[Aroy]

Originally Posted by sriramr9

Hi Friends, One more K10 owner here. I have driven 600 odd kilometers in the odo and completed 1st service.

One find is the new K-series engine is built for economy and cleaner emissions. This was very evident when starting the car from standstill with full load and with A/c in High. The engine kinds of gets stressed out with a hush puff as it gains momentum, once you cross the third gear then one feels there is power on the pedal.

The fact that it's a three cylinder motor, possibly is not able to take the load as easily as the old 4 cylinder carbureted Zen. Rest is all fine and I recommend this vehicle for those who look for economy ride with the comfort of A/c and the advantageous smaller size to cut through bustling traffic with ease of the power steering.

Question to other K10 owners: How do you control engine RPM when starting from 0. Do press the gas to get started (with A/c), mine needs special care and careful throttle input to takeoff smoothly, else engine shudders a lot. Please help. Wish the car picks up without this engine shuddering with load and A/c.

The K10 has a high revving engine. You will feel the power only after 1500 RPM, so you have to adjust your driving style. If you have a lot of load, go till 20 on first, 30 on second and 50 in third. If I am in a hurry, I go till 40 in 1st, then 70+ in second and straight to the 5th (You can go till 100 in second, useful while overtaking on the highways!). If you get your gears proper K10 will out accelerate most of its competitors, and at the same time return terrific FE.

One thing to note that you use more fuel if you are slugging (too low speed in the gear) than if you are revving, so go beyond 1500 rpm in the lower gears and you will feel the power and at the same time saving fuel.

Starting with load - rev the engine slightly and slowly release the clutch, while maintaining/increasing the revs. The jerks are due to releasing the clutch abruptly, and judder because the RPM is too low - below 1000.

[avishar]

@Aroy 100 second is quite a stretch in the K10.I did a full bore acceleration once after a run in period was over,shifting at around 6000 rpm,as i was shifting into third it was around 80.The torque kind of wavers of at 6000+,better to shift at around 5500 for a spirited drive.

How is the FE btw?Our car has just passed 7,800km and we dont get more than 14.

[adityadeva]

First of let me thank you for this wonderful review,

The photographs are awesome, special congrats for that. also pls let me know which camera did you use.

many happy miles with this zippy alto.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by avishar

@Aroy 100 second is quite a stretch in the K10.I did a full bore acceleration once after a run in period was over,shifting at around 6000 rpm,as i was shifting into third it was around 80.The torque kind of wavers of at 6000+,better to shift at around 5500 for a spirited drive.

How is the FE btw?Our car has just passed 7,800km and we dont get more than 14.

I have taken both my Esteem and the Alto K10 to 100 in second. Actually you should be quite fast in changing the gears, else you will hit the rev limiter in K10.

My FE is as follows

Worse - 11.0 km/l - local journeys of 1/2 to 1km at a time with AC, mostly second,rarely in third or fourth gear.
Average - 14 km/l - again short journeys with a stint of 30-40km journey every tank full
Best - 19.5 km/l - Delhi Ambala-Delhi last Sunday. Max 100 km/h, normal 90, min 60, with full AC

Tank wise
1 - 12.2 (386km, 31.87l ) Aug
2 - 12.3 (367km, 31.41l ) Aug
3 - 13.0 (403km, 29.70l ) Sep
4 - 14.2 (435km, 30.94l ) Nov
5 - 14.8 (460km, 30.71l ) Jan
6 - 13.1 (373km, 31.18l ) Mar
7 - 11.0 (236km, 28.48l ) May
8 - 17.2 (542km, 31.56l ) Jun

I have noticed that the 5th gear plays an important role in FE. The more you drive in the 5th the better the FE, of course you should be above 55 to engage the 5th!

[sriramr9]

Originally Posted by Aroy

The K10 has a high revving engine. You will feel the power only after 1500 RPM, so you have to adjust your driving style. If you have a lot of load, go till 20 on first, 30 on second and 50 in third. If I am in a hurry, I go till 40 in 1st, then 70+ in second and straight to the 5th (You can go till 100 in second, useful while overtaking on the highways!). If you get your gears proper K10 will out accelerate most of its competitors, and at the same time return terrific FE.

