Chevrolet Spark (Velvet Sparky): 20,000+ Kms Review


Thread Starter #196
sethumurugan

sethumurugan

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Kichu said:
Hi sethumurugan,

Just gone through this thread. I like the color of your car Its looking good :)
Me too had lots of visiting to the MASS because of low fuel mileage issues with my car A-star. So i can understand those situations well [roll]

Whats the present condition, any improvement in mileage during City driving conditions (without AC)?

Have you tried any experiments on fuel consumption by changing your driving style? I know its not sense to compare both of our vehicles, anyways my city driving mileage got improved after changing my driving style.

Regards.,
Kiran.
Click to expand...
Kichu, Yap Generally for indians FE is main issue.

Even though i have mentioned in LPG i got 8-10 most of the times I get 8 only. But recently after I change the fuel station to nearest BP i get constantly 10 to 11. One thing to be noted is i am following the same driving style (i believe I follow the same style for long time) Up-gear at right speeds and down-dear wherever the speed goes down, so that I will not give more load to the engine. Not much clutch driving. This clearly shows the fuel stations are manipulating with us with wrong figures and cheating us. After trying the new BP fuel station I went back to the same old fel station and I got only 6. From then I have decided to use only BP.

Additionally, I started filling fuel only in the early morning. Not at any other time.

When I take it to office (mostly highway driving) I am getting nearly 12-13. Last feel I got 12.5.

I think for LPG that is good FE and worthy I believe.
 
#197
Kichu

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

okay, 12.5kmpl is not a bad figure considering the city traffic conditions.

0-10-20-30-40
This is what me too had followed in my car a-star and it gives a decent mileage in highways with about 17-18kmpl (With 80% AC) and about 22kmpl without AC(As per the test conducted by MASS).
But in my day to day drivings situations its returns only an average mileage about 13-14.5kmpl (with/without ac)

Years after following the similar driving pattern, I decided to change the gear shifting speeds as 0-20-40-55-60 and downshifting as 50-40-30-10.
So here I started using 3rd gear when my speed is around 40 instead of riding it in 5th gear. After using this pattern i found, it requires only less throttle to be applied for same driving speeds. Where as in the former case i have to apply more throttle to pick up the speed especially in 2nd nd 5th gears.

I do the average calculations by filling up the tank after driving about 300 to 400kms(It takes many days, may be close to a month)
In the last three fill ups It returned 16.3, 17.3, 16.6kmpl respectively(Without AC). Now I'm very happy with the mileage and the performance that my car delivers with the newer gear shifting speeds.
For A-star's gear ratio this is the better gear shifting speed.
 
Thread Starter #198
sethumurugan

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Kichu said:
okay, 12.5kmpl is not a bad figure considering the city traffic conditions.

0-10-20-30-40
This is what me too had followed in my car a-star and it gives a decent mileage in highways with about 17-18kmpl (With 80% AC) and about 22kmpl without AC(As per the test conducted by MASS).
But in my day to day drivings situations its returns only an average mileage about 13-14.5kmpl (with/without ac)

Years after following the similar driving pattern, I decided to change the gear shifting speeds as 0-20-40-55-60 and downshifting as 50-40-30-10.
So here I started using 3rd gear when my speed is around 40 instead of riding it in 5th gear. After using this pattern i found, it requires only less throttle to be applied for same driving speeds. Where as in the former case i have to apply more throttle to pick up the speed especially in 2nd nd 5th gears.

I do the average calculations by filling up the tank after driving about 300 to 400kms(It takes many days, may be close to a month)
In the last three fill ups It returned 16.3, 17.3, 16.6kmpl respectively(Without AC). Now I'm very happy with the mileage and the performance that my car delivers with the newer gear shifting speeds.
For A-star's gear ratio this is the better gear shifting speed.
Click to expand...
That is nice to hear that you are getting good FE recently.

I too follow the same method as you had followed till date

Gear 01 - 00 to 10
Gear 02 - 10 to 20
Gear 03 - 20 to 30
Gear 04 - 30 to 40
Gear 05 - Above 40

But we have to put some thought on your new style. Let me try in my next couple of fills in this method (I know it will be difficult to change driving style all of sudden)
 
#199
macsvin

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

I am following the method of RPM i.e upshift to up gear when RPM reaches 1.5 and downshift to lower gear when RPM drop to 1. I am getting a good FE. Most of my friends are following a similar pattern and are happy with there FE returns. Do give it a try for this method and see the improvement,.
 
