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car care

Driving during fog

carcare
  • Start little early. This can help avoid delays due to fog.
  • Be patient and calm. Familiarize yourself with the vehicle. Know the position of all switches before you start driving.
  • Drive at low speeds and watch your speedometer. Maintain safe distance from other vehicles. Maintain greater distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead. Do not accelerate to get away from a vehicle that is too close behind you.
  • Drive with lights on low beam. High beams direct light up into the fog, making it difficult for you to see.
  • Dipped headlights direct light down onto the road and help other drivers see you. Use fog lights.
  • Listen for traffic you cannot see. Beware of other cars, and drivers not using headlights. Open your window a little, to hear better.
  • Use wipers and demisters necessary for maximum visibility. Use painted road markings as a guide. If your car breaks down, park your car on the farthest corner of the road. Switch on your hazard warning lights. Place a reflective warning triangle at a safe distance. Watch out for traffic that might not be able to spot you.

Driving on hills

  • When driving down a hill, do not switch off the engine. Shift to a lower gear for reducing speed and by shifting to lower gear you will save fuel.
  • When climbing steep hills, the car may begin to slow down and show a lack of power. If this happens, you should change to a lower gear so that the engine will again be operating in its normal power range.

More Mileage, More Fun

  • Drive between 45 and 55 km/h.
  • It has been established by trials that you can get up to 40% extra mileage at 40 km/h as compared to 80 km/h.
  • Avoid accelerating or decelerating unnecessarily.
    Incorrect gearshifts can lead to as much as 20% increase in fuel consumption. It does not matter whether it is a petrol or diesel car.
  • For city driving, change to a higher gear when you are sure that the engine will not have to struggle.
  • Get into top gear as soon as possible.
  • Check wheels for free rotation when your car is being serviced. Binding brakes restrict free wheel movement and the engine consumes more petrol in order to overcome resistance. The law applies even if you compare petrol cars vs diesel cars.
  • Riding the clutch causes loss of energy and damages the clutch lining.
  • You can save as much as 6% fuel by regularly tuning your car. If your engine emits black or dark grey smoke, it has poor pulling power or consumes large quantities of oil. Have it checked immediately at an authorized service station.
  • Your air filter prevents air from fouling the engine. Dust causes rapid wear of engine components and increases fuel consumption.
  • Make sure that the fuel tank cap has a good rubber seal.
  • Unnecessary loads increase fuel consumption. A reduction of weight by about 50 kg can lead to a 2% saving in fuel, when driving in the city. Lighten your load even if your car is claimed to be the most fuel efficient petrol car in India.
  • Under inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, this leads to higher fuel consumption faster wears of tyres at the sides, whether it is a petrol or diesel car.

High Speed watch-outs

  • Stopping distance progressively increases with vehicle speed. Apply the brakes far before of the stopping point to allow for the extra stopping distance.
  • At high speeds, the vehicle may be affected by side winds. Therefore, reduce speed and be prepared for unexpected buffeting, which can occur at the exits of tunnels, when passing by a cut of a hill, or when being overtaken by large vehicles etc.

Better Maintainance, Long Drives

  • Do all preventive maintenance of your vehicle and stick to the maintenance schedule.
  • If you notice any fault, consult your service station.
  • All drivers must carry out daily pre-driving checks both inside the vehicle and outside

Daily Do's

  • Maruti Suzuki's Daily Do's Before starting your vehicle, just briefly walk around to visually check:
  • Tyre pressure and condition:
  • Any oil leaks:
  • Any coolant leaks:
  • Wiper blade condition:
  • Body scratches deep enough to cause rust:
  • Rear view mirror condition:
  • Top wash:
  • Remove any leaves, dirt, etc.

 

Daily Don'ts

  • While doing the inspection, please ensure the following:
  • Do not touch or open radiator cap when engine is hot.
  • Do not fit non-genuine accessories that may affect performance.
  • Do not use non genuine spares. Use only maruti's genuine parts.
  • Do not park in sun for too long. Park under shade.
  • Start vehicle periodically if parked /unused for long.
  • Do not keep your engine idle.

Better driving habits for fuel saving

  • Drive between 45-55 km/h
  • Drive slow and steady. The faster you go, the more the wind resistance your vehicle will face. It has been established by trials that you can get upto 40% extra mileage at 40 km/h as compared to 80 km/h.
  • Avoid accelerating or decelerating unnecessarily.

Always drive in the correct gear

  • Incorrect gear shifting can lead to as much as 20% increase in fuel consumption.
  • Remember : For city driving, change to a higher gear when you are sure that the engine will not have to struggle.
  • Get into top gear as soon as possible.

