Queries about City 2003's maintenance

[OvaisAlam]

Hi,
For City Exi S (manual) 2003 with mileage 225k, previously, PSO Carient Plus 20W-50 (black dabba) is being used as engine oil but I recently came to knowledge that PSO Carient Plus is using old API grade (SG) whereas recommended API garde for my car is SL.
I have some questions:
1. Is it okay to continue using 20W-50 in Karachi for a car with 225k mileage?
2. For 10W-40, I heard that using it in an old car with high mileage will burn the gasket. Sahi baat hai ye?
3. Caltex website doesn't recommend cars older than 1994 to use API Grade SG but their 20W-50 is using the same old API. Should I avoid it?
3.1 How important is API grade while choosing engine oil?
4. I found out that Shell Helix HX3, Castrol GTX, Liqui Moly Formula Super and Toyota Petron are selling 20W-50 with SL API grade. What's the best engine oil from them?
4.1 Liqui Moly is way too expensive. Is it worth the price? If yes, how to find a genuine dealer of this in Karachi?

Please forgive my naiveness as I recently started doing some research about engine oil warna to bas jo mechanic ne bol dia woh use krlia.

[Salmaanawan]

Is the engine reducing any oil? 20w50 is too thick. Go for 10W40 next time, I have the same car and 10w40 works fine. The car's engine is old, the recommended grade for this engine is SG and SH, but you can go for API-SN oil. Next time use Total's 10W40 oil, you will get it for around 2800.

Some tips for getting the best out of your car.

1. Use Total 10W40 next time and keep on monitoring it, change it at 3500KM, (Total cost of oil change around 1rs per KM). Koi zaroorat nai liquimoly ki, zada paisa hai to mere ko deo.

2. ONLY USE HONDA PSF (POWER STEERING FLUID). If it isn't there, get your system cleaned and pour in a liter of Honda PSF (Cost 1000-1600), depends on area. If you use any other lubricant (such as automatic transmission fluid, your steering pump will go bad/fail)

3. In the transmission only use Honda MTF, it's expensive but you have to do it once every 40,000 KM

4. Recommended plugs NGK BKR5E-11

5. Empty the radiator and fill it up with Aisin Green Coolant (coolant only as it's premixed). Change every 2-2.5 years.

6. Check brake oil, if it's dark and murky, bleed the brakes and use Seikken DOT 3 brake oil.

7. When changing oil next time, go to a good mechanic, behind the oil filter there will be a pipe. Pull it out and there will be a PCV valve inside. Take it out, shake it and see if there is an audible tak tak sound, if yes then that's good if no, replace it.

8. On next oil change get injectors cleaned from someone who has a machine, buy a new fuel filter (400-700 rupees) replace this fuel filter once every year (i guarantee it would be very dirty), get your throttle body cleaned, make sure to spray a lot of NASA carb cleaner in the port that lead towards IAC Valve on the throttle body. (This so called "tuning" shouldn't cost more than 1500).

I don't have anything else in mind.

[Salmaanawan]

After this you will be a very happy man, I will also post regarding tappet adjustment after I am free.

[tintin1]

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[Salmaanawan]

You are right about using low viscosity oil, I myself use the thinnest oils in all of my cars if possible. The use of STP to make engine quieter is also highly prevalent these days. I suggested 10W40 as per the manual as the temperatures exceed 40 degrees in Karachi quite often.

[tintin1]

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[hasankhurshid29]

What do you think which vehicle will performbest ?

5W 30

[tintin1]

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[OvaisAlam]

Thank you for a very detailed response.
The engine is not reducing oil but oil change is due now.

Honestly, I don't know much about most of the things you said
Let me try to answer/ask more questions.