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Kichu

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

sethumurugan said:
That is nice to hear that you are getting good FE recently.

I too follow the same method as you had followed till date

Gear 01 - 00 to 10
Gear 02 - 10 to 20
Gear 03 - 20 to 30
Gear 04 - 30 to 40
Gear 05 - Above 40

But we have to put some thought on your new style. Let me try in my next couple of fills in this method (I know it will be difficult to change driving style all of sudden)
Click to expand...
Ya its very difficult to change the driving style. It makes me easier when I upshift the gears by looking at the tacho, i change it when the tacho needle reaches about 2k(1.8-2.2k rpm). Formerly I do it below 1.5k rpm.
My misconception was lesser the rev, lesser the fuel consumption.

Be use to check the throttle you are applying with the newer shifting pattern. If you found it to be more, then the chances for getting a better mileage is less.
Have a try for a few hundred kms and check the mileage, If the result is worse then i'm saying sorry in advance.

On the other side if the mileage is more or even it is same as previous, then also you will definitely love the newer range of gear shifting speed, since they tend to have better performing engine.

Anyways, update the information when you give a try.[:)]
 
Thread Starter #201
sethumurugan

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

macsvin said:
I am following the method of RPM i.e upshift to up gear when RPM reaches 1.5 and downshift to lower gear when RPM drop to 1. I am getting a good FE. Most of my friends are following a similar pattern and are happy with there FE returns. Do give it a try for this method and see the improvement,.
Click to expand...
Kichu said:
Ya its very difficult to change the driving style. It makes me easier when I upshift the gears by looking at the tacho, i change it when the tacho needle reaches about 2k(1.8-2.2k rpm). Formerly I do it below 1.5k rpm.
My misconception was lesser the rev, lesser the fuel consumption.

Be use to check the throttle you are applying with the newer shifting pattern. If you found it to be more, then the chances for getting a better mileage is less.
Have a try for a few hundred kms and check the mileage, If the result is worse then i'm saying sorry in advance.

On the other side if the mileage is more or even it is same as previous, then also you will definitely love the newer range of gear shifting speed, since they tend to have better performing engine.

Anyways, update the information when you give a try.[:)]
Click to expand...
Thank you friends. i will try both and see which is better.

BTW, I had to drive in heavy rains yesterday and had to cross big pool of water which was on one side of the road next to median and that too in high speed (say 60). I felt water on my foot (I was not wearing sleepers since I was coming back from Temple). How it is possible? do we have any hole for water drain thru which I felt the water or any serious problem?[surprise]
 
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Kichu

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

sethumurugan said:
Thank you friends. i will try both and see which is better.

BTW, I had to drive in heavy rains yesterday and had to cross big pool of water which was on one side of the road next to median and that too in high speed (say 60). I felt water on my foot (I was not wearing sleepers since I was coming back from Temple). How it is possible? do we have any hole for water drain thru which I felt the water or any serious problem?[surprise]
Click to expand...
I remember, when we had our ambassador it had holes.
But not sure about the present car. I have did complete floor matting So even if there is any it will be covered.
Anyways I dont think those holes will create any major issues even in long years of time.
May be experts can say well about it.
 
Thread Starter #203
sethumurugan

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Friends, Can anyone tell me what is the difference between the follow types of wipers. and which is good for my sparky.

wipers.png
 
#205
Releesh

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

sethumurugan said:
Friends, Can anyone tell me what is the difference between the follow types of wipers. and which is good for my sparky.

View attachment 117558
Click to expand...
I have not much info about the wipers, but my car came with type 1 wipers and i replaced with same type only. it looks better and costly than the ordinary. I feel it last more than ordinary too. the only problem i felt is it makes a 'tak' sound when wiper return from right most end position (heard only when wiper use in first position).
 
#206
macsvin

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Somehow I have arrived at conclusion regarding wipers based on my and few of my friends experience. I might be wrong but what I have seen personally is if you keep a habit of changing your wiper every year then go with a normal company recommended sets since at the end all type of wipers gives almost the same effect
 
Thread Starter #207
sethumurugan

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Re: Velvet Sparky - Review After 10,000 Kms on Odometer

Friends, recently I have a problem with my rear door. It is not fully opening. twice I got hit with the edge of the door. Could there be some problem with hydrolic which supports rear door.

Should i have to change it or is there any way I can repair it?
 
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linkin

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