[AutoIndian]

Hi,

Had this in mind since the time I joined TBHP, today came the opportune moment & thought I would share with you my ownership experience for the last 80K kms with my Indica.

The car has served me well, never let me down (touchwood). It is a practical man's car, more bang for your buck. Just to summarise the running & maintenance expenses, I would like to share some figures:

Overall FE till date ---------------> 18.30kmpl
Fuel expense (Rs/km)-------------> 1.95
Maintenance expense (Rs/km)-----> 0.60
Average monthly running----------> 1056km

The above figures clearly speak for themselves. Indica is a decent mileage giving car, not heavy on maintenance (as is popularly percieved), if maintained as per schedule. No major repair work except Alternator overhaul (Rs 2K). I have religiously maintained my car log, attaching the same over here for your reference. Pl go through it at liesure. Your comments/ suggestions are most welcome.

[deep_bang]

hi Deepak,
great to know about your Indica.

Are you Deepak U, pretty active on the Indica Yahoo users group?

I am myself using a similar XL sheet as you are - looks like the origin is the same.

[vivekgk]

Good to see a fellow Tata owner. I got my IndigoCS TDi in June, and I hope my ownership will be as trouble-free as yours. How about some more info and pics of your car? I'd be thankful if you could provide details of how often you service the car, routine care etc.

[AutoIndian]

>>>Are you Deepak U, pretty active on the Indica Yahoo users group?

Deep_bang, yes you are right, I am Deepak U, just a new avatar here on TBHP :-)

>>>I am myself using a similar XL sheet as you are

Good to know that. Just keep filling the spreadsheet religiously, I can guarantee you, few years down the line when you look back at it, there would be a big smile on your face.

>>>I got my IndigoCS TDi in June, and I hope my ownership will be as trouble-free as yours.

Hi Vivek, congratulations on your IndigoCS, it is one of the best entry level sedans in India . Wishing you thousands of trouble-free miles.

>>>How about some more info and pics of your car?

Surely will try to post some pics (am a new member here on TBHP & still learning the tricks of the trade. Do let me know if you need any specific info & I would be more than happy to share that.

>>> I'd be thankful if you could provide details of how often you service the car, routine care etc.

I stick to the car manual & the service intervals mentioned in that. I usually get the car serviced at a small TASC or a small garage where I can sit besides the car watching it get serviced. I clean the car myself at least twice a week. Other than that no special treatment, & the machine has kept me smiling all this while.

[sindabad]

That's some excel power there. Very detailed log of everything one needs - convinces me again, - from a VFM perspective, one cannot go wrong with a TATA.
Thanks for sharing AutoIndian

[AutoIndian]

Sindabad, thank you for your compliments. Its been pleasure to share my car log in this forum. The purpose was two fold. Members start using the template to record their car data, so it gives them a clear picture how their car is performing. The other one, as you rightly pointed out, "VFM proposition of TATA". The car is not that maintenance heavy as is wrongly perceived & it has the diesel advantage. The Tata Authorized Service Centres (or TASCs as they are referred to) have been to a large extent responsible for the somewhat bad rapport that this otherwise excellent product has got. Hope they match the competetion before its too long.

[AutoIndian]

I got the denting/ painting job done along with the 80K service at the small friendly garage (& not TASC). The cost break-up is as follows:

Assly Oil Filter -1 nos (Lucas make) 110.00
15W40 Diesel Engine Oil - 4 ltr @ 229.00 (Castrol GTD) 912.00
AC Delco Coolant concentrate - 2 litres (@ Rs 185 a litre), to be used in 1:3
ratio 375.00
EP90 Gear Box oil - 3 litres (Castrol Rs 195.00 a litre) 585.00
Air filter element - 1 nos (Lucas make) 173.00
Bardahl Special Duty - 1 nos 300ml 450.00
Bardahl Fast Flush - 1 nos 300ml 400.00
Fuel Filter Primary - 1 nos (Delphi make) 130.00
Idler pulley (part # - G885527900005) 558.00
Front Brake pad pairs - 2 nos (TVS make) 580.00
Distilled water (for adding to coolant & battery top-up) 50.00

Total - Part Charges 4,323.00

Labour Items

Engine Oil change
Gear box oil change
Coolant change
Replace Oil Filter
Tyre Rotation
Air Filter replacement
Repaired the damaged engine cover bolt (feviquick)
Check all belts
Ckecked battery electrolyte level (top-up with distilled water)
Brake pads replacement
Rear wheel brake drum & brake shoes cleaning
RHS fog lamp repair (stick with Feviquick & Araldite)

Total - Labour Charges 450.00

Total charges (Part & Labour) 4773.00

Had it not been for the 2 Bardahl cans, the total service cost could well have
been under 4K.

