My New Honda City in White - The Albus

[Dr MUDHAN]

… I'm positing huge texts and pictures lately. Apologize for that to Dr MUDHAN as well as site admins and mods.

Thanks, CRACING for your extra ordinary support for making this thread enriching & colorful.

I know, how much interest & passion one should have to document a work like this.

Please, you need not apologize for anything.

This snapshot is for you to note the following:

1. Cost of AC Disinfection @ Rs. 786.52 + ST

2. Cost of Waxoyl – Engine Bay Treatment @ Rs. 398.88 + ST

​

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[CRACING]

This snapshot is for you to note the following:

1. Cost of AC Disinfection @ Rs. 786.52 + ST

2. Cost of Waxoyl – Engine Bay Treatment @ Rs. 398.88 + ST

Mine was called as A/C Cleaning. Not much info in the invoice but it was a AC Duct Cleaning I believe, for that they charged Rs. 1200 + ST. Is it same as A/C Disinfection?

Hmm, Waxoyl treatment. Looks good. I will get it done as well, on my next car service.

btw; why are the other things charged zero? but listed as paid service. i.e clean brakes, check battery condition, pickup & drop, check all parameters.
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Posting SMD lights illumination at night as promised.

Sorry for blurry pictures as I have taken from mobile and its difficult to get night time focus. Non stop traffic lights as well.

Left and right size view:



First blue color light is of 12 SMDs around the bulb and pure white or yellow looking light next to it is cree's light. Compared to normal bulbs, I don't think the thrown light is so visible enough. From inside cabin, I can hardly see the light of fog lights. Does it need adjustments.

Front view:


Parking* (Up) and Reverse (Down) SMD lights (very bright, excellent bulbs, highly recommended):




*Parking lights look red actually but camera focus makes it look white instead.

Thanks...
Best Regards

 

[HaruH]

@Caracing, those parking light and rear light ands seems to be nice. And thank you for such a pictorial guide on accessing fog lamps. Illumination of your lamps seems to be not satisfactory as you maintained.

@ Dr. See the pic of my minor paid service bill. I strongly feels that it's on higher side. RS. 2140 for general checkups and washing.

 

[Dr MUDHAN]

PART: XLIV

SERVICE @ DEALER​

It is really interesting that many procedures do not show up in the periodical / routine maintenance sections of the owners/ service manual given along with the car.

We can’t even call it as hidden charges as it is not /should not applicable to all cars.

I believe those procedures are needed whenever warranted and it varies with various owners of the same model of the car as it depends upon the circumstances & way the car is used.

Unfortunately our dealers are exploiting us by making us to pay for such services, whether it is really needed or not.

I really started thinking whether I should extend my warranty as actually my hands are tied and I am forced to accede to such services. The other side, God only knows whether such services are being carried out sincerely by the dealers as we don’t see any improved responses in a nicely handled car.

Services like, AC disinfection, Engine bay treatment, Head/Injector cleaning may not be needed often for a really well maintained car.

While cleaning injectors is usually not necessary, it can be beneficial depending on the car and the situation on that particular car. Generally fuel has its own additives to take care of this issue unless we become the victim of a bad petrol bunk.

There's a very easy way to determine if cleaning may help the injectors or not:
With the engine warmed up, when turned on everything (ICE, fan, etc.,) let the vehicle idle at a dead stop, and if there is any rough idle or stumbling , faulty injector spray pattern is the common cause and cleaning may cure this. If it idles smoothly and the fuel mileage is normal then there is no need to worry about injector cleaning.

If they charge for GENERAL CHECKUP / CONSUMABLE, they have to ensure to check up the following for which we send the vehicle EVERY THREE MONTHS as stipulated in the car manual.

Level of engine oil/coolant/ windscreen washer fluid/ brake & power steering fluid, AC condition, battery condition & terminals, tyre pressure, all lights. And,
Tie rod ends, suspension components, driveshaft boots, brake pads, ABS, hoses & lines, fuel lines & connections.

