.
another clatter not to be mistaken for is the noise from the caliper pins which work themselves loose as they are not very tight fits. the noise can be taken care of either by greasing the pins which is a desi way to do things and a slightly sofisticated desi way in which teflon tape is wrapped around the pin and its put back.
if you have the time and a good machinist, about 300 bucks will see that you have a set of tight fitting bushes installed which will make the noise go away for ever.
hope this helps too.
thanks for listening

faithless_1984 · 6th February 2010, 14:55

Superb review epicenterR.!
You really used this car the way its meant to be.

Quote:

He pondered and offered 3.55 lacs for it

Wow ,goes to show that the car is still in great demand.!

abhipuru16 · 6th February 2010, 16:40

In these 2 Lakh kilometers, can you please tell us the amount your had to pay in services etc. and if you are happy with it?

GSMINC · 6th February 2010, 17:46

great review,
Can you explain what exactly ie EGR valve cleaning, how long does it take (time wise) & how much cost, because MASS here dont have the faintest idea about EGR valve cleaning.
BTW my SWift VDI has crossed 70,000kms in 15 months.

Yes, as Jaggu said, your review puts a lot of doubting thomas's to rest

epicenter.rulez · 7th February 2010, 18:45

@ abhipuru, here is the total cost of ownership excelsheet for your reference...let me know if i have missed out on anything. the costs are approximations which may vary by a maximum of 5%
Hope this helps.

epicenter.rulez · 7th February 2010, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by GSMINC

great review,
Can you explain what exactly ie EGR valve cleaning, how long does it take (time wise) & how much cost, because MASS here dont have the faintest idea about EGR valve cleaning.
BTW my SWift VDI has crossed 70,000kms in 15 months.

Yes, as Jaggu said, your review puts a lot of doubting thomas's to rest

HI GSMINC,
thanx for going through the post.
The exhaust gas recirculator valve runs on the following principle:
(Taken from another Site)

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve is an important part of the exhaust circulation system of a vehicle. EGR valves have been in use in the United States since the 1960s, when car companies were seeking ways to increase the efficiency of vehicles while also decreasing pollution. When the EGR valve is clogged or malfunctioning, it can cause irregularities in engine performance such as rough idling or valve knock, indicating that the EGR valve should be inspected. The EGR valve works by routing a small amount of exhaust back into the combustion chamber. When the temperature in the combustion chamber is too high, nitrogen oxides are produced, which combine with elements in the atmosphere to form smog. Introducing a small amount of exhaust into the system reduces the temperature in the combustion chamber, reducing the amount of nitrogen oxides produced.
Many EGR valves are mechanical, and simply have a small valve which opens to allow exhaust into the combustion chamber and closes when it is not necessary, and to keep the air mixture optimal for combustion. Some mechanical versions will not open until there is sufficient back pressure, ensuring that the valve will not be open when the engine is idle or warming up and needs a higher concentration of oxygen for combustion. Electronic EGR valves are also available, and use electronics to regulate the valve.
If the EGR valve is stuck open, it will essentially cause a vacuum leak, leading to inefficient combustion, rough idling, hesitation, and sometimes stalling in extreme cases. This is because the car cannot combust on carbon dioxide from the tailpipe — it needs atmospheric oxygen. If the combustion chamber is flooded with exhaust from an open EGR valve, it will not function properly. To check and see if the EGR valve is stuck open, have someone idle a parked vehicle with the brake on while you examine the plunger shaft to see if it is stuck open. If the EGR valve is stuck closed, emissions of nitrogen oxides will rise, and the car may start to knock. Spark knock happens when the fuel mixture in the combustion chamber ignites before it has been reached by the explosion in the cylinder, resulting in a disruption of the engine timing. In this instance, the engine should be warmed up and revved to see if the EGR valve will move.
In both cases, simple repairs are possible. The EGR valve can be clogged, and a simple cleaning of a mechanical EGR valve may solve the problem. In the case of an electrically controlled EGR valve or a more complex mechanical problem, replacement of the valve may be needed. The EGR valve is an expensive motor vehicle component, and care should be taken to ensure that it needs to be replaced rather than repaired. A reputable mechanic should advise you appropriately.

For the swift diesel, the car becomes sluggish and when you try to accelerate, it emits black smoke. the idling also becomes erratic and the car sounds rough and unrefined.

The valve cleaning can be done in about half a day where the valve is removed from the car, serviced and then fit back. in some cases, the engine check light may come on and hence the diagnostic tool has to be connected and the error codes removed.

The totat cost of the job is around 1500 bucks and it takes roughly 4 to 5 hours to do it up.

What i have seen, going through the posts on this forum, a lot of guys advise cleaning the egr valve every 30000 kilometers. i will not contradict anyone, but in my opinion, its a precision and a performance related part of the car engine. it should only be opened and serviced in case it causes problems and otherwise not.

These are just my views.
Hope they help

DieselAddikt · 7th February 2010, 19:14

Great car it is. No wonder it is still so much in demand. The average running cost of Rs 2.5 per km is simply 'Maruti' stuff, especially when the figure comes from a car that has run 2L kms. Wow wow wow.... And I am sure you would have taken care of her pretty well. Good going.

anekho · 7th February 2010, 21:10

Nice review, man!

200 000 kms is no joke, you really used your diesel machine!

Sn1p3r · 8th February 2010, 11:19

The thread keeps on getting better with the little new details

Keep it up. How is it going with the new Punto?

epicenter.rulez · 8th February 2010, 13:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sn1p3r

The thread keeps on getting better with the little new details

Keep it up. How is it going with the new Punto?

