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-   -   Fiat Palio MJD - Ownership log @ 75,000 kms (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/long-term-ownership-reviews/87563-fiat-palio-mjd-ownership-log-75-000-kms-4.html)

Visited CarCares in OMR for a quick foam wash. This was my first visit to CarCares and I was happy with their service. Though not in the league of 3M, CarCares do a very good job too. The foam wash is only for the exterior wash, interior cleaning/vaccuming and under-chassis washing are not included in this package and they charge Rs.150/- for small cars. I'd say for this price, it is good value. But if one wants to have both interior and exterior cleaned, then 3M is the place since the charges are almost same and 3M does a brilliant job.

Also got the wheels balanced and aligned and also finally got the puncture fixed at Raja Tyres. There was no change in alignment and the setting was perfect. It has not changed even after 10,000 kms. I also got my calipers and drums painted at Raja Tyres. They charged me Rs.800/- for the painting.

As usual I was extremely satisfied with the service rendered to me at Raja Tyres but felt really ripped off with the bill. I'm not complaining about the painting but on the alignment and balancing. I felt that I was totally overcharged for balancing and alignment. They charged me Rs.400 for alignment and Rs.200 per wheel for balancing. The price chart put there showed 300 for alignment and 150 for balancing for Palio. When I asked about that he just gave me a blunt reply that prices are revised.

This is my last visit to that place and I'm not going there nor recommending anyone to go there too.

Team-BHP was blocked in office for some time and hence was not able to update this thread for a while.

September Updates

Sep 7 was another drive down to Coimbatore. Initially I had booked tickets on train and my tickets never confirmed inspite of being on WL1. So it was on Sep 7th morning that I decided to go by car as I lost hope in the tickets to get confirmed.

So, I was just checking on which route I shall try this time and the only one that I had not tried so far is Chennai-Karur-Coimbatore. So straight away I pinged Dhans on skype since he is from Karur and he said that this route is in pretty good shape but said that it is only 2 laned from Perambalur till Coimbatore and I was game to try this since I always prefer these 2 laned roads and most importantly, I will save more than 50% on toll when compared to the Vellore-K'giri-Salem route.

And after this route chat, Dhans said that even he was planning to leave to Karur the same day and we decided to leave together in my Palio and I will drop him on the way.

I started from my office at Karapakkam by 3:10 pm and picked up Dhans in front of his office near Siruseri. When we started, the time was 3:45pm. The following is the route taken:

Karapakkam-Kelambakkam-Vandalur-Villupuram-Perambalur-Thurayur-Musiri-Kulithalai-Karur-Palladam-Coimbatore (Total distance - 533 kms)

From Chennai to Perambalur it is 4 laned NH with 5 toll plaza's (25+25+67+45+45=Rs.207)
From Kulithalai to Karaur, new 2 laned road complete. Karur bye-pass (4 laned) is 90% complete One toll plaza is coming up.
Rest all is 2 laned roads. Perambalur to Kulithalai has roads ranging from good to average sections but is low on traffic.

We stopped for a 20 min coffee break at Villupuram, dropped Dhans @ Karur at around 10pm and then stopped for dinner for 20mins around 10:45 pm and reached home by 12:05 am. This indicates driving time of approx 7:45 mins which is more or less same as compared to the Vellore-K'giri route.

Return was also on the same route. Started from Coimbatore by 3pm and reached Chennai by 12am. This included a 30min dinner break and a 30 min break at Karur to pick up Dhans since he was held up in traffic.

All in all a wonderful drive with lots of FIAT, Maruti and Hyundai talk :D

Now comes the important part, FE. For the onward journey, the FE that I got was 17.7kmpl. I had tanked up and driven 213 kms in the city and continued with that. Even then, off-late the highway FE that I have been getting was always 17.5-18kmpl.

Start @ Chennai



End @ Coimbatore



KN Filters reducing FE?

Now comes the shocker! Since I had not cleaned the KN filters for long, I decided to switch back to the stock filters until I get the KN cleaned. So, the return journey was on the stock filters.

Initially, I was of the opinion that there was not much of a difference between the stock filters and the KN, but I was wrong. I was immediately able to find the difference in the pick-up in the 4th and 5th gears while revving up and overtaking.

There was a lot of difference and I felt that the car accelerated better with the KN. So I decided to get it cleaned and to put it back ASAP, but when we almost reached Chennai, it was only then I noticed that the fuel gauge was still at the half-way mark. In all my drives, it will always go below the quarter mark.

This confused us since the route and the drivers were same and the only difference was the change of filters.

So on reaching, I tanked up and checked the FE and what I had achieved was 21.6kmpl!