Denting & painting (RHS rear door) 1500.00 (got a discount of 250.00 on initial cost of 1750.00)

Have to get the final polishing of the repainted door on Monday. Washing of the
car will be done post the paint finish. Also I am hearing some hissing sound
from one of the belts. Will have to get this rectified only on Monday.

[AutoIndian]

I forgot to share this earlier during my 80K service update. I did my radiator flushing at 80K service. Used Bardahl Fast Flush - 1 can 300ml Rs 400.00. I poured all the contents of the can in the coolant tank (It is a whitish, milky liquid). Drove the car for @ 25kms to the garage. The mechanic opened the drain plug at the bottom, back side of the radiator & drained the existing coolant. To my surprise the coolant colour was as good as new. This meant the cooling system was in good condition. We then put the drain plug back in place. I had purchased two cans of AC Delco Coolant concentrate - 2 litres (@ Rs 185 a litre), to be used in 1:3 ratio for Rs 375.00. Mixed the contents of each can with 3 litres of distilled water & poured the mixture in the coolant tank. However before doing this I loosened the Air screw or Fly nut (this is on
the black pipe that connects the radiator to the engine). This is to enable the air in the radiator to escape, while the coolant is being poured. Initially the tank gulped @ 5 litres of the coolant mixture & reached the max level (though the capacity is 6 litres). I then started the engine. As the coolant started circulating the coolant level in the tank dropped down. It was then topped up. The engine was idled for @ 25-30 mins until the temperature needle reached half-way mark & the radiator fan kicked in. The air screw was loosened a bit so as to allow any trapped air to escape. The screw was then tightened by hand.

This is in short how I carried out my radiator flush. I have also heard that
some people wash the coolant line by pressurized water in the reverse direction.
Donno how beneficial or harmful this is.

[AutoIndian]

Today evening had a very bad experience & in a very freak accident I lost one of
my tyres. Had been to my sisters place & was trying to park the car besides a
footpath. Turned the steering towards left when I heard some khat-khat sound &
then loud hissing sound of escaping air. Before I could get down of the car to
see what had happened the left tyre was fully flat. It had a one inch cross cut
on the side wall, courtesy the protruding shahabadi tile from the footpath. The
alloy rims too had some scoring marks. There was nothing I could do, watched
helplessly. I had misjudged the footpath. Replaced the damaged tyre with the
spare one. Planning to get a new tyre tomorrow.

Felt very bad as I take utmost care of tyres, check pressure regularly, remove
the embedded stones/ pebbles occasionally, have polished the tyres many a times.

Lesson learnt --> Be very careful of obstacles on front left side of the car
(stones, walls, curbs etc), as this is absolutely a blind spot. If you have a
co-driver ask him/her to peep out of the window & gauge the situation. I wasn't
fortunate enough to have one when this happened.

[greenhorn]

I wonder if this would have happened if you had been running on iron hard bridgestones.
Did you actually see the offending tile ?

[shankar.balan]

AutoIndian.
Obviously you are one of the few people who really look after their Indica with love and care. Much like my Dad.
I am pleased to read about the good service this car has given you - my Dad's car has a long way to go to reach that magic 80K figure but it is doing very well indeed at 32K as of now.
Sorry to hear of the tyre loss problem - it is sad but unfortunately cant be avoided on account of our overall unfriendly roads, pavements and kerbsides.
cheers

[deep_bang]

Originally Posted by AutoIndian

Lesson learnt --> Be very careful of obstacles on front left side of the car
(stones, walls, curbs etc), as this is absolutely a blind spot. If you have a
co-driver ask him/her to peep out of the window & gauge the situation. I wasn't
fortunate enough to have one when this happened.

I also think the front left tyre is the one that takes the most beating. Anytime you move to the left of a narrow road, this tyre takes the most!

How many kms had the tyres done? Anything over 40k, it is likely that the sidewall is already quite weak.

