[condor]

@Synchromesh, sorry - had missed your thread (it is showing as "read" on my screen).

You had mentioned on your PM that no other changes & no loss of power. If you had found loss of power and lower FE, then I would have suggested a FIP timing check.

But since it is lower FE & more smoke, suggest:
1. Try IOC normal diesel from a diff bunk for a couple of tanks at least. Try the COCO bunks. Since you are in JP nagar, try the IOC bunk near BTM layout water tank/Reliance fresh.

2. Check air pressure.
3. Definitely a shot of Sys-D along with the above 2 points.

Even if you have been using the same bunk all the time, still try a diff bunk for a short time. May be your regular bunk got a bad lot of diesel.

Let us know how it goes.

[synchromesh]

Originally Posted by condor

1. Try IOC normal diesel from a diff bunk for a couple of tanks at least. Try the COCO bunks. Since you are in JP nagar, try the IOC bunk near BTM layout water tank/Reliance fresh.
2. Check air pressure.
3. Definitely a shot of Sys-D along with the above 2 points.

Even if you have been using the same bunk all the time, still try a diff bunk for a short time. May be your regular bunk got a bad lot of diesel.

@Condor, thanks.
1. I have been visiting the RV road IOC station (near Vijaya college). As advised, will shift to regular fuel in a COCO bunk. Btw, I reside in Banashankari.
2. Nitrogen in all tyres. Pressure ok.
3. Picked up Sys-D over the weekend

Will post the updates soon.

[condor]

5 years, 7 months
66.5k

All steady. Only problem was a delayed start in the mornings. Only in the morning, I had to go through the heater cycle for 3-4 times for a normal crank. Problem was not seen once the engine warmed up. Got all four glow plugs changed at Prerana. Cost of parts - Rs 1872/-. Was a quick job by the guys there.

[condor]

A month short of 6 years. 69.2k on the clock, helped by an emergency trip to our native last week.





FE: approx 12.

This inlcluded a night run for 500 km, and approx 50 km of bad roads. Typical speeds on the highway: upt 100 kmph when going.
The return trip was quicker on the highway. Dharwad to BLR - 7 hours, inlcuding a 30 min halt a Kamat Upachar at Sira. Started from Dharwad at 1.45 pm, and next stop was at Sira, at 6.30 pm. Approx 350 km in 3 hours 45 min. Pretty good speeds, I thought. The highway is quite complete - except for a few km of single side of the highway, at Ranebennur - Harihar by-pass. In fact, just before Ranebennur, the highway went right and I almost continued into town. Relaized the mistake almost immediately and corrected the path to return to the highway.

Recent issues:
A/c cooling had dropped to zero (discovered in mid-Sept). T.A.S.S had done basic checks and re-filled gas. All was well initially, but 2 weeks later it was the same. So this time they opened up the full dash, and found a leak in one of the pipes. This was fixed, and a/c is working as good as before. Chills the cabin pretty quickly.

Side-effects of the job:
For sometime after coming back after the A/c job, the acceleration was bad when using the A/c- used to behave like it had a massive air-lock. The mechanic with the tow truck checked it, and said the acclerator cable was getting stuck. Replacement was the solution. But could not do anything about this problem since this check was done on tuesday (Naraka Chaturdashi - & hence a holiday) - and more importantly I had to travel the same night. The mechanic said it should hold for the trip, so we went ahead. And somewhere along the way, the problem got resolved.

Attempted enhancements:
Since the dashboard had been opened completely, I made some frantic attempts to find some sound deadening pads to use on the firewall. Wante to try and reduce in-cabin Noise. But found that truck already has pretty good insulation. The only open areas are the ones en-circled in yellow here:

Firewall, behind the glove compartment (left side):


Firewall: center section:


Firewall, behind console:

[mercedised]

@condor it was nice reading the small travelogue and it has been a trouble free experience for you till now, atleast with the engine. IMO Tata's have great engines the only problem lies in reliability of other parts like suspension, plastics.

BTW, how much did the AC job costed to you?

