gayanath

There are some rumors regarding the tax revision/reduction of PHV’s (Plug in Hybrid Vehicles) due to court case to consider them as Electric Vehicles. Is it true? Does anyone know/have more information about it?

Could you please refer post #30 if you have enough time..................

Dear Friend, Now you become professional and come-up with some technical points. Lets take one by one. My comments have underlined. The United States does not have the same ambient heat that Sri Lanka has. Most parts of the US are subject to seasons and the servicing adjusted accordingly. - In this case Sri Lanka is better than America as we have no seasons. Actually we do not need multi grade oils too and mono grade oils are more than enough (this is not my idea. It was told by one of my college who is Chemical Engineer in Cal***x four years before) but we are using them due to high performance due to other additives and most impotently oil manufactures are not manufacturing products targeting our small market. So no need to reduce the changing interval. The roads are heavily congested particularly in Colombo and there is a lot of stop start traffic. The United States have open roads and free flowing traffic. In modern cars which have intelligent servicing schedules, you will notice the service interval come forward if this is the type of driving you do even in the US or the UK. - This is good point. Lot of start stops means more idling which falls on severe condition. No any argument on this. Under this condition Toyota recommends 5000 miles which means 8000 km. Same time, I have one more idea and still not concluded. Which is that, in toyota hybrids they have reduced idling time by stopping the engine. On the other hand, more start stopping (I mean engine shut down) tends to wear the engine bearings (Dr. Mendis who is the pioneer of automobile engineering in sri lanka told us, "push your vehicle by hand for minour movements withing your garden without starting your car) but according to toyotas researches they found that, cost of engine wear due to frequent start stops are cheaper than the fuel wast due to dling as the new engines are low friction. Thats why they have introduced intelligent start stop system for non-hybrids too. This scenario act positively for oil life. The humidity is quite high and you have to add the dust into this as well. The same conditions exist in some parts of the US but guidance is given in general. - Agreed with humidity matter and will put this under severe condition. Then it's 8000. I have not visited US but visited Japan. No difference of the dust condition as our roads are not so bad now. The quality of fuel in Sri Lanka is quite poor. This leaves residue and sediment which interact with engine oil and cause chemical break down of oil - We are using two products. one is directly from our refinery which is one of the best in the asia (I know personally about that and do not under estimate our products). Other one is imported fuels from world market and cannot be poor as rest of the world too using same. I will not comment about I*C products and not using same. So no difference. The engine oil we get in SL is not the same quality as the ones sold in the United States even if it is the same brand as its sourced from different manufacturing points - Lots of multi national companies now transfers there production plants to china, Thailand, India etc due to low cost labor but they are maintaining there product quality same level. But still some countries maintaining non-china policies so they are exporting reputed products (I mean made in Japan, etc.) to that countries. Those policies will change near future. So, if we are smart enough to buy reputed brands, no issue. A lot of the cars in Sri Lanka were not designed to work in Sri Lanka for prolonged periods. Some vehicles have experienced fairly adverse problems like cracked heads and leaking head gaskets due to the ambient heat coupled with standard operating temperatures. Many were imported from milder climates and while most on the surface run ok they need to be carefully managed to avoid issues in the long run. - This interpretation may be valid for very old engines 20 years back but now there are well functioning control systems for temperature control to obtain optimum fuel efficiency and same will safe guard the engine components too. But agreed that still failures are there due to issues in material, manufacturing process, careless repairs, etc. They are common for all countries. If you still have same dought, lets consider this as severe condition which means 8000 km And finally and most importantly, we have very many recorded instances of the sludge issue manifesting itself in many vehicles. In modern cars a lot of things are based on oil pressure and this this changing has serious consequences. - In case of Toyota, they have identified this excess sludge issue was due to design issue of engine components and they have improved it. However, Its true that, we cannot avoid sludge formation in the engines and frequent oil changes will reduce the accumulation. Changing intervals are deciding by manufactures considering same and tolerating the cost factor (and essentially they are using safety factor too). Otherwise they will recommends to change oil every 1000 km or less. So your point is correct but no need to over estimate. If you still have same doubt, lets consider severe condition which is 8000 km And most importantly this is local knowledge, and knowledge obtained at the expese of other people who have had to pay for the repairs. These facts are actually acknowledged by the importers of Engine oils as well. You might think its in their best interest if people change engine oil all the time. 15 years ago when synthetic oils became widely available, they sold synthetic and semi synthetic oils exactly on that premise. Long service intervals. But the negative publicity generated by sludge issues have caused most to retract those claims. - Actually, not oil importers but people who are working in service/repair stations (including authorized dealers/agents) are in their best interest if people change not only engine oil but also other parts too all the time. Bec, they need money. On the other hand, lots of people who are working as service advisers are not properly trained and qualified. I have much more experiences regarding this matter. The issue is, there is a big gap in knowledge transferring in our community. I really have better things to do than argue with you over and over. Do whatever you want man. Its your money after all. Dear Friend, Don't under estimate any one. Finally, considering all dough's, Can't we go for severe conditions which is 8000 km for toyota. Actually earlier I have proposed at-least 7500 km or 6 months which ever come first. However, in Japan average annual millage of a car is around 12000+ km and expect Sri Lanka, will be slightly less. So lots of people have to changed there oils before 5000km or below due to exceeding the 6 months factor.(although there is a safety factor too for this time period but better to follow it) ​Open for your valuable ideas which will enhance the knowledge of not only myself but also entire community.

