“The Blue Elephant” My Safari 4x4 Review & Mods

[bhvm]

I think its with 6 speed VARICOR 400. That certainly is the variant to buy.
Early stormes came with DICOR 320 (yes you heard that right, Early stormes were dicors on new body)

 

[bhvm]

When The elephant returned from A Dad's trip (XUV was with me), I was horrfied to see all these black spots on the hood. And they were EVERYWHERE.
First I thought this is due to Bugs/Mosquitoes. nah. It wont go after 2 washes. Then I thought Its Tar. So out comes toothpaste and lots of running. NAH!

Time to bring out the heavy guns. What I think the black spots are actually Paint overspray that could have happened due to road/ construction works.
The heavy guns are actually known as "Jweller's Rogue" And will need a guide of its own to justify.

Before-

My Trusty Tool-

The Nastiness started melting soon-

Rub Rub Rub!

Final Results-

Remnants of Now defunct Door Visors-

Be gone!

 

[Prabhagar]

The heavy guns are actually known as "Jweller's Rogue" And will need a guide of its own to justify.

What was used on the foam pad? Rubbing compound / polish etc? BTW, share pics of the full car with it's shining glory please

 

[bhvm]

Jwellers Rouge sir.
Its an Industrial Item with Not much interaction in Car Community. It looks like a bar of soap.
I do not recommend this to everyone as Its possible to remove the paint if you are not careful. Its an Aggressive tool (Big guns)

I will try finding a video explaining how it works.

BTW I did not rub entire car with Rouge. That would be a No-NO. Just the heavy paint stains.

 

[Iron Rock]

is that a drill you are using to rub ?

 

[bhvm]

Yes.

 

[Iron Rock]

thats very high rpm compared to a typical polishing device - i would never do this, a few mm more pressure and you would damage the surface - buy a proper polishing/buffing equipment

 

[bhvm]

Odo- 89.9K Kms
The Blue elephant made normal runs to Bombay, Gujarat etc
Combined Fe- 13.2 Kmpl

Observations-
1. It seems that engine is opening up. Now I can drive at 80 Kmph in 5th as long as there is leveled road. Earlier, 5th used to need minimum 90 Kmph otherwise engine note would change. I wonder how Engine is opening up at 90K Kms, or Is it due to all the magic of Fuel and oil additives I have used?

2. These days my Nominal cruising Speeds are pegged at 90 Kmph.
I tried 80. I tried 110. I tried 140 (Nah, Joking!)

90 is the absolutely best speed for Safari 2.2 VTT. RPM is pegged in 2000 and the SUV Takes all the flyovers without a downshift (80 will need a downshift).
Also, the huge roaring wind noise begins only after 100, keeping 90 far more pleasant.
Best thing is you get a very good FE of 13 to 14 KMPL.
Also suits well regarding Braking & Handling of Dicor.

3. 2 Doors have become faulty and do not open from Inside. Will sort it out at 90k Service.

4. Started the car completely after 1 month and there were some RPM fluctuations (Minor ones). Brought STP injector cleaner this time-
https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B00B4KQX38/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

5. The Safari Dicor 4x4 uses a Dana 44 rear axle with LSD. I had changed the Diff oil at TASC recently. At times I feel the rear LSD has become very tight. It seems to struggle when making turns and during parking. Also the vehicle hesitates to launch from standstill with wheels turned.

The User manual mentions a Friction Modifier to be used along with the Diff oil. Unfortunately the boffins at TATA does not know any such product exists, let alone have one! So Searched a lot and ordered this-

https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B002MB8SVI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The product specifically mentions Dana 44.
I hope the hesitation softens up with this. Will update after use.

6. Ordered oil for transfecase. Again No one understood what I am saying, So spent a day reading online abd bought this. This one is a Type A, Suffix A (TASA) type oil as recommended by manual.
https://www.amazon.in/gp/product/B01H078A2A/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lot of SVCs were saying to put 90W gear oil in T-case! Which is plain wrong!

7. Monsoon is here. May Small & Large trips are lined up for the beast to unleash its 4x4 prowess!

 

[Driveright]

its very nice that you have got hold of enough data about your vehicle service requirements .Most service personnel do the usual stuff they do on other passenger cars and little do they realize the need for special additives in special cases .
The LSD definitely would benefit from your addition of the friction modifier .
Do post some pics if possible of your work for inspiration

 

[mayankdixit]

They were confusing it with gear oil. But the specs you posted are of power steering oil.

 

[bhvm]

its very nice that you have got hold of enough data about your vehicle service requirements .Most service personnel do the usual stuff they do on other passenger cars and little do they realize the need for special additives in special cases .
The LSD definitely would benefit from your addition of the friction modifier .
Do post some pics if possible of your work for inspiration

Thanks. The Initial Post of this thread does hold an Index of works I have done till date.

They were confusing it with gear oil. But the specs you posted are of power steering oil.

Maybe thats why. The Service Manual though, mentions use of ATF (Automatic Transmission Fluid) Type A . Which is similar to Power steering oil. The Same has been confirmed with Mr.Gajanan Chitale.

 

[bhvm]

Gave a bit of TLC to the Beast after long time. Plastics are looking like new.
Interior cleaning using Nulon Shampoo, Followed by Kangaroo Polish.

 

[bhvm]

As many excursions are planned this monsoon, This is one of them. I will make a compilation of these posts into a Travelogue on later date.
The spot chosen first was Bhandardhara, near Nashik.
This place is famous for its rainfall and scenic beauty. And we got just that.

Beautiful weather on the drive-

We are getting closer,

 

[bhvm]

Reached bhandardhara by roughly 12. Usual stupid google or bad luck pushed us right through bazaar day. Entire road was chocked as just as wide as the elephant. Finally emerged on a random place at the other side.
And Greeted by this-

Now we reach the legimitate view point of Umbrella falls-

Wilson Dam as seen from here-

Randha falls-
The place has been recently developed by Temple trust. I could not recognize we had visited the same place in 2012.

beast Posing on WIlson dam-

 

[bhvm]

Panoramas for your viewing pleasure-

Bonus pics-
Some memories form 2012. We had T fort back then,