Admiral Dry Docked - Stories from the Vth Service.
Everytime it nears the season to dry dock Admiral for his routine service I start getting extremely uneasy. This feeling of unease because past experience at ASCs across auto companies in India, for me at least, can best be described in a charitable mood as - miserable !
Yelling, screaming, keeping a tab, eagles eye on the tasks - all add to the day long Operation Dry Docking. The first four rounds of experiences at the Toyota ASC was just about average. Was still sceptical and annoyed with some issues which have been detailed in the earlier pages.
And so it was, since a week, the queasy feeling before the service chukker at the ASC.
Had some spare time today (don't I always for Admiral !) with the odo reading at 19,725 KMs I trotted off to the ASC preparing myself for a major battle.
In the end it turned out to be...hang on, wait till the epilogue.
- Drove in at 0930 hrs. They were waiting.
- Paperwork done by 0945 hrs.
- Admiral went under the lights by 1020 hrs.
- Was out by 1145 hrs after all the paperwork and payment.
Major tasks attended to:
- Oil changed.
- Oil filter changed.
- Tyres rotated.
- AC filter pressure cleaned.
- Air filter pressure cleaned.
- Front and rear brakes opened cleaned.
- Propeller shafts thoroughly greased - all 6 nipple points. They struggled of course. But finally got it right.
- Complete and thorough inspection all around & underbody.
- Body wash and interior cleaning, including engine bay. Underbody not washed as the ASC's hoist compressor - kaput and heavies like the Fortuners couldn't be raised. However they sincrely cleaned till where their hands could reach - so not too bad a wash job. Will take it outside after a month for a thorough wash.
The Nose Bleed: (Inclusive of taxes - Figures in Rs.)
Consumables:
Oil - 6.9 Lts - 1828.53.
Oil filter - 358.02.
Oil pan drain gasket - 32.76.
Labour:
Front brake cleaning - 238.25.
Rear brake cleaning - 397.08.
Service Inspection - 1091.97.
Grand Total -
3946.61 - RO - 3947.00
I was present throughout on the shopfloor and had a great time observing the goings on with interventions at the right time.
Some observations:
- Wednesday seems to be the best day to get all the attention the vehicle requires. There weren't too many vehicle vying for attention as compared to a Saturday. I was told that the days to avoid were Saturdays and Mondays. Discussions with the shopfloor Manager revealed that the cut off for daily intake of vehicles is 80. Today there wasn't any rush or shopfloor tensions.
- Engine oil - Toyota seems to have standardised a common oil for both their diesel and petrol engines. I was stumped. Went to the source - two barrels and found it to be true going by the labels. The specs - 5-W-30.
- And now they have no cans/tins of engine oil as it is standardised across models. They have an oil dispensing system - quite like the fuel dispensing system at fuel bunks. From a central point - a room with 2/3 barrels of oil a hose brings the oil to various select bays dedicated to oil change. Mid way there is a metering system console where the concerned Operator/Mechanic...OK...Grease Monkey...punches in the amount to be fed into the engine oil reservoir (in Admiral's case 6.9 Lts). The equipment starts pumping and as in the bunk the auto-cut off stops the flow of the oil once the mark is reached. To be doubly sure the Mechanic checks the dip stick after some time. First time in my automotive life have I seen this dispensing mode of engine oil. Trust the Japs to come up with it. First standardise the oil. Next standardise the dispensing system. Great savings on cans etc. No oil wastage. No accounting for cans and what not. Very environment friendly.
- Was delighted with all the work done and the timing. Obviously - the SA allotted to Admiral today was the most seasoned and a veteran at the ASC.
- All the departments did their tasks in a crisp, precise and quick manner.
- Everything inside was rather well cleaned too.
- The clean engine bay was a delight and a sight to behold. And a squeaky clean engine bay truly gets my Mojo bubblin' !
Admiral really felt cared for !
May be there was no rush, may be things - they are a changing now, may be they like me now, may be it's my smile...
Epilogue:
...Admiral's best ever service !