Sorry for the mistake, comment should be modified as, Who told you 6 months or 5000 km?, mineral oil also recommended for use 6 months or 5000 km, Generally Synthetic oils are recommended for 12 months or 10,000 km or above.

Could you tell me the difference between american condition and Sri Lankan conditions which highly affected to the maintenance pattern (It's true that, there are small cases with minor effects but not affect the maintenance schedule heavily as most of the Sri Lankan roads are in good quality now and the quality of air and humidity level too). Please come-up with technical points to discuss technical matters without criticizing any body. (90% of people like to criticize others but do and know nothing. It true not only for our country but also for entire world)

Who told you 6 months or 5000 km?, mineral oil also recommended for use 6 months or 5000 km, Generally mineral oils are recommended for 12 months or 10,000 km or above.

Dear All, Appreciate if you could read this article... http://www.edmunds.com/car-care/stop-changing-your-oil.html There are some good points in this article.

The funniest thing is Toyota Engineers doing researches and manufacturing cars to world market (for all kind of weathers) and recommends some maintenance schedules to keep them run well. But in Sri Lanka, there are several Engineering Masters who know more than them and recommends several things which ruin our money, time and environment.

Dear iRage, Actually, for normal use its 10,000 miles (16,000 km) and for severe condition 5,000 miles (8,000 km). That's why I suggested at least 7,500 km can be done if not more than 6 months time from last service. That Severe condition is properly defined as vehicle which idling with engine on like Police vehicle, Taxi, Towing trailers and some environment conditions. Further important thing which we didn't consider is our environment. Who pays for the issues due to adding more used oil to environment unnecessary. If we use 7500 km (which still below the recommendation by manufacture) means we reduce 50% environmental damage. Please consider that aspect too. Otherwise, we can change oil in every 1000 km if we have enough money. Engineering designs are optimized to some points considering each & every factors. That's why they are manufacturing Hybrids (to save environment).

Yes agreed. 1300 cc is doing more in highway than 1000 cc due to power to weight ratio. But in my experience, I have observed max 18+ at normal way to Matara before opening highway at night time with speed around 70 km/h (with AC). So don't worry about your car, Its doing well.

Dear Galle, Yes your point is correct. I'm having Aqua which engine and transmission same. If you read maintenance manual (Japanese) you will wonder that, the service interval mentioned is 15,000 km. not mentioned for use Synthetic oils. If you are using Toyota Genuine 0W20, at least you may use it 7,500 km. However, you have to change oils in 6 months intervals whether you have done lesser millage or not. Don't wast your money as lots of service peoples are not updated according to current technology updates. Further, Prius C is export version of Aqua which having same engine and transmission. Please see maintanace manual from this link. It use miles other than kilometers. (x1.6) http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM52E68U/pdf/OM52E68U.pdf

Dear all, Thank you for the reply. Dear Sierra Charlie, Yes you are correct. But I have considered two things 1. I like to use new cars due to low maintenance as I have no much time to spend for the same. So aqua is the best solution with lowest price, quality (that's why not going to Indian product - I have used B/new alto and its very economical but ....), durability, etc. Expect low price batteries will come to market withing next five years. 2. Although 2km to my office travelling, I an using it for my entire transportation requirement which is around 12000 per year. but Yes, if we calculate RR, still this is not worth considering depreciation of hybrid cars. Dear Sameera GunasingheYes you are also correct. I have used paper+pen and then excel method for my recordings/calculations. One more information, As I sold my Vitz, I put that figure too to the calculation and finalized the cost of owning and using a car for day to day works. Buying that level car for use is much better than hiring a car from rent-a-car for day to day works. Thanks