Start @ Coimbatore



End @ Chennai



Now I'm really confused on whether the KN causes drop in FE. I could also be wrong since with KN my city FE was a consistent 17kmpl. I can get to a conclusion only after I check the city FE with the stock filter before taking a call.

Anyone heard of drop in FE due to Stock replacement KN filters???

October Updates

Did another Chennai - Coimbatore drive on Friday Sep 28. Followed the same Karur route like last time and I can confirm that using KN stock replacement filters is resulting in a drop in fuel efficiency. Fuel efficiency obtained was 21.6 kmpl but badly missed the zip factor that the KN's provided!

ICE'd stage 2

This stage 2 was pending for long and finally did it on Saturday at RM car decors. Installed Cerwin Vega H.E.D. 600.4 amplifier.

Cost of the amp was 11k. Also changed the existing speaker wiring in addition to new set of RCA cables and main power wire for the amp.
Stage 3 to be done after some time to include a sub.

More details of the amp in here: http://cerwinvegamobile.com/H.E.D.-A...004/menu-id-74

Some pictures of the amp and the wires







Service Update

Its 34,900 kms on the odo which means 10k in 7 months and I was due for service. This time went in for Mobil1 Delvac fully synthetic.

Got the oil and filers by myself from the market in Coimbatore and got the work done by my trusty mechanic. He came home on sunday and we got the job done.

Oil Filter - Rs.300
Diesel Filter - Rs. 1700
Mobil1 Delvac 0W-40 4-litres - Rs. 3500
Petronas Tutela Transmission Oil 2-litres - Rs.800
Bardhal Engine Flush - Rs.520

Labour Charges - Rs.500

Will post my experiences of the Mobil1 after my return journey to Chennai tomorrow.

Brake pads are good for a lot more clap:

Back to Chennai now. Started from Coimbatore at 2pm and reached Chennai by 10:15 pm. Yet another amazing drive.

No instant/visible difference with the Mobil1. FE obtained was 21kmpl with 100% AC.

The amp is doing wonders and my components never sounded so clear! Getting tempted to get a sub ;)

wow! That's an absolutely shiny looking car. Nice to read that you haven't had any major failures in your ownership. And the tyres don't look like they've done 30k kilometres.

:thumbs up

Thanks W.A.G.7!

Yeah, the tires are awesome. Crossed 35k now and are still looking the same.

Is it alright to change the diesel filter every 20 K ? I have a Punto MJD and the recommended change interval is 15K.

Go by the manufacturer recomendations. If not, your warranty and extended warranty would go for a toss.

The other reason being, you might be damaging your engine, if you get any poor quality fuel. Another reason, which is not major would be there would be a drop in FE.

If i were in your shoe, i wouldnt take any such chance. I always maintain a set of Air, oil and fuel filters in my car and get the stuff done in time.

You can do that after your warranty/extended warranty is over. I'm following this since my car is out of warranty and also after seeing the condition of the diesel filter at 20k kms.

Since I stick to the same fuel pumps, I'm sticking to the 20k interval. But I'm following the schedule for my Linea.

45000 kms service update

Completed 45800 kms as of now and the Palio continues to rock. :D

Drove from Chennai to Coimbatore last friday. The odo stood at 45200 on reaching home and it was time for service.

As usual the service was done at home. Change oil, oil filter and airfilter.
Also changed the brake pads and cleaned the rear drums.

In addition to the above, also installed the splash guard, so no more dust from the tornado fan.


The OE splash guard of the Indica, a direct fit to the Palio


WIP at 10:30 pm




MJD posing with the S10

Glad to know that there is an easy solution for the "tornado"!
How much does the splash guard cost? Is it something that fits below engine?

Can you please tell me the make and price of brake pads for Palio? Mine needs a change. It's running around 73000 km and I haven't changed the brake pads or liners ever.

Now that the trusted (for me) Concorde doesn't entertain Fiat cars, I need to find a mechanic here in Hyderabad to do jobs like these.

Santosh, the splash guard costs Rs.350. It fits in the gap between the front bumper and the engine through which the fan was blowing up dust.

The pads that I got was TVS, same as the one that came as OE in the car. Cost was about Rs.900.

Apologies for the back to back posts. Just wanted to share couple of pictures of my Palio shot yesterday :-)

Some pictures of my Palio from last weeks mid-night photoshoot :D

Photographer JayD clap:

Clocked 48500 kms now and my beast has completed 3 yrs.

3 yrs of trouble free and fun filled ownership it has been :)

Renewed insurance with L&T General insurance.

Battery change might be due in some time I believe. Still on the stock battery. The Michelin's are holding up brilliantly and shows no age of 48k kms. A pic of my front tyre at 48k kms.