@ Haruh​

@ Dr. See the pic of my minor paid service bill. I strongly feels that it's on higher side. RS. 2140 for genral checkups and washing.
View attachment 135698

What you have incurred towards paid service which includes car wash and cleaning, general repair- consumable charges, battery testing, WS Fluid topping are all OK. Whether head/injector cleaning @ Rs. 734/- was necessary for your car, I don’t know!

@ CRACING​

Mine was called as A/C Cleaning. Not much info in the invoice but it was a AC Duct Cleaning I believe, for that they charged Rs. 1200 + ST. Is it same as A/C Disinfection?

AC disinfection means, injecting & circulating disinfecting chemicals through the duct / channels as we discussed earlier.

AC cleaning is AC system servicing should involve, evacuating, recharging evaporator coil and condenser cleaning & refitting and requires more labor.

Did you find any improvement in the functioning of your car AC?

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[CRACING]

@Caracing, those parking light and rear light ands seems to be nice. And thank you for such a pictorial guide on accessing fog lamps. Illumination of your lamps seems to be not satisfactory as you maintained.

Thats right. Like Dr MUDHAN said, SMDs/LEDs won't match up with illumination. They are only bright when looking directly.

However, my requirement was just for looks (to match up with my philips diamond vision headlights) rather then illumination so I'm satisfied with it. I can also use it like DRL, no worries about power consumption. :)

@ Dr. See the pic of my minor paid service bill. I strongly feels that it's on higher side. RS. 2140 for genral checkups and washing.
View attachment 135698

They are not just general checkups or repair. Look at the above lines with gray background/bar. Consumables Charges, Do Head/I Cleaning. Of cource the invoice made by Honda isn't so perfect and cannot understand easily and we endup thinking oh so much for just a general checkup. Happened for me too first time.

So in your 15K service, its a minor service and things to be performed are engine oil change, visual inspection, brakes inspection and air filter cleaning (its not mentioned in our car manuals but still these guys do it).

1. Did you told them not to perform engine oil change?
2. Did you told to do injector cleaning? or they did it without asking for you?

Other things are fine I believe. Windscreen fluid cost are included in ever 10k paid service charges and on 5k services, they charge it separately.

BTW; your phone number is mentioned on the invoice. Kindly edit the scanned copy and request mods to exchange the attached image.

AC disinfection means, injecting & circulating disinfecting chemicals through the duct / channels as we discussed earlier.

AC cleaning is AC system servicing should involve, evacuating, recharging evaporator coil and condenser cleaning & refitting and requires more labor.

Did you find any improvement in the functioning of your car AC?

Ok Got it. Mine is called as AC System Servicing. There is another one known as AC Gas Charging which has some basic things of AC System Servicing.

Actually, I didn't know much about these things when I first bought the car and would have believed what the service adviser say but he said only about A/C Duct cleaning which is a full ac system cleaning. I had took the car for servicing within a month of purchasing it; to check everything and make it refurbished before I continue using it.

I didn't used AC before giving for servicing so I really couldn't notice the difference.

Thanks...
Best Regards

 

[HaruH]

What you have incurred towards paid service which includes car wash and cleaning, general repair- consumable charges, battery testing, WS Fluid topping are all OK. Whether head/injector cleaning @ Rs. 734/- was necessary for your car

Yes exactly agree with you. When SA told me on phone for that injector cleaning I was like why that, then like usual explanation it's requied periodically for good health of engine and all. This time I didn't say much as not in the mood of argu but if they will gonna do same on coming services then I'll surely not going to listen them.

And thank you so much for such a details explanation about periodic service. Regarding extended warranty, it's like gamble as we don't know what will happen in future. But I think to have extended warranty is safe thing as many electronics part are very expensive and they covers under extended warranty.


@caracing, for engine oil SA only told me before I say anything don't change oil in this service as running is low and it's changed just 3 months ago. As whole conversation is on phone so didn't get him about injector body cleaning so thats the point where they fooled me. Anyways this was my 1st experience for paid service from next time onwards will be more carful for the same.
I didn't notice phone number while uploading as I done that on phone. Will req mod to edit that.

 

[Dr MUDHAN]

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PART: XLV

MY ALBUS ALLOY SPOKES - IT’S DIFFERENT!
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Right from the day I say this advertisement in ebay.com, my mind was in dilemma whether to buy or not.