Dear Friend, How you measure the above values. Because Toyota Vitz 2008 hadn't fuel meter. If you measure it using full tank to full tank, this values are impossible. 25Km per liter efficiency when running at 90-100 Kms per hour in the highway without AC. - Impossible. if you tell 18-20 then its acceptable. But more your speed, lesser the fuel efficiency due to increasing air drag. "Closed windows with AC" is efficient than "open windows without AC". 18Km per liter efficiency when running at 90-100 Kms per hour in the highway with AC to the medium level. - 17-18 is acceptable, Vitz 1000 cc is doing 16 km/L max at the speed of 100-110 in highway. 10Km per liter efficiency when running in Colombo High Traffic with AC to the medium level. - 9.5 to 10 is more than enough. Don't worry about this. Please read following topic which I posted yesterday, Then you will realize about the actual fuel consumption of a car if correctly measured. http://forum.autolanka.com/topic/16989-toyota-aqua-fuel-consumption-vs-toyota-vitz/#entry278820 Hope this will help to you. Don't do unnecessary engine tuneups, I have done 72,000 km without any tuneup (2007 1000 cc vitz) and mileage when I sold is 110,000 (no tune up for total 110,000) but nothing happened. Engine was in excellent condition when I sell the car to purchase brand new one. Don't wast your money. If you read Toyota original manual, it says nothing about engine tune up. Lot of service stations take money from you telling lots of garbage. Please fill the fuel from reputed filling stations.

I have imported 0 millage Toyota Aqua (date of 2014/11) last January and 5400 km ODO as of today. I have all written records up to now. My usage pattern -1 km distance from my accommodation to office (which consumes more fuel due to short distance twice a day) - I'm going Matara (my home) using Southern express way once a month. - Others are general Colombo city and outside usage Fuel Record km/L (Full Tank to Full Tank) -Recorded minimum = 15.6 (Car reading 16.1) -Recorded Maximum = 25.84 (Car Reading 27.7) -Average up to now = 18.56 Generally I observed 0.6 to 1.9 less between actual to car reading may be due to issues in fuel pumps. Comparison between Toyota Vitz 2007 1000cc I have used Toyota Vitz 2007 1000cc from 2010 Sep to 2014 Dec as first owner and used 72000 km that period. Every things were recorded. My usage pattern -12 km distance from my accommodation to office at that time. (Colombo city but I report to duty 7:00 am so no much traffic) - I'm going Matara (my home) using Southern express way once a month. - Others are general Colombo city and outside usage Fuel Record km/L (Full Tank to Full Tank) -Recorded minimum = 9.13 (No car meter) -Recorded Maximum = 18.91 -Average for 72000 = 12.00 Conclusion - 54% increase observed in Aqua comparing with Toyota Vitz 1000 CC - By studying the fuel pattern I guess, the Aqua average will increase up to 22 km/L if I drive at least 30 km per day (15 up & down) for my office travelling. I think no one having this much of comprehensive record. so I posted this for your reference.

I saw one incident at Ambagaha handiya (buthgamuwa road) food city car park a late evening about one year back . Thieves had broken the quarter glass of rear passenger door (which has designed to break easily) and then open the rear door and took the laptop. Same incident was happen to my friend just after one week near kadawatha. (May be same gang has done those two cases) So, the most important thing is, whether you have a security system or not, don't put any valuables which can easily taken (laptop, hand bag, smart phones, etc) inside the car (you may put them at least under the seat) if you park and go.

slcamel, you mean new part or used part? Checked with Agents. They provide only the complete shaft assembly, near Rs.90,000 (out of stock, to be import) Therefore, need to by aftermarket durable new part or used part in good condition for reasonable price.... Please help..............

Do anyone know the place to buy CV joints for my Toyota Vitz (KSP90)?. I have called several shops in panchikawaththa but they told no any Japanese parts received yet.

Do anyone know the place to buy CV joints for my Toyota Vitz (KSP90)?. I have called several shops in panchikawaththa but they told no any Japanese parts received yet.

According to Manufactures(Toyota) Maintenance Schedule, for CVT Normal Condition - 60,000km/48 months - Inspection. Severe Condition - 45,000km/36 months - Inspection, 90,000km/72 months - Replace Don't believe people who do not know correctly. I have the schedule. You can use genuine Toyota CVT Transmission oil from agent which cheaper than others. If you ask from Agent, they will also tell you to replace from 40,000km. But It's not true. Becouse, their booklet prepared using old auto transmission schedules.

I bought a tow door kit from Darly Road. I cant remember the name of the shop. the problem is the switch kit is very bad. have to replase it with better switches and relay kit. if not the motor power drops due to loose connection of switches.