One thing to note that you use more fuel if you are slugging (too low speed in the gear) than if you are revving, so go beyond 1500 rpm in the lower gears and you will feel the power and at the same time saving fuel.

Starting with load - rev the engine slightly and slowly release the clutch, while maintaining/increasing the revs. The jerks are due to releasing the clutch abruptly, and judder because the RPM is too low - below 1000.

Thanks for those inputs; it is surely going to bring me a lot more confidence next time i start driving my K10. My driving style is to keep the engine sorted out and running in and under 2000 RPM during every shift and maintain the 2000 RPM in 4th and 5th for the first 1000kms. I thought this way, the engine being brand new, let the running be steady and medium paced so the internals get polished to right clearances. i was too consciousthat I deliberately do not exceed 2K RPM in each shift right from 1 to 5. Is it not wise to keep the RPM in and around 2000 for the first 1000 kms till the run in period is over? My Odo shows 650 odd kms clocked now. Awaiting your comments on the above ?

Note:
1. I face strange wobbling in front left when driven on certain roads, the wheels were balanced and aligned during first service, tyre pressure 33 psi as per door sticker? Is it due to the tubeless tire causing this?

2. Is there a prescribed and economic gel available for the Batt. terminals. It has started to show some color change ever since purchase?

[Yamahead]

[quote=Aroy;2401957]The K10 has a high revving engine. You will feel the power only after 1500 RPM, so you have to adjust your driving style. If you have a lot of load, go till 20 on first, 30 on second and 50 in third. If I am in a hurry, I go till 40 in 1st, then 70+ in second and straight to the 5th (You can go till 100 in second, useful while overtaking on the highways!). If you get your gears proper K10 will out accelerate most of its competitors, and at the same time return terrific FE.

Thanks Sir...perefectly put. Yesterday took out my 50kms run Alto for a leisurely drive along ECR to Mahabalipuram. Kept the RPM below 2400 and in 5th gear the car sounded relaxed doing 65-80( traffic permitting). Didnt lug the engine but didnt push the car too much. Didnt check the FE though since FE is not a botheration as long it doesnt go below 10KMPL.The engine was vibe free and pulled very linearly and even during a fastish "accelarate and over-take" move it seemed there is more to come ( RPM 3700 odd). Even with AC on during the light drizzle it felt relaxed. My observations.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by sriramr9

Thanks for those inputs; it is surely going to bring me a lot more confidence next time i start driving my K10.

Note:
1. I face strange wobbling in front left when driven on certain roads, the wheels were balanced and aligned during first service, tyre pressure 33 psi as per door sticker? Is it due to the tubeless tire causing this?

2. Is there a prescribed and economic gel available for the Batt. terminals. It has started to show some color change ever since purchase?

1. No the tubeless tyres do not create wobbling. It is most certainly due to undulations on the road. If it only on certain roads, then forget the matter.

2. Best "gel" is medical or cosmetic grade "Vaseline" (petroleum jelly). Clean the terminals thoroughly, initially with a cloth. Then dry it further to get rid of old material. Now coat the terminals with Vaseline, all round. DO NOT use any automotive grease, a favourite of uninitiated!

[Oreen]

I have done 10000 kms in my K10, and have already done Bangalore to Calcutta and back once. With 5 people and luggage on top, I could do 120 kph at ease...and managed an average speed of 79 kmph, especially in the AP section of the GQ. Alone, I have touched and stuck to 145 kmph between Burdwan and Panagarh, a 40 km stretch where you have 180 degree vision, so the performance of this car is really amazing. I got decent FE of 17.95 kmpl in that 5800 km journey.

I am however very miffed with the gears. They are hard and despite pressing full clutch, they are harder than my Bolero. The clutch is already slipping at 10000 km, and the Kalyani Motors guys say I am riding the clutch!! It is getting difficult to drive it in Bangalore traffic and I, being basically a diesel (torque) lover, am not enjoying it at all. I prefer the Bolero, which doesn't need frequent gear shifting, and can stay afloat in 3rd gear all day.