I started thinking how would it change my ALBUS… it is just a sticker whether it would withstand rough handling during water service at dealer point…

.. as usual the emotional mind took over conscious mind!

Ok, I decided to try and ordered from ebay.com for 13.59 $ during a discounted offer, as cheaper when compared to AE where it is sold @ 16.99 dollars. (Now price has gone up in ebay too!)

Unusually, it reached me within 9 days via Hong Kong mail and I was waiting for the time to stick and I could make it.

They are neat machine cut black decals, very good quality carbon fiber vinyl type along with four extra strips and four transparent ‘sports’ stickers. Wheel spokes were cleaned, stickers were affixed, no air bubble. Next day I applied over them KLASSE SG for a better protection.

Of course it is pure cosmetic, based on individual taste, for me it’s unique, different and stunning!





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[CRACING]

@caracing, for engine oil SA only told me before I say anything don't change oil in this service as running is low and it's changed just 3 months ago. As whole conversation is on phone so didn't get him about injector body cleaning so thats the point where they fooled me. Anyways this was my 1st experience for paid service from next time onwards will be more carful for the same.
I didn't notice phone number while uploading as I done that on phone. Will req mod to edit that.

Oh ok.

See SA don't advice us efficiently and its same on any car ASS's. Engine oil change isn't required statement is good but injector cleaning was not really necessary now, it could have done later.

May be my vehicle never had injector cleaning and they didn't even advised me either. This thing I don't like. Most of people don't have technical knowledge so we listen SA, trust them and agree to whatever they suggest.

Anyways, enjoy lets our newly service car. After all any service is good for a smooth ride.

@Dr MUDHAN Sir, I had forgot to ask one point about engine oils in my previous post. Are all engine oils (mineral oil, semi synthetic, fully synthetic) same in terms of their age? i.e Fully synthetic has to be changed every year or can we use it more then that (1.5 yrs or 2 yrs)?

 

[anu87]

Dr. MUDHAN, I at first should thank you for maintaining such a meaningful and informative thread along with guidance to other members on upgrade of lights, alloys, imported mods and so on. Its great inspiration to others to maintain such a useful thread, I too interested to share my experience as soon as receive my beauty.
Will soon seek your advice on mod's to my beauty.

 

[Dr MUDHAN]

Thanks anu87, I am happy that this thread is helpful to you.
First of all my congratulations on your booking for a - NEW HONDA CITY SVMT I-Dtec WHITE.
I see, nowadays, more white ANHC are preferred
All the very best to you. Awaiting for you to join with our family.

This video is for you, Enjoy!

(Of course, only the Video and not the Audio...hehehe!)

2014



and this too

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl3yyZFWga0​

 

[allhyundaicars]

there were 4 colors listed. white ,red ,blue and crystal blue.

crystal blue was 1$ more expensive than the rest and there was no pic in the description. didn't want white , obviously not red :P so ordered blue and i had no problem installing it although had to remove the insulation cover from the boot.





stock bulbs.

 

[CRACING]

there were 4 colors listed. white ,red ,blue and crystal blue.

crystal blue was 1$ more expensive than the rest and there was no pic in the description. didn't want white , obviously not red :P so ordered blue and i had no problem installing it although had to remove the insulation cover from the boot.

Wow, looks very good and very bright illumination.

I wanted such bulbs too but size was the problem. Stock bulb size is 26.8mm and ANHC licence plate bulb housing has hardly 1-2 mm more inside. These 5 x 5050, T10 are sized at 30.2mm. So they may not fit.

Instead I had tried 1watt T10 that comes with single smd but wasn't bright enough.
Now I have 4 x 5050 Flat type T10 bulb which is good but not as yours. May be equal to stock.

btw, Is it legal to use those colored lights for licence plate? No problems with traffic police?

Thanks...
Best Regards

 

[Dr MUDHAN]

@ allhyundaicars

I am happy more than you as this is your first online purchase & I hope you must be very happy.
Yes, you were little restless when the consignment delayed. They are really beautiful, only thing, as CRACING said your local COP should not trouble you.
One thing is clear that no special holder is required for Verna license plate lamp and any T10 LED bulb will fit in.
Thanks for these snap shots.