[HappyWheels]

AutoIndian,

That is one detailed log sheet you have there!

A well maintained vehicle; it is taking as good as care of you as you are of it. Wish you even more KM's of wonderful ownership experience.

And that note of the air valve - never know such a thing existed. When I do radiator flush (in my Alto), it is usually drain-and-fill.

[AutoIndian]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

I wonder if this would have happened if you had been running on iron hard bridgestones.
Did you actually see the offending tile ?

Very right greenhorn. My OEM Bridgestones (S322) lasted for 62K+ kms & still had some tread left when I discarded them, never faced any such issue with them. The footpath was on a left hand blind corner & there was no way I could see that tile. Moreover it was getting dark.

Originally Posted by shankar.balan

AutoIndian.
Obviously you are one of the few people who really look after their Indica with love and care. Much like my Dad.
I am pleased to read about the good service this car has given you - my Dad's car has a long way to go to reach that magic 80K figure but it is doing very well indeed at 32K as of now.
Sorry to hear of the tyre loss problem - it is sad but unfortunately cant be avoided on account of our overall unfriendly roads, pavements and kerbsides.
cheers

Thanks Shankar for your compliments & sympathies. If you take proper care of your Indica, it won't ever let you down. The least said about our roads the better, & Pune roads to top it are very notorious & demanding.

Originally Posted by deep_bang

I also think the front left tyre is the one that takes the most beating. Anytime you move to the left of a narrow road, this tyre takes the most!

How many kms had the tyres done? Anything over 40k, it is likely that the sidewall is already quite weak.

Deep, yes the left side front tyre is the most susceptible one. I had replaced all of my 5 OEM tyres with Michelins last year only (21st Dec 2010 to be precise). So the tyre which failed was less than a year old. It had run 20K + kms. I guess Michelins have inherently softer side walls & I had to pay the price.

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

AutoIndian,

That is one detailed log sheet you have there!

A well maintained vehicle; it is taking as good as care of you as you are of it. Wish you even more KM's of wonderful ownership experience.

And that note of the air valve - never know such a thing existed. When I do radiator flush (in my Alto), it is usually drain-and-fill.

Thanks HappyWheels for your wishes. Even I used that Breather screw for the first time. However the process was clearly outlined in the car manual & I simply followed that.

Just to update the group I replaced the cut tyre with a new Michelin only. It costed me Rs 3000/- (balancing & fitting done FOC). Last year I had bought the same tyre for Rs 2750/- a piece.

[AutoIndian]

Hi, Last weekend I did a round trip to Pune-->Solapur-->Akkalkot-->Ganagapur-->Barshi-->Pune. Started from my home
at 08:00am on Friday, the 31st, reached Solapur @ 02:30pm. The road from Yavat
to Indapur is being 4 laned so lot of diversions, baring a few patches the NH9
is good. Went to Siddheshwar temple, spent an hour around there.

Started at 03:30pm for Akkalkot, reached there @ 4:45pm, the stretch was quite
good. Darshan & prasad at Akkalkot with a night halt there.

Next day (1st Jan) early morning (06:30am) left for Ganagapur. Initial 15 kms
the road is good, recently paved, after that 10kms is poor & once you enter the
Karnataka border, the nightmare starts. You have to search with a magnifying
glass to find the road. I suppose the roads in Leh, Laddakh & other far flung
areas would be far superior. I had to find the road between the potholes. Could
not go beyond 20kmph speed. Most of the time I was on 1st & 2nd gear. Hit the
potholes many a times, also scraped the underbody on quite a few occassions (We
were 5 adults with luggage). Somehow managed to reach Ganagapur at 09:30am (3
hours to cover 80 odd kms). This was the worst ever drive till date. Went to the
Amarja Sangam for holy bath. Then took the darshan & Abhishekam.

Started return journey at 03:00pm. Next destination was Barshi (Solapur
district). Took 6 hours to cover 180kms (again the road from Solapur to Barshi
was pathetic). Night halt at Barshi. In the morning took darshan of Bhagvant
temple & started for Pune at 10:30am on 2nd Jan. Reached home at 04:30pm. Total
distance covered in 3 days 827kms.

My sincere advise to folks who intend to visit Ganagapur in the near future, pl
dont venture on road journey. Best is to take a train. I am still amazed how my
tyres & alloys survived the torturous track (touchwood). Next time I won't be
that lucky.