While braking, anticipate stops

  • Stop-and-go driving wastes fuel. When you slam on the brakes, a lot of useful energy is wasted in the form of heat.
  • Proper synchronization of gear and accelerator is necessary for better mileage.
  • Remember: check wheels for free rotation when your car is being serviced. Binding brakes restrict free wheel movement and the engine consumes more petrol in order to overcome resistance.

Keep your foot off the clutch

  • Use your clutch only when you change gears. Riding the clutch causes loss of energy and damages clutch lining.
  • Remember: Use your hand brakes when stopping on up gradient. Don't manipulate the clutch and accelerator while stationary because it wastes fuel, even if the car you are driving is the most fuel efficient petrol car in India.

Periodic servicing

  • Servicing of your vehicle must be carried out as specified in user's manual.

Use the recommended spares & lubricants

  • Always use recommended spares and lubricants.
  • Engine oil that is thicker than recommended can cause a 2% increase in fuel consumption. If you have bought a second hand car, be extra careful.
  • Remember: Check the car manual and the oil manufacturer's recommendations, before using any particular grade of oil.

Clean your air filter regularly

  • Your air filter prevents air from fouling the engine. Dust causes rapid wear of engine components and increases fuel consumption.
  • Remember: Cylinder bores and piston rings wear out faster in engines with dirty air cleaners.
  • Clean air filters at every tune up for both petrol cars and diesel cars.

Do not allow leakage or spillage

  • Loss of one drop of petrol per second can amount to loss of 2000 litres per year.
  • Make sure that the fuel tank cap has a good rubber seal.

Do not wait for your car to warm up

  • Instead, drive in low gear till the engine warms up.
  • Do not use the choke longer than necessary.

Reduce loads

  • Unnecessary loads increase fuel consumption.
  • Remember: A reduction of weight by about 50 kg can lead to a 2% saving in fuel, when driving in city.

Check your tyre pressure regularly

  • Under inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, leading to higher petrol consumption and faster wear out of tyres at sides.
  • Remember: A 25% decrease in tyre pressure can cost you 5 -10% more on petrol and 25% on tyre life.

When you stop your car, stop your engine

  • Idling for an hour costs one litre of petrol - Always keep your car ready for starting quickly. Keep the battery, alternator and fan belt in good condition. This will ensure a good start whenever you need it.
  • Remember: Switch off the engine at stops of over 2 minutes.

Plan your route

  • Fuel consumption on a highly congested road can be double the normal.
  • Rush hour or stop-and-go traffic can waste fuel excessively.
  • Remember: You will get more mileage from each litre if you take a less congested route.

When should the air filter be replaced?

Road Condition Variant Preventive Maintenance
Paved-road Petrol Clean after every 5,000 km and replace after every 40,000 km.
Diesel Replace after every 20,000 km as cleaning is not required.
Dusty Petrol Clean after every 5,000 km and replace after every 40,000 km.
Diesel Replace after every 20,000 km as cleaning is not required.

In what frequency should the fuel filter be changed?

  • The fuel filter should be changed at intervals of 20000 kms for carburettor vehicles. In case of MPFI vehicles, the interval is 40000 kms. However, if quality of fuel has been poor, it is recommended that you change the filter at earlier intervals as prescribed by the service manager of the Maruti Suzuki service station. You will find plenty of Maruti Suzuki service centres across India.

How important is preventive maintenance? Where can I get it done?

  • In your owner's manual, you will find "Periodic Maintenance Schedule" under the "Inspection and maintenance" section. This will guide you on how often you must send your car to a Maruti Suzuki service centre for check up and maintenance service. If you have bought a second hand car, you will have to do the maintenance check on a more frequent basis. Doing so will not only prolong the life of your vehicle, but will also reduce maintenance costs. The car will be trouble free and completely safe for use. We urge you to carry out your car maintenance services only at a Maruti Suzuki service station.

Do I need to strictly follow the schedule in the owner's handbook?

  • Yes, it is imperative that you follow the regular periodic maintenance schedule as listed in the owner's manual, especially if you have bought a used car. This will ensure trouble free operation of the vehicle and enhance the life of the engine. In addition, this is a pre requisite for any warranty claims to be processed, should any part fail within the warranty period.

How do I know if gas is less than normal in the AC system?