The punto is doing good...although not as fast and well appointed as the swift but its still a magnificient handler.
The petes box, k&n and if available the remus exhaust will do the needful i suppose...
may also shift over to yokohama 205s from the current 195 goodyears if i get a good price for these

just getting the feel of the car as of now.

Sn1p3r · 8th February 2010, 15:38

^^ we eagerly await your review of the Punto

After reading your post I was for first time convinced to not use the authorized service center and got my first service done from a known mechanic.

I saved 2k

just on the oils and replacements and then minimum 1k on the labor.

Do you plan to put mods after the initial free services or do you put these on during the initial period?

Cheers!

GSMINC · 8th February 2010, 16:24

epicenter,
I spoke to the guys from Ecotech Fuelmag Diesel conditioner, Kochi, they are qouting Rs.4000(kerala) & Rs.4500(rest of india),
Is it really worth it, I know it is a simple fix it job like installing a Pete's tuning box,
But if you are carefull in filling diesel only from COCO & reputed bunks, do we really need this Made in New Zealand stuff.

3rd February 2010, 11:34	#31
kpzen Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Faridabad Posts: 5,611 Thanked: 1,879 Times View My Garage	Boi !! 2lacs in 3 years..... Now thats what u call a " LONG TERM" report. Very well put down and it clearly shows that a diesel car with high mileage faces less issues than a car with less mileage. How frequently did u change the fuel filter ?
	() Thanks

3rd February 2010, 12:49	#32
KSM-Vtec Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MH-02-India-Bombay-Bandra Posts: 1,562 Thanked: 446 Times View My Garage	Wow that is one long term ownership review in a short time!!!! Thats the way to go...makes the image of the Swift D even better.
	() Thanks

3rd February 2010, 13:32	#33
Jaggu Team-BHP Support Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 20,321 Thanked: 16,675 Times	Took a while to read through the thread, but hey this is one excellent LONG KM's update! Very frankly you have put lot of longevity doubts to rest for many of us. cheers Jaggu
	() Thanks

5th February 2010, 22:39	#34
epicenter.rulez BHPian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Valsad Posts: 235 Thanked: 277 Times	hey guys thanks for all the feedbacks and everything. forgot to mention that the steering rack bush on the left wheel develops a play and the bush is not available as a seperate part but the service center guys will advise a full rack replacement. if you are friends with your service advisor, ask him to dismantle the rack and remove the bush and take it to a decent machine shop. a teflon round bar machined for a tight fit will do the job in about a 100 bucks odd which otherwise would take 23000 rupees to be replaced plus labor. i did mine up that way. symptoms are a rumble from the left wheel well which wont go away even if the lower links, ball joints and everything else is put in brand new. another clatter not to be mistaken for is the noise from the caliper pins which work themselves loose as they are not very tight fits. the noise can be taken care of either by greasing the pins which is a desi way to do things and a slightly sofisticated desi way in which teflon tape is wrapped around the pin and its put back. if you have the time and a good machinist, about 300 bucks will see that you have a set of tight fitting bushes installed which will make the noise go away for ever. hope this helps too. thanks for listening
	(1) Thanks

6th February 2010, 16:40	#36
abhipuru16 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Faridabad Posts: 719 Thanked: 40 Times	In these 2 Lakh kilometers, can you please tell us the amount your had to pay in services etc. and if you are happy with it?
	() Thanks

6th February 2010, 17:46	#37
GSMINC BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 395 Thanked: 197 Times	great review, Can you explain what exactly ie EGR valve cleaning, how long does it take (time wise) & how much cost, because MASS here dont have the faintest idea about EGR valve cleaning. BTW my SWift VDI has crossed 70,000kms in 15 months. Yes, as Jaggu said, your review puts a lot of doubting thomas's to rest
	() Thanks

7th February 2010, 19:14	#40
DieselAddikt BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Harrisburg, PA Posts: 599 Thanked: 970 Times View My Garage	Great car it is. No wonder it is still so much in demand. The average running cost of Rs 2.5 per km is simply 'Maruti' stuff, especially when the figure comes from a car that has run 2L kms. Wow wow wow.... And I am sure you would have taken care of her pretty well. Good going.
	() Thanks

7th February 2010, 21:10	#41
anekho Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: . Posts: 1,997 Thanked: 685 Times	Nice review, man! 200 000 kms is no joke, you really used your diesel machine!
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 11:19	#42
Sn1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 1,022 Thanked: 232 Times View My Garage	The thread keeps on getting better with the little new details Keep it up. How is it going with the new Punto?
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 15:38	#44
Sn1p3r Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Germany Posts: 1,022 Thanked: 232 Times View My Garage	^^ we eagerly await your review of the Punto After reading your post I was for first time convinced to not use the authorized service center and got my first service done from a known mechanic. I saved 2k just on the oils and replacements and then minimum 1k on the labor. Do you plan to put mods after the initial free services or do you put these on during the initial period? Cheers!
	() Thanks

8th February 2010, 16:24	#45
GSMINC BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 395 Thanked: 197 Times	epicenter, I spoke to the guys from Ecotech Fuelmag Diesel conditioner, Kochi, they are qouting Rs.4000(kerala) & Rs.4500(rest of india), Is it really worth it, I know it is a simple fix it job like installing a Pete's tuning box, But if you are carefull in filling diesel only from COCO & reputed bunks, do we really need this Made in New Zealand stuff.
	() Thanks