@ CRACIN

I did a small analysis over this issue for our ANHC, soon I shall share with you all.​

 

[allhyundaicars]

@cracing - try to find bulbs exclusive for honda city. i was lucky to find this item and there was detailed description of installation as well.

playing loud music is also illegal , using high beams is illegal , using HIDs is illegal but still people do that , so these bulbs are not a worry to me :P

@ Dr mudhan - yes i was very happy , my mother asked me if i had ordered anything , i said no she said it came from china and i was surprised :P and took the package from her and opened it instantly.

 

[Dr MUDHAN]

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PART XLVI

ANHC - WHY THE RIGHT ENGINE OIL MATTERS?


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ABOUT HONDA - ANHC ENGINE OIL:


HONDA recommends, 3.4Litre (3.6L when including new oil filter). And a grade of

Minimum 0W30, 0W40, 5W30, 5W40, 10W30, 10W40 to max 15W40 GENUINE HONDA MOTOR OIL or API service SM or higher grade fuel efficient oil. Note, Honda prohibits adding any aftermarket additives!

Category SM oils ( introduced in 2004 by American Petroleum Institution) are designed to provide improved oxidation resistance, improved deposit protection, better wear protection, and better low-temperature performance over the life of the oil.

Category SN, introduced in 2010 is the higher grade today.

HONDA synthetic oil as it says costs Rs.775/ liter ( INDIA), whether it is a fully or semi, we have to find out, as cost of fully synthetic is really much more.

Moreover, Honda nowhere says that the replacement schedule for synthetic oil is 1 year as against 6 months for mineral. The ASS guy says that the interval is just like mineral.

HONDA uses only semi & fully synthetic oils in American & European countries.

The fully synthetics class leader Mobil 1 is the best, provided if we get them genuine from somewhere.

But, stick to the Honda oil as it’s not that bad....PLUS....if we use any other oil, the engine warranty is void.

My running is less, I stick to mineral. I feel, in long term use cleaner newer mineral is better than used synthetic.

Of course, I am guilty, I too spoil the earth!

I am really sorry.

SCIENCE OF ENGINE OILS:

(This is gathered from various online sources, in particular, referred from zigwheels.com)




MINERAL - SEMI - FULLY SYNTHETIC & HIGH-MILEAGE OILS​

Almost every engine oil manufacturer has introduced their brand of synthetic engine oils in the market, claiming better performance, mileage and longer engine oil change intervals. Does it make sense to go in for these expensive oils when a car manufacturer does not recommend it for their car?

Why have the oil change periods extended so drastically recently? Should we thank the construction of the engines or the better quality oils being used? OR is it just a warning that the whole issue is a very good marketing tool, since long service intervals could be a catch phrase in any advertisement, as they mean a lower maintenance cost for the owners!

In European market it is more significant as manufactures like BMV and VW claim that some of their modern diesel engines only need oil changes after a period of 30k /48k Kms respectively!

The truth is changing oil after a long duration definitely saves resource and the environment; but cost wise, it is much more expensive.


MINERAL ENGINE OIL

Mineral engine oils can face the stresses of daily driving easily, keeping the engine running smoothly and efficiently.

These are a by-product of the crude oil refining process. Broadly speaking, the thicker by-products from refining process become asphalt-type materials used as tar for various purposes. The fine, carbon-rich volatile substances are further refined to make fuels like petrol and diesel. The rest of the crude oil is often contaminated with sulphur and other contaminants; this is used as the base for making engine oil.

Pros:
*Lubricate moving parts in an engine and, according to the level of refinement, can perform well in varied conditions
*Are cheaper compared to semi-synthetic or synthetic oils

Cons:
*The markedly simple way that they are produced compared to synthetic blends of oil makes them unstable and prone to loss of viscosity under extreme conditions.
*They contain some contaminants which form sludge. This can be dangerous in the long run if the oil change intervals are not followed.
*Exploitation of natural resource or reserve.


