A very interest post started by Samba indeed
On one hand, it is very difficult to analyse the use of it, whereas on the other hand we cannot ignore the actual importance of it. This write up might be a little lengthy, but yes this is my observation and I want to share it with the Community here.
I personally have seen a lot of people do the following :
1.) Not at all read the Manual (even a bit) and just keep it in the Car like your Car Papers,
2.) Keep it at home or at office as an unattended book,
3.) Keep it in the Boot of their Cars as it only comes handy to them when the Car goes in for a Service at the Authorized Service Centre.
It has been observed that in certain cases people have weird grievances towards the Car Manufacturer for no rhyme or reason. They could have taken care of the vehicle by following the Owner’s Manual and could have avoided certain sufferings that they might have or are going though with their vehicles. Listing a few observations :
1.) Knowing about the running in period of your new vehicle and how to drive/ handle it during this period
2.) They generally prefer getting small minor issues sorted at the nearest workshop rather than approaching the Authorized Service Centres. Now, in case of any electrical changes, their long term warranty on the electrical gets void and then they blame the Carmaker
3.) A basic aspect like knowing your tyre pressure is negated which results in reducing the life of the tyre in the long run
4.) Knowing about the service schedule of the vehicle and not just wait for a phone call from a Service Dealer. Wake up the damage might already be done or the delay might result in the sowing of the seeds for a problem to arise
5.) How to maintain your vehicle from time to time or rather the personal checks that one needs to keep is to be learnt or following from the Owner’s Manual. There are times when even the Service Advisor skips the basic periodical changes that needs to be done to your car like – Changing of Gear Oil, Changing of Timing Belt, Replacing the Coolant......so on and so forth. These are a part of your car’s periodical maintenance that must be done irrespective of you facing any issues with it or not for a better ownership experience
6.) Modifications to the Body of the Car by the Car Accessories guy who is either your friend or your neighbour can result in voiding your Paint Warranty (if applicable) by putting in those extra installs without knowing the whereabouts of your car. A basic thing like Mud Flaps nowadays are clipped onto the Car Body on the front and the Car Bumpers on the Rear. Drilling Holes can jolly well void your paint warranty if at all there is any rusting in your vehicle at a later date
7.) If at all one wants an updrade of tyre size during the warranty period of a newly purchased car, you can refer to the Owner’s Manual for the same. Let’s take an example of the Maruti Swift Diesel in this case. For LDi & VDi Models the Stock Tyre Size is 165/80 R14. Whereas, for the ZDi it is 185/65 R15. Soif you have bought a LDi or a VDi Variant which has 14” Rims, you can easily upgrade to 15 Inchers following the Tyre Size and Specs of the one Maruti is giving in the ZDi. No Questions asked !!
8.) It also comes in handy when you have to replace your Car Battery. One does not visit the Authorized Service Centre for a Battery Change. You would rather visit an Exide Store or an outlet which sells Car Batteries. Again let’s take the example of the Maruti Swift itself. Both the Petrol & Diesel Variants have 12V Batteries but their Model Numbers are different. Also, there is a difference in the Specs of the Battery of the Swift Diesel Type 1 & Type 2. So if we know what we are to use, the person from whom you are buying the battery will not be able to fool you or your ride.
9.) In case you are using a Mineral Engine Oil in your Car and you want to Upgrade to a Synthetic Oil, you must know the manufacturers recommendations and not go by the recommendation of any Oil Selling Retail Outlet or what your friends have to say. Like in case of Ford - They generally use a 5W30 Mineral Oil in the Ford Figo and the Ford Fiesta. However, the moment you request them to use a Fully Synthetic Engine Oil in your Car, Ford recommends the usage of a Fully Synthetic 5W40 instead of the conventional mineral 5W30 which is used by them. What may happen if you use a 5W30 Fully Synthetic Engine Oil ? Nothing immediately for sure. But, in the long run, the desired performance shall not be achieved and it might result in the Engine not living upto your expectations inspite of you doing your best for it......according to you
To sum it all up I would like to state the fact mentioned by a fellow BHPians in his 40000 Kms Ownership Experience of his Titatnium Ford Figo Diesel that one needs to rev the engine upto 3500rpm for a few minutes at least once in a month; as per the Owner's Manual of Ford. I also being a Diesel Ford Figo ZXi owner was astonished to know this fact and was totally unaware of this and realized that how important the Owner's Manual actually is !!