[condor]

@Mercedised, yes, I think I have been lucky in the important areas so far - getting a good one, and with the support of my SA's. Some of the plastics have been flimsy: for ex, the a/c vents. The vanes just drop after a few months, whether you use them or not. I have other plastic parts that have cracked with time (not necessarily due to usage).

The A/c job itself didnt cost much. approx 350 for opening the dash & putting it back in, about 1k for the gas re-fill, and about 300 for replacing one valve.

[benbsb29]

Labour costs are quite reasonable, assuming all these were done at the dealer.
Between, looks like you have mounted the fog lamps. How about a closeup of the installation, if it was a DIY ?

[condor]

Benny, yes - that was at Prerana too.

I have mounted the aux lamps, and it is a DIY. Had to roll it back one step since I was not able to figure out from where to take the input to the switch. I want to set it up that it will come on only when head-lamps are switched on.

Another reason for not putting the pics up is - I am waiting for a relay socket (a pre-wired socket to use with the relay) from US. That will make the wiring neat. Also want to enclose the wires in a conduit. Will put up the pics once these finishing touches are done.

[mercedised]

Originally Posted by condor

Benny, yes - that was at Prerana too.

I have mounted the aux lamps, and it is a DIY. Had to roll it back one step since I was not able to figure out from where to take the input to the switch. I want to set it up that it will come on only when head-lamps are switched on.

Another reason for not putting the pics up is - I am waiting for a relay socket (a pre-wired socket to use with the relay) from US. That will make the wiring neat. Also want to enclose the wires in a conduit. Will put up the pics once these finishing touches are done.

Those auxiliary lamps went unnoticed to me. Are those Hella's? What was the cost, have you been able to use them for now? If yes how's the performance and any alternatives to them.

[condor]

@Mercedised, yes - Hella 500FF's.
Havent been able to use & check the effectiveness since I am yet to figure out how to connect the switch. (see my prev post). Cost me 3900 at Reliance, and 40 for the brackets. Wires & additional fuse holder would have cost about 400 approx.

[condor]

Truck completed 6 years last week, with the odo at 69.5k. Just routine maintenance.

Had an oil change couple of weeks back. Tried IOC Servo Futura-D 15W40. This is API-CI4 spec oil, and cost 200/- per liter from the dealer (not A.S.S). The truck sounded coarse on start-up (cold starts). Hence added a bottle of Bardahl, and it's back to normal now.
I will possibly try Castrol (regular) next time, just for comparison.

Some small things that need to be resolved:
1. Alignment
2. Front windshield water pipe has cut. Trying to find the replacement, but not getting the size. It's 6mm OD, but not finding anything less than 3/16".
3. Bonnet not opening -the cable seems to be getting stuck somewhere.

[condor]

@Synchromesh, pls try this on your Sumo & let me know if there is any difference in in-cabin noise levels. These 3 holes are there on both sides (driver & co-driver). On the driver side, they are just behind the bonnet release lever.

Block these three holes, if possible from outside and inside, and check if it helps reduce the in-cabin noise.

[Lukeskywalker]

Truck completed 6 years last week, with the odo at 69.5k. Just routine maintenance.

Wow, 6 years and the truck looks like new, Parwath you have maintained it really well.

[koushik]

Originally Posted by condor

@Mercedised, thank you !

The difference in RPM's is because of the weight difference. I'm pulling approximately 250-300 kg lesser than you are.

Top Rated speed for the Victa GX Turbo is 125kmph. And this is where I too am searching for answers - why should the heavier TCIC Safari do better than the lighter Victa ? That said, I have not taken the Sumo beyond 120 with A/c.

Condor perhaps the answer is like this:
The final drive ratio of Safari(3.0L) is 3.36 (tall ratio) where as of (3.0L) Victa is 3.73( about 11% short).The same difference is translated into top speed proportionately.

[condor]

Originally Posted by koushik

The final drive ratio of Safari(3.0L) is 3.36 (tall ratio) where as of (3.0L) Victa is 3.73( about 11% short).

@Koushik, you got a point. Just one thing, though - was comparing the Safari 2.0 TCIC with the Victa 2.0 TCIC.