[Aroy]

Originally Posted by shamik.bose

We got our K10 in Dec' 11. 15th Dec, to be precise. It has done almost 1900 kms.
Got a couple of questions:
1. We have been getting a mileage of ~10 kmpl. Is this normal and does it increase post 3k kms? Driving has been completely in the city.
2. Does the factory-provided engine oil work fine, or should it be changed? If it needs to be changed, what brand should be chosen?

Thanks in advance,
Shamik

P.S. The K10 is a bundle of fun!

1. 10 kmpl is very low. Unless you have been traveling in B2B traffic with AC on. Normally I get at least 12 in heavy traffic with AC. Normally low FE can be due to
- The throttle body jammed.
- Extremely bad traffic where you travel 5 km in one hour with AC, and the engine is always on.
- Bad fuel
- You are lugging the engine. Remember that K10 is a high revving engine, with low torque at low RPM. So in slow moving traffic try to keep it at 1500-2000 RPM (upto 20 in first, 30 in second and 45 in third). Once you hit 40+ in steady traffic do you change to fourth gear. On highways change to the fifth after 60 kmph.

2. The factory provided engine oil is perfect, and there is no need to change it to any other oil. By the way, the engine oil is changed at 10K km or one year in K10 engines.

[shamik.bose]

Originally Posted by Aroy

1. 10 kmpl is very low. Unless you have been traveling in B2B traffic with AC on. Normally I get at least 12 in heavy traffic with AC. Normally low FE can be due to
- The throttle body jammed.
- Extremely bad traffic where you travel 5 km in one hour with AC, and the engine is always on.
- Bad fuel
- You are lugging the engine. Remember that K10 is a high revving engine, with low torque at low RPM. So in slow moving traffic try to keep it at 1500-2000 RPM (upto 20 in first, 30 in second and 45 in third). Once you hit 40+ in steady traffic do you change to fourth gear. On highways change to the fifth after 60 kmph.

2. The factory provided engine oil is perfect, and there is no need to change it to any other oil. By the way, the engine oil is changed at 10K km or one year in K10 engines.

I change up into 2nd at around 25 kmph, into 3rd at 35-40. In steady traffic, it's 40-45 in 4th. But the driver drives it more often and it isn't exactly B2B traffic.

[Aroy]

Originally Posted by shamik.bose

I change up into 2nd at around 25 kmph, into 3rd at 35-40. In steady traffic, it's 40-45 in 4th. But the driver drives it more often and it isn't exactly B2B traffic.

As one member discovered, the throttle body actuator was jammed from day one and he had the same FE. So get it checked at MASS. Otherwise the K10 will give FE of between 12 in B2B with AC and 20+ with AC on highways.

[shamik.bose]

There was a service done at 1000 kms, nothing was reported as being amiss. But I doubt they would check it unless asked to. Will get it checked soon. Thanks for the help
Are there any telltale signs of this?

[vsathyap]

I drive my K10 in the city... Bangalore's famous b2b traffic with ac on almost 50% of the times. I am getting around 12-14kmpl. The car has run close to 3k and I just finished the second free service. It's smoothened up a lot lately and responds better now to foot inputs... I think it's just started to complete the run in and the engine is setting nicely.

It's tough not to be over enthusiastic while driving this car... Sedate Driving has to be done consciously. I keep the tires at 34 psi, While the recommended pressure is 32psi. The milage I have listed is from the tankfull to tankfull method.

Most of my trips are short... Less than 5km.. And happen on the infamous bannerghatta road. Given the circumstances, I am happy with the milage the car is returning. Expecting it to cross 15 mark after 5k

[vvijay]

Originally Posted by avishar

100kmph in 5th is usually just a bit above 3K rpm mark,regardless of the how passengers,how much weight,the rpm at which a particular speed is reached in a particular gear will never change.

Never knew that K10 touches 100 at little above 3K mark. That answers how it effortlessly goes until 140. Man, i so much miss tacho my LXi. Must get one fitted aftermarket.

Originally Posted by Aroy

Brakes are not as progressive as is desirable. The saving grace is that they do bite and once you get used to longer travel required it will become a second nature. I got used to them in a couple of days.

