Hello Shashi sir,
Firstly would like congratulate you for completing so many successful year with the car. I take you as my idol when it comes to maintaining my car. When my father bought home a WagonR in 2015 I was sure to buy all the products that I could with my two year's of savings. I was still in Inter School and had only 1000 as my savings. Bought a Jopasu duster, a microfiber and a Formula 1 Wax so as to keep her in immaculate condition. Fast forward to today she has only done 8500 kms till date and is the best looking car in our neighborhood despite people buying newer cars.
Also sir, I'm planning to perform a comprehensive service on my friend's 2008 Alto LXI. The engine is my primary concern right now. The car has clocked a total of 73,000 kms and the servicing was mostly delayed. I last drove the car in Dec 2019 last time when I was teaching him how to drive and there was denying the fact that the engine has been abused badly. There is a definite resistance when one wants to accelerate, the clutch grabs too quickly, the brakes feel too woody and the list just goes on. Infact i'm so much scared that i might break something while just trying to fix it that I've never popped the hood till date as i fear whether the hood will latch again or not.
So this is all that I've thought of performing on his car:-
1. Oil Change to full Synthetic
2. Radiator Flush
3. Coolant Change to Ecstar Coolant/Golden Cruiser
4. Brake Fluid change to Ecstar DOT 3
5. Cleaning of oil strainer.
6. Adding Liqui Moly Injector Cleaner
7. Replacing Brake Pads
8. Replacing the water pump and timing belt
9. Cleaning the fuel tank.
10. Replacing the fuel filter
11. Replacing the Air Filter, Cabin Air Filter
12. Replacing the spark plugs.
13. Clutch Overhaul
14. Gear Oil Replacement
These are the jobs that I wish to perform on his car. I shall add that I'll not be able to perform all that in one go as he will provide me with a limited budget of around Rs.4000 but these all jobs will be performed in a stage wise manner.
Although I have my doubts with each of the points mentioned above. Firstly will changing to fully synth will be harmful for the oil seals? I'm pretty sure that the car has been used with mineral oils till date, and I definitely don't want to add a flush and want to rely on the synthetic oil additives to clean the engine so as to maintain the oil seals. Also should I get the oil strainer cleaned after switching to synthetic? The synthetic will definitely cut out sludge and thus will be blocking up the oil strainer again if cleaned before or will the deposits will be too less to worry about? Another doubt is what grade to use? You and bhpian chiranjitp have opted for 5w40 and is that what i should be continuing with? Since the owner's manual is lost i'm unable to figure out the recommended oil for this particular engine. I'm thinking to go ahead with Mobil 1 5w40/5w30 as the shell is going to be a bit heavier on the budget.
Then comes the doubt about water pump and belt. Surely the car has surpassed the recommended interval for changing of timing belt and water pump but these are some parts which are bit heavier on the pocket. So should i be postponing it for the next service or get it done ASAP?
Another doubts emerges about the fuel tank cleaning. I saw how sediments can damage the fuel pump in one of your posts and thus decided to get it cleaned up as well although not immediately. So i would like to ask should i be adding the injector cleaner after the tank cleanup or before?
Would also like to request you to tell where did you get your wix filter from? My teacher just who just got his honda city's first service done was ready to give it a shot upon my advice, but was unable to find them.
In the end are there any other job or suggestion that you would like to suggest besides these?
Thank You.