Is there a particular style of driving that I need to get accustomed to?

[avishar]

I am quite a novice when it comes to driving,and when i come back home from college to Calcutta, i take our K10 out driving which is usually chauffeur driven and used by mom.

Its when you start driving yourself when you realize how terrible Indian road conditions are,i used to panic so much when i first start driving,its like everyone else is there to just run you down!

The only other cars which i have driven is our maruti 800,SS80 DX,i10 and Nano(not an impressive line up!).Compared to them i find that the K10 engine has a nice torque band,especially 3rd.

However sometimes i have this odd problem,suddenly i would not be able to find the 3rd gear!It just wont slot in!Has happened to me quite a few times,but maybe i shall put it down to my own ineptitude.But i usually find the 3rd gear to be a bit problematic.

Gearshift is notchy requires just that more effort,i would say Nano,and the i10 gearshift is much better.

On a flat expressway at speeds above 110-120 crosswinds and the light steering wheel is not confident inspiring.

[nishu.alex]

Guys,
07/07/11, bought the Ecru Beige that tHEMAG sports in his brilliant review. Loved the color in the pictures and well, now I have it!

[avishar]

8,500km on the odo,and the driver has been complaining of a hardened clutch for the past few days.I drove it to check,and i found the clutch a bit hardened too,not too much to make it uncomfortable to drive,but just the effort has gone up in the last 2-3 days.The car has always been sedately and properly driven,with proper run-in,no riding on the clutch.The car is never left with driver alone,and he has never driven rashly.The service centre guys are in insisting on a clutch replacement,said it will cost 10K!!I really doubt this.

[humyum]

Originally Posted by avishar

8,500km on the odo,and the driver has been complaining of a hardened clutch for the past few days.I drove it to check,and i found the clutch a bit hardened too,not too much to make it uncomfortable to drive,but just the effort has gone up in the last 2-3 days.The car has always been sedately and properly driven,with proper run-in,no riding on the clutch.The car is never left with driver alone,and he has never driven rashly.The service centre guys are in insisting on a clutch replacement,said it will cost 10K!!I really doubt this.

Try and get it replaced under warranty. I got my clutch replaced at 12 thousand km because it had become hard. Mine is a Swift Diesel.

[JustCause]

Originally Posted by avishar

8,500km on the odo,and the driver has been complaining of a hardened clutch for the past few days.I drove it to check,and i found the clutch a bit hardened too,not too much to make it uncomfortable to drive,but just the effort has gone up in the last 2-3 days.The car has always been sedately and properly driven,with proper run-in,no riding on the clutch.The car is never left with driver alone,and he has never driven rashly.The service centre guys are in insisting on a clutch replacement,said it will cost 10K!!I really doubt this.

I had the same complaint & I was suggested the same. Get a can of WD-40(available at hardware store for 60Rs.), jack the car up or look under it if you can (front, slightly left side, just along the radiator) & you will see the (dirty/muddy) clutch linkage (Alto K10 has cable clutch). Thoroughly spray with WD40 & leave for 30 minutes. After the elapsed time, if you press the clutch, it will go straight down as if the pedal is free.

Don't worry, you have remedied the clutch hardness to better than factory position. Feel free to repeat the process as & when the clutch tightens up.

Can't take pics now as it is dark. Can upload tomorrow if required.

[avishar]

@Just cause Thank you for those suggestions, had taken the car to a local mechanic,to just see what could be the problem.He insisted that application of lubricant or WD40 will not help,instead we need to replace the cable altogether.

Here is a pic of the cable.

[JustCause]

Originally Posted by avishar

@Just cause Thank you for those suggestions, had taken the car to a local mechanic,to just see what could be the problem.He insisted that application of lubricant or WD40 will not help,instead we need to replace the cable altogether.

Here is a pic of the cable.

Clean & spray the oily round part & also, the other end of the black arm (not visible in pic). It will lighten up significantly. Clutch cable doesn't go bad that soon. It will most probably lighten up after 30 min of application of WD40. I also apply WD40 to the gear joints also & the gear lever becomes butter smooth after that(not applicable to K10 as it has cable type gearing).