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| The Great Indian ‘Mileage’ Obsession : Part-I! | ||
| Home >> Infobank >> Driving Essentials >> The Great Indian ‘Mileage’ Obsession : Part-I! | ||
| Here is what one can do to get the best ‘mileage’ out of one’s Car – within it’s capabilities of course -
THE MACHINE (1) Check and correct Wheel-Alignment every 20,000 km or earlier, if indicated.(2) Rotate and Balance ALL the Five Wheels every 5,000 km. (3) Ensure the Brakes are not ‘Sticky’ and the Clutch not ‘Slipping’. (4) Have your Engine Tuned every 5,000/10,000 km to Manufacturer’s Specs. (5) Replace/Clean Fuel and Air Filter every 5,00020,000 km. (6) Ensure that the Hand Brake is properly adjusted and fully released. (7) Switch-off the Engine if you have to wait for more than 2-minutes. (8) Maintain Engine Valve Clearances as prescribed by the Manufacturer, including Timing Belts/Tensioners/Gears and Chains, free of any ‘Back-Lash’. (9) Ensure that the ‘Radiator Thermo-Valve’ is in place and in good working order. Modern Engines are DESIGNED to operate around 90*C for best efficiency and the Thermo-valve is provided not only to enable reach this very quickly after a cold start but also maintain around this level – compensating for different driving and ambient conditions. It also helps to keep the engine warm much longer after a shut down, facilitating subsequent starts. Unfortunately, most mechanics/A-C retrofitters believe it to be redundant like a human appendix and remove it at the first opportunity. Result is a ‘cold’ and hence an inefficient/fuel-guzzling/polluting engine, with shortened life as well. (10) NEVER ‘race’ the Engine after a cold start. Maintain a ‘fast tick-over’ idling speed of about 1250 rpm for minute or so, to ensure complete oil circulation in the engine and drive off gently. Mpfi Engines do it on their own. If a non-Mpfi engine tends to stall in the beginning, pull out the choke a couple of notches for first five minutes or so. DO NOT FORGET TO RESET THE CHOKE, as it not only wastes fuel and dilutes engine lubrication but can also damage the Catalytic Converter. In Fuel-Injected Cars, this feature is automatic. (11) Replace Spark Plugs and Distributor Parts as per Manufacturer’s recommendations. (12) Use a reputable Fuel Additive REGULARLY, to keep the Carburettor/Fuel Injectors Clean. The Indian Un-leaded fuel is very prone to ‘Gumming’. (13) Keep your Exhaust System to OE Specs and obstruction free. A fancy Tail Pipe fitting that can restrict the flow is a no-no. (14) Get your Petrol Tank Cleaned every 40,000 km or three years, whichever is earlier. (15) Switch over to ‘Winter’ setting on your Air-intake System, wherever available, when ambient temperatures drop below 15*C. (16) Maintain your Wheel Bearings in good Order. |
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| | Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Part II | | ||
| Author: S.K.Gupta | ||
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