Being used to driving an Indica V2 that has got at least good brakes, the brakes of K10 is so disappointing. First time I drove this, I almost touched a two-wheeler in front, then realising these are not progressive in nature. Its been 7 months since I bought this car and am still not used to these brakes, its always braking-hard-at-the-last-minute habit that scares both me and the passenger. Wonder what design flaw Maruti has made in this.

Originally Posted by theMAG

If you can sort out the high-speed handling, this is one mean rocket that doesnt disappoint. That understeer and lack of any steering feel are the two most frustrating aspects that I remember in this otherwise great package.

The steering at 100+ speeds is so frightening lifeless that it is no less in comparison to a playstation's one! Heard somewhere the EPS of Marutis usually cuts off at 60, but I really don't see that at all. It is simply for this reason that I think alot before I make past 100. Will changing the stock to 165 section reduce understeer to a great extent? Because some say anything more than 165 will cause rubbing.

[vivekkp]

Is it possible to fix a rear power window in Alto K10? When i visited their accessories webpage there was a power window kit listed. Not sure if it is the front or rear power window specific.

[anky]

No not oem power window kit for rear PW but if you have a lxi then you can fit the autocop PW window FR 2 or all 4 with the auto up module . In case of vxi where will you add the switches for the rear 2 PW on the front driver door as the space for switches is already full with the front 2 and unlock OEM switch .

[samsag12]

Originally Posted by vivekkp

Is it possible to fix a rear power window in Alto K10? When i visited their accessories webpage there was a power window kit listed. Not sure if it is the front or rear power window specific.

As far as i know only 2 types of power window kits are available i.e.
1. A 2 door kit includes 2 glass motors (which can either be paired at front or back as per MASS), a single switch unit and a double switch unit (for driver's door). Costs around Rs. 4500-5000

2. A 4 door kit includes 4 glass motors and 3 pieces of single button operating module for each door. For the driver's door a 4 button switch module is provided. Costs around Rs. 9500 approx.

If your car has the front power window then you can't add switches to the existing setup on driver's door.

Hope this helps.

PS: The ones mentioned on the K10 website are for front doors.

[eyesice]

Originally Posted by vvijay

Never knew that K10 touches 100 at little above 3K mark. That answers how it effortlessly goes until 140. Man, i so much miss tacho my LXi. Must get one fitted aftermarket.

Get the Ritz's or A-Star's tachometer. It would be a nice touch on the K10 than the default tacho!

[vvijay]

Originally Posted by eyesice

Get the Ritz's or A-Star's tachometer. It would be a nice touch on the K10 than the default tacho!

I'm certainly not going for the default tacho, that means getting a new cluster itself! Are you sure that you could get one of those off the shelf of MASS? I still didn't give it a deep thought but, although fixing that one would be neat, I guess I would go for a racy aftermarket one. Thanks anyways, will update you.

[eyesice]

Originally Posted by vvijay

I'm certainly not going for the default tacho, that means getting a new cluster itself! Are you sure that you could get one of those off the shelf of MASS?

I have seen in facebook one of my friends fixing the Ritz tacho on an Alto 800. Let me see if I can get any details. Anyway would love to see yours!

[DRIVE_ADDICT]

To All k10 owner's i need your opinion, Is Alto k10 shakky like the Alto 800?
One of my coleague plans to buy it. He used to be with me as a passenger and also occasionally drove my Alto 800 (5 years old, now i sold it). His only concern is its shakky nature during idling and jerky riding when A/C is ON.

[theMAG]

^^By "shakky" if you mean anemic - like the Alto 800 struggling with the AC on, no. The car handles AC seamlessly.

[Aroy]

The three pot engine is definitely not as smooth during idling as the four pot one. That said the K10 engine has enough power to run the AC pretty efficiently, and the cooling is excellent.

As there is more power in the K10 engine, it struggles much less with AC compared to the older M800 or Alto800. That said you have to downshift to first below 20 km/h with AC on while taking turns at slow speeds, but that is true of most of the cars with small petrol engines.