SYNTHETIC ENGINE OILS

Synthetic engine oils are made in laboratories, but are based on conventional mineral oils. Extensive refining and the presence of chemicals which alter the viscosity and other characteristics of the oil make them better suited for high performance engines.
Synthetic engine oils are beneficial in high load situations, say for example when we take our car off-roading or drive it high speeds for a long duration. It is not recommended that we use these oils if our car is not being driven in extreme temperature changing conditions, is not driven in high-altitude locations and is not equipped with a high-performance engine.

Pros:
*Synthetic oils can handle changes in temperature and engine load much better than mineral oils
*The added chemicals which reduce sludge formation
*Synthetic oils have better low temperature viscosity and flows more easily in between moving parts in an engine. This means that it is less resistant, and can lead to enhancements in fuel efficiency and engine performance.
*As the oil is resistant to sludge formation for longer period, the oil change interval is longer.

Cons:
*Their technology intensive production method renders them costlier.
*They are not recommended on high-mileage engines, as their chemical composition has been known to affect the rubber seals and cause oil leaks.
*Their effectiveness on low performance engines is not significant



SEMI SYNTHETIC ENGINE OILS

Pros
*Semi synthetic oils are cheaper than fully synthetic as they are a mixture of synthetic and mineral oil. Engines requiring semi synthetic oil must use at least semi synthetic oil (not mineral oil) but may benefit from upgrading to fully synthetic oil for increased protection and performance.
*Synthetic blends offer protection for somewhat heavier loads and higher temperatures. They don’t evaporate as readily as conventional oils. They are a good choice for drivers who put heavy loads on the engine such as towing or off-roading. Semi-synthetics offer many of the same benefits of full synthetics, but at a less cost.

Cons
*A semi synthetic oil is a blend of conventional motor oil and synthetic oil. It carries some benefits of a full synthetic oil, however is not as resilient as a full synthetic, as it can still break down due to the conventional oil. Vehicles that can benefit from a semi synthetic oil over a conventional oil would be older makes/models.


HIGH-MILEAGE OIL - this is typically an oil with various chemical additives made for keeping an engine clean. Not 100% sure on the chemical makeup but, some high mileage oils have a detergent type compound in them intended to keep internally aged parts cleaned.

Synthetic is a good lubricant but overtime your piston rings will wear naturally and will let organic and non-organic material into your engine & synthetic cannot distill a large amount of those materials.
Semi-Synthetic can distill more than synthetic and can also lubricate well.
Conventional is then the final alternative because it is a good lubricant and can distill very well , good for vehicles that are used and we don’t know the history of oil brands used.
​

VISCOSITY STANDARDS (AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTION)

For example; 5W-30. W stands for winter / cold temperature, the viscosity is 5 at cool temperatures, the smaller the number the thinner the oil or lighter the viscosity. The 30 is the operating temperature viscosity.
So compare 5W-30 and 10W-30, in colder weather, 5W-30 is better because it is thinner at cooler temperature so it’s not a heavy load on your engine and gets circulating quicker, at operating temperature is it the same as 10W-30.


AFTER MARKET ENGINE OIL ADDITIVES

Two other common types of engine oil additive are - rust inhibitors and detergents/dispersants. The latter help disperse sludge that can build up in the engine over time. Zinc is also added to many motor oils to protect engine surfaces. Most of these "additives" will already be in the oil as it comes from the manufacturer, so they don't technically have to be added, at least not by the car owner.

Pros:
* Engine oil additives are compatible with both mineral and synthetic engine oils
*Prevent gaps in oil circulation (also called an ‘oil film break’)
* Reduce friction of engine components
* Improve performance
* Reduce foaming around the crankshaft
* Prevent buildup of sludge
* Extend the life of engine components
* Extend the life of the engine oil

Cons
* Added expense over engine oil
* Too much concentration of anti-foaming agents can have the opposite effect and promote foaming
* Antagonistic effect -Some detergent additives can work against other additives that reduce friction
* Sulphur additives can reduce fuel efficiency sometimes and damage catalytic converters.
* Prohibited by some car manufactures like HONDA.
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