My Pre-Owned Tata Safari 3.0 - Ownership Review

[umalkars]

Stick with the OEM 15W40 oil. Mercedised uses Shell Helix HX6 15W40 in his 3.0 Dicor and says he is happy with the results.

Thanks @Sam. Actually I want to try synthetic oil this time. There's too much engine noise and I am hoping that synthetic oil may reduce it to some extent.

Also need input / suggestion on this .. there's considerable play in the steering as mentioned in one of the posts above. Went to a garage through some reference and he said that he can help reduce the play to some extent by doing some setting in steering gear box.

I am leaving for Rajasthan on Wednesday (Oct 16th), so is it advisable to change any setting in the steering gear box at this point? Was planning to get it done on Saturday.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Don't do anything to the steering setup since you are used to it now. Come back from the trip and then we shall look into it; though I doubt if any significant difference could be made to it.

 

[umalkars]

Don't do anything to the steering setup since you are used to it now. Come back from the trip and then we shall look into it; though I doubt if any significant difference could be made to it.

Agree with you, but the judgment is a bit difficult due to excess play. Its not just about the play but the way it behaves. For example, when I turn the steering,
after the play part, it somewhat gets hard (seems that's the point where it actually gets engaged or starts moving the wheels).

Not able to express it correctly, but its just little difficult to determine how much the wheels would turn when the steering is moved.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

I guess the 3.0's behaviour has always been like this - vague steering and mushy suspension. Do you think the play has increased since the time you bought it?

 

[umalkars]

I guess the 3.0's behaviour has always been like this - vague steering and mushy suspension. Do you think the play has increased since the time you bought it?

Earlier it was pretty good. Few months back, I went through a hole over the turn and due to sudden jerk, I guess, the steering just became a bit free and a considerable play was developed. Hence, I strongly suspect that some setting has gone wrong. Most of the stuff below like central link, bushes, etc. are replaced after that, still the play is consistent.

Any possibility that some setting in the steering gear box is disturbed? Now I am in dual mind if I should let the mechanic really open up the steering gear box.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Any possibility that some setting in the steering gear box is disturbed? Now I am in dual mind if I should let the mechanic really open up the steering gear box.

Yes, its very much possible. Get it checked at a Tata Service Centre and in front of your eyes. Have you checked all bushes and tie rod?

 

[umalkars]

Yes, its very much possible. Get it checked at a Tata Service Centre and in front of your eyes. Have you checked all bushes and tie rod?

Yes, bushes and tie rod is fine. Most of them were replaced a couple of months back hence are new.

 

[mercedised]

Yes, bushes and tie rod is fine. Most of them were replaced a couple of months back hence are new.

You did'nt read my earlier post (see below)? Did you? If the play is due to power-steering box there is no way you can fix it without opening the power steering box.

you will need to change the central link to reduce the play. So, if after replacing the tie-rod ends and central link the play don't goes then you will have to open the powersteering box and replace the faulty components. That's what happened to my old TCIC Safari and now with this one. Even after refurbishing the suspension, there is play in steering due to something gone bad inside the powersteering box. But, I have now learned to live with it.

If it is'nt then try tightening the bell crank nut, the excessive play in the steering or excessive smoothness in the steering is also due to a loosen bell-crank nut. A 5 minute job.

 

[umalkars]

You did'nt read my earlier post (see below)? Did you? If the play is due to power-steering box there is no way you can fix it without opening the power steering box.

If it is'nt then try tightening the bell crank nut, the excessive play in the steering or excessive smoothness in the steering is also due to a loosen bell-crank nut. A 5 minute job.

I did read your post buddy. The central link assembly was changed few months back but the play is still there. As suggested by you, will ask the mechanic to tighten the bell crank nut and check.

For some reason if the play doesn't go away (may be if something is wrong in the steering gear box), is it fine to drive with the play? I mean, apart from the play, it won't affect the steering in any other way, right? May be, I will just have to be extra cautious.

 

[mercedised]

For some reason if the play doesn't go away (may be if something is wrong in the steering gear box), is it fine to drive with the play? I mean, apart from the play, it won't affect the steering in any other way, right? May be, I will just have to be extra cautious.

No, it will not affect anything other than, that, you will have to drive like a.k.a Dharmendra style (he driving jeeps in old movies) which constantly requires left-right input to steering.

 

[umalkars]

Finally, replaced engine oil with Mobil Delvac 5W40 (fully synthetic.) Haven't felt the major difference yet, I guess I might have to drive a few hundred km. ?

All set to drive to Rajasthan tomorrow evening with my son. Will be starting late evening and hoping to reach Fatehpur (around 150km from Jaipur) on Friday afternoon. Its a pretty long drive of around 1500km in a stretch, hoping my Safari enjoys it too.

My route: Pune - Mumbai - Surat - Vadodara - Ahmedabad - Udaipur - Ajmer - (Jaipur) - Fatehpur. As per the map, I might not have to touch Jaipur as there's direct link between Udaipur and Fatehpur.

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Synthetic oil in the 3.0 block. Aha! If your Hippo could speak, it'd say "I'm lovin' it".

I don't think you will see any magic reduction in engine noise or a marked improvement in engine smoothness, but let's see how it performs on the trip. Please update on your return. All the best.

 

[umalkars]

Synthetic oil in the 3.0 block. Aha! If your Hippo could speak, it'd say "I'm lovin' it".

Is synthetic oil not suitable for 3.0?? Any specific reason?

 

[ZenandEnfield]

Umalkars,
In case of a puncture, how do you remove the stepney? It must weigh at least 30kg. Do you just lift it off or is there some lowering mechanism?
And how do you put it back up? Sheer strength?
The Storme's stepney is underneath.
Have a safe trip. :-)

 

[Sam Dinkar]

Sudhanshu: No problems in using synthetic. But why spend extra money on synthetic when you have a block that is known to run more than a couple of lakh kilometres on humble 15W 40 mineral oil?

Gopal sir: No raising/lowering mechanism at all. Just good old blood and guts. Pure muscle power.