1. Bhi ziada paisay to nahi hain lekn parha aur suna hai kay Liqui Moly behtreen oil hai. 10W40 main total kay elawa aur dosre options hain achay?
2. The PSF is there but its color is dark greyish/brownish. Should I change it? If yes, can any mechanic do that properly? Where to get Honda PSF (near PECHS)?
3. I don't have any idea about which plugs you're talking about
4. Is Aisin Green Coolant and Seikken DOT 3 available easily everywhere? What's the cost of these items? how to empty the radiator and bleed the brakes? These things can be done at home or required services of a mechanic.
5. How to find a good mechanic? Sab yahi kehtay hain kay hamain kaam aata hai aur imaandaar hain lekn chouna kab lag jae pata nahi lagta.
6. Point 8 main jo cheezain likhi hain woh kahan se karwaoun? Any recommendations?

[OvaisAlam]

Got it few months back and first oil change is due.
The previous owner was using PSO Carient Plus 20W-50 and was happy with the performance of the car.

[Salmaanawan]

I never said if temperature is 40 degrees then 10w40 should be used, lol. However ambient temperature should be noted before using an engine oil, a manual would always guides better. A jar of honey would crystallize in fridge whereas it would be in liquid form when outside, same is the case with engine oils, hence manuals should always be followed.
In my Altis and Civic I use 5W30, as per the ambient temperature and the guidance in the manual. Whereas in my 2002 City's manual it is clearly shown that when the ambient temp is around 40, 10W40 should be used (this isn't the case with Corolla and Civic) and Alhamdulillah since the last 4 years, car has been great.

As for the scenario of Karachi to Quetta, I wouldn't use 20W50 in one vehicle and 5W30 in other, lol. I'd follow the manual, if it says 5W30, then 5W30.

[OvaisAlam]

Karachi temperature in summers rises till 45C.
Is there a way to find the Manual of this car? I have searched but unable to find it.

Should we still follow their recommendation even when the car is 18 years old (engine is more older) and with 200k+ mileage?

[Salmaanawan]

LiquiMoly is no magic elixir, it is good but the cost to benefit ratio must be considered. Total boht acha hai, aur aapko pumps se original milega aur price economical hai and it is API SN.

Then PSF might be Honda, agar PSF light hai abi tak to chalate rahe, kuch time baad badalwa de.

Plugs NGK company k hain, aage model number hai jo gaari mai lagega. Miljaege achi shop se.

I don't know exact prices, Aisin Coolant would be around 500-700 and same goes for a bottle of Seikken Dot 3 brake oil. You would require the service of a mechanic, radiator khaali karna aur brake bleed karna har mechanic ko he ata hoga shayad.

Ye PCV Valve hota hai honda Engines mai

Ye IACV hota hai City ka (isko disassemble karne ki zaroorat nai hogi, jo port iski taraf lead kar rahi hogi throttlebody se bus usse andar carb cleaner marna hoga sai se)

Yaar ye tuning hoti hai normal, koi b achi mechanic ki shop se hojaegi, aap abi tak kaha se kaam karwate arahe ho?

[OvaisAlam]

Thank you for the detailed answer again.

1 baar hi karwae hai aur woh bhi due to time constraint, mechanic kay paas gaari chor di thi, usne khud hi krdi thi.

[Salmaanawan]

Bhai sab cheeze thora search kare aap net pe b dekhe, phir khare hoke kaam karwae. Aapke liye uper videos b lagai hain. IACV, PCV, Injector Cleaning, Fuel Filter change, ye saal mai aik dafa karne wale kaam hai bus. Brake fluid aur PSF k interval aap net pe dekh le is gaari k, mai 2-3 saal baad badal deta hu.

Ye injector saaf karne ki machine hai

Is tarah ka fuel filter hoga gaari ka bonnet mai he, firewall k aas paas.

[tintin1]

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[salmanali707]

Also tell about the tappet adjustment

[Salmaanawan]

Manual

Maine Post number 5 mai aap ko kisi restaurant k menu se to tasvir nai nikaal k di na dost? City ka he manual haina? Ambient temp k lehaz se 10W40 is the most suitable oil according to the car's own manual. Rest is upto you. See the image again.

[Salmaanawan]

Valve clearances (cold)

Intake: 0.18 - 0.22 mm

Exhaust: 0.23 - 0.27 mm

[Salmaanawan]

City manual

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cWo7SN6dvyuK4VWmVqGKLvck3jn2g5EE/view?usp=drivesdk