Quick update since I'm travelling:
1. I seem to have forgotten basic physics lately --> tau = I*alpha, and alpha = ∆omega/t (pardon the poorly typed equations, I'm using a phone). Thanks to AG, Czarcarsm, Debuda, N.Devdath and TouringLawyer for helping clear up my frankly absolutely idiotic misconception.
2. @debuda --> Loved your mini-review post regarding your purchase decision. Agree with many things there, couldn't have put it better myself. The tag line (for want of a better word) you've come up with for the vehicle absolutely resonates with me. I too had much the same feeling - that feeling is my requirement for just about every commitment in life, big or small, and the Endeavour certainly fits that requirement. Cheers sir!
Back to my vehicular update now:
3. Good first service/check-up experience (2.5k) at the dealership. Scratches mentioned at the time were removed very well by rubbing (not the stone chips obviously - nothing can help there). No hassles or charges unlike the worries we had here when I asked about this way back then.
4. As luck would have it, I delayed taking it in for the first check-up (a day later than planned) - and it so happened that n.devdath took his vehicle in for some other stuff and posted about his experience regarding doing the first oil change early as many of us here would like to do. After reading about his no shavings description, I decided not to have it changed then (his vehicle was at 4k, mine at 2.5). It seems to me that Turbanator was absolutely right about the engines being bench-run. Short of a direct confirmation from the factory, I'd say no shavings in oil is the best way to conclude/deduce/speculate that.
5. Went to Kanha via Bhilai and Dongargarh forest after that. First real outstation trip (had been for only 100km one-way trips till then) with the vehicle (was waiting for first service). Experienced a puncture at the tyre shoulder (inner side
) at the very beginning of the trip (3 inch metal piece in road construction - absolute freak accident - no shops nearby for it to be planted, I check cold pressures every morning before beginning any substantial trip, so not due to under-inflation either). Repaired it myself with a mushroom plug type kit (the ones tyre manufacturers recommend as the best way, unlike the licorice type strips commonly used). Did a good job (even though I do say so myself) - confirmed it with the next tyre guy I came to. It was still leaking air (really slowly, I'd checked with water), but the tyre guy said it's repaired properly, and that it's always touch and go when the puncture is at such a point on the tyre. Drove the rest of the trip by topping up the tyre every morning - did not want to use the limited to 80kph spare. As I said, happened at the beginning of the trip.
6. Car was an absolute joy through Dongargarh and Kanha. Ghats and forest roads in Dongargarh, and thanks to a wrong turn, I entered Kanha from a direction I hadn't before - lovely drive through the buffer zone with streams to be forded et. al. I always prefer wildlife sanctuaries and reserve forests to national parks since one has more freedom. Ever since I got the Endeavour they feel even better, since there's no safari like the one in which I can drive my own car (open Gypsies be damned). So getting to drive through Kanha (a proper portion of the buffer) was a dream come true. Needless to say, the large animal performed brilliantly through and through.
7. Had just a day of turn around time between Kanha and my next trip. For me, such a punctured tyre must be replaced - no shoulder and sidewall mends for me. So I immediately went to a tyre place after getting back. No big tyre places around on that trip (without long detours), and the slowness of the puncture + general solidity of the repair made me not worry about the safety aspect too much. Tried having it repaired and checked (purely for use as a spare), but to no avail. Immediately had them start the process of replacement. And then my troubles started - the shop guys broke the tyre pressure sensor. I was then forced to wait as they tried having it repaired (*rolls eyes*), and then had the squeamish manager connect me to the owner who promised to bear the cost. Wasted precious time on what should've been a day of rest.
8. Left for Bharatpur the very next day with one tyre pressure sensor not intact - not a real issue, having driven most of my driving life without the convenience so far - but that warning light on the instrument cluster really rankled. Needless to say, the vehicle performed excellently and all occupants were more than content and comfortable traveling 650+km in a day, right up to Bharatpur. 7th gear is sorely missed though.
9. Got back just before Diwali, and knew that my next trip was coming up on the 17th (just under 2 weeks away). An old friend who hadn't visited for a while had a decent chunk of time, and was as willing as I. Since it looked like it was just the two of us (everyone else chickened out at a long-ish trip around the time, somehow), I suggested we go anywhere we like (rather than restricting ourselves to the quite tantalising prospect of Orissa as previously suggested by him, on account of me having been there before, and he really having liked the prospect from hearing about it from me, and me raring to go back to the area and wildlife again). Spiti came up with about a week to go. And both of us are about the only people stupid enough to try and plan a trip to Spiti in the winter in just a week, despite being first timers (so to speak).
10. Had the tyre pressure sensor changed. Had to visit twice since they didn't calibrate it properly and I got another error while heading home. Had them check whether it was working by airing down and filling up twice. Had the oil changed. Odometer stood at 5300 then (post Kanha and Bharatpur). No shavings. But oil had turned from clear green to black on the dip stick around 4.5k. The service centre still recommended not changing, but since it was Spiti I was headed to, I went ahead with it. Castrol Magnatec Professional A5 (5W30). Fully synthetic at 309/L, made especially for FoMoCo - still unbelievable. Went for 5W30 since the viscosity difference at -35°C is barely 5% between 0W and 5W. Besides, .anshuman and co made a point of sticking to recommended oil in their trip. Either way, definite difference post oil change - just the right time too - engine was fully run-in. Perceptible difference in smoothness and quietness. You can tell me it's placebo to the cows come home, but I'm seriously considering going for changes at every 5k. Other than the double visit, a highly cooperative (as usual) and surprisingly almost perfectly professional experience at the dealership. Since they were replacing the tyre pressure sensor and a proper tyre/wheel combo was off the vehicle, had them check whether a full size spare would fit (thought it would given the construction of the mount and the fact that the diameter of both spare and proper wheel/tyre combo are the same - but the dealership was skeptical). Had planned to get a full size spare a little later. Will do that much quicker now (will have insulation against two sidewall cuts then, and can still keep moving at full speed post one). A trip to Spiti was on the list, but hadn't thought I'd head out so soon - that too just one car, let alone 2 dudes.
So there you have it. We left on 19th - after a really hectic week of planning and running around. Spent 20th in Delhi buying stuff (primarily 4x4 accessories). Big thanks to .anshuman for guiding me - had a simple and satisfying experience identifying and acquiring the essentials because of his help. Just need to pick up snow chains (not strictly required apparently) and the vital diesel anti-freeze from Shimla.
Posting from Chandigarh. Expecting to reach Kaza on 24th (we're taking it real slow and easy, as visiting and enjoying many places along the way since we both have the time right now - well, I always do, but it's hard finding other almost entirely unencumbered souls).
Cheers!
P.S - Thanks to a curious concatenation of circumstances, using a GoPro Hero 7 Black as a dashcam. Expect a travelogue.