  • If cooling efficiency of the AC is less than satisfactory, do check for gas leakage. There are various methods to check whether the quantity of gas is adequate. However, it is best that you rely on the AC maintenance experts at your nearest Maruti Suzuki service station to do the checking. They will have the right instruments and expertise to assess if gas in the AC system of your vehicle is below norms. Get your car’s AC serviced every year and do it around Feb - March so that you may enjoy best cooling during summer. Gas checking and topping is part of the service.

In the AC system, what are the functions of coil, condenser, and blower?

  • The cooling coil performs the function of evaporation of the refrigerant inside the coil. The air blows over these coils and emerges cooled. The condenser does the reverse work of the cooling unit, i.e. the condensation of the refrigerant and its cooling. The blower works like a fan by drawing in the air and circulating it inside the cabin.

Which parts /joints are the main sources of gas leakage?

  • The AC gas in cars reduces over time due to various factors like- leakage from the joints, o-rings etc., if they were not properly tightened during service. Leakage from the hose rubber may happen due to the natural permeability of the hose. However, this is extremely slow and is very difficult to detect, even with sophisticated equipment. The AC gas may need to be refilled during servicing of the AC, if it is found that the AC system is undercharged.

Owner's Manual

Alto 800

Alto K10

Wagon R

CELERIO

STINGRAY

RITZ

SWIFT

DZIRE

SX4

ERTIGA

OMNI

EECO

GYPSY

BREZZA

S-PRESSO

TOUR S

Tour V

Tour H1

TOUR H2

TOUR H3

TOUR M

SUPERCARRY

How would I know if there is a leak in the battery?

  • There is a different rusting pattern for a battery electrolyte spill and a different rusting pattern for a water spill. It will take an expert to gauge the kind of leak and spot the reasons for it. Hence we advise you to kindly contact the nearest Maruti Suzuki dealer or Maruti Suzuki service station and follow their advice. There are plenty of authorized dealers of new and Maruti Suzuki second hand cars throughout India.

Drops of water come out of the exhaust pipe. Is it OK or abnormal?

  • There is a different rusting pattern for a battery electrolyte spill and a different rusting pattern for a water spill. It will take an expert to gauge the kind of leak and spot the reasons for it. Hence, we advise you to kindly contact the nearest Maruti Suzuki dealer or Maruti Suzuki service station and follow their advice.

When should I get the engine overhaul done?

  • The engine overhauling depends on the health of the engine, be it a petrol or diesel car. You may need an engine overhaul when you see one or more of the following indications-
    • Excessive engine oil consumption.
    • Engine bearing noise.
    • Piston slap noise.
    • Piston slap noise.
    • Excessive fuel consumption.
  • Except engine oil consumption, other parameters given above are difficult to monitor by the customers and it is best you consult the service manager at the Maruti Suzuki service station. There are other parameters to be checked too, such as engine compression pressure, engine vacuum etc. But most of the time, engine oil consumption provides a very good reference to the health of the engine. Once you have problem with that, do not delay sending your car, whether it is a petrol or diesel car, for assessment and appropriate service. It is best to contact one of our dealers to get the vehicle checked for engine health. You have to mention the amount of topping up required over a distance of 5000 kms or 10,000 kms for them to judge the extent of tests they should carry out.

What should I do when the car overheats?

  • If the High Engine Coolant Temperature Warning Light (if equipped) on instrument panel comes ON or the Temperature Gauge needle (if equipped) on instrument panel reaches near "H" mark then:
  • Turn off the air conditioner, if equipped.
  • Take the vehicle to a safe place and park.
  • Let the engine run at normal idle speed for a few minutes until the high engine coolant temperature light goes OFF (OR).
  • The indicator returns to the normal range, between the H and the C mark.
  • If you see or hear steam escaping from under the bonnet, immediately park the vehicle in a safe place and switch off the engine immediately. Do not open the bonnet until hissing sound or steam emission has stopped. Get in touch with nearest Maruti Suzuki service centre immediately.
  • Once the steam is no longer heard or visible, open the bonnet and check the water pump belt for any slippage or damage.
  • Check the coolant level in the reservoir. If it is below the low mark, check for leakage from the hose, water pump or radiator. If any leaks are located, do not start the engine till the time the leakage has been rectified.
  • If you do not find any leakage then slowly add coolant to the reservoir. Never add coolant to the radiator.
  • It is dangerous to remove the radiator cap when the temperature is high. It may cause serious burn injuries.
  • Consult your authorised service workshop for further advice.

When do I need to get wheel balancing done?

  • For Indian road conditions, wheel balancing becomes necessary whenever the wheel suffers a puncture and as per the mileage recommended in the periodic maintenance schedule in the Owners' Manual.
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