Guide: How To Drive and Maintain a Diesel Car?

[VivekRj.Dieselhead]

I am surprised to hear Punto to be sluggish... I thought they have the best engine in the lot. May be something to do with Gear Ratio? Not sure. I heard, MS has done a better job with that in Swift with the same engine.

Turbo range in Figo is between 1700 - 2300 RPM.

This is a news for me.!
In TATA-FIAT showroom , I have seen people taking TD of punto /vista , complaining of punto being scary to drive due to better turbo kick than vista .

@Dharmesh is talking about 2 gear acc. which is sluggish otherwise its rocking at most of the speeds. And guys let me make you clear that punto is a all rounder car, you can any kind of performance from punto but its not valid during a drag.

BTW i upshift b/w 1700-2000 rpm. Sometimes even at 1500.

 

[Vishwas]

People, i have finally(not yet) moved to a diesel car.

So please help me with some of my noob questions:

1) How does one know the engine temperature is at normal level? Or where should the needle come in the temperature gauge to drive the car normally?

2) Who wins in the debate of Synthetic VS Mineral Engine oil in all the aspects? (long term, cost and money aspects?)

3) Does the turbo need special maintenance from owner's side?

4) My friend tells to change the gears once the car revs in 2500 rpm? Won't it be difficult to drive in the cities?

5) Can we move a stationery vehicle in 2nd gear?

 

[raj_5004]

1) How does one know the engine temperature is at normal level? Or where should the needle come in the temperature gauge to drive the car normally?

It should be around the halfway mark, neither in blue nor in red.

2) Who wins in the debate of Synthetic VS Mineral Engine oil in all the aspects? (long term, cost and money aspects?)

Synthetic oil anyday. But it is way too costly to call it value for money. Follow the manufacturer's advice.

3) Does the turbo need special maintenance from owner's side?

Idle the turbo/engine for 1 minute whenever you start the car in the morning. Drive only after this procedure. Apart from this, no other maintenance regime is required.

4) My friend tells to change the gears once the car revs in 2500 rpm? Won't it be difficult to drive in the cities?

Depends on the car.

In the XUV, I can easily change gears even at 2000 rpm. There is no particular set rpm which is universal for every car.

In diesel engines, you can actually shift at 2500 rpm and it wont be difficult in the cities as it has got more than enough torque to pull the vehicle. Anyways, there is no point in revving a diesel engine till 4000 rpm.

5) Can we move a stationery vehicle in 2nd gear?

If its a diesel engine, you can actually do it very easily. But I will never recommend it. Why put unnecessary stress on the clutch?

 

[Vishwas]

Depends on the car.

In the XUV, I can easily change gears even at 2000 rpm. There is no particular set rpm which is universal for every car.

In diesel engines, you can actually shift at 2500 rpm and it wont be difficult in the cities as it has got more than enough torque to pull the vehicle. Anyways, there is no point in revving a diesel engine till 4000 rpm.

Thanks for your input raj, my dad has this practice of changing the gears very fast, i.e., he comes to 3rd gear swiftly when doing 40kmph, is this recommended? This won't be a stressful process for the engine?

 

[raj_5004]

Thanks for your input raj, my dad has this practice of changing the gears very fast, i.e., he comes to 3rd gear swiftly when doing 40kmph, is this recommended? This won't be a stressful process for the engine?

It totally depends on the car we are talking about.

I can drive the XUV at 40 kmph in 3rd gear and I do... The only point here is that, you should not 'lug' the engine. And the driver is the first one to realize if he is lugging the engine.

Normally, most diesel cars can easily do 40 kmph in 3rd gear.

 

[Figoian]

Thanks for your input raj, my dad has this practice of changing the gears very fast, i.e., he comes to 3rd gear swiftly when doing 40kmph, is this recommended? This won't be a stressful process for the engine?

You mean early upshifting? That's what is generally recommended by many for better FE.

But my question on early upshifting is that, you won't really get to reach the Power Band to change to next. Isn't that you may be loosing the turbo, which is supposed to be more efficient than otherwise? Let me take Figo as an example in which the power band is 1500 - 2200 RPM. If I have upshift early, I normally end up shifting in 1200-1500 range, which is not in the turbo zone. Or should I rev it up to 1800-2000 for each gear? That takes a lot more time than the former and can't really be early upshift. Please clarify on this point.

 

[Vishwas]

You mean early upshifting? That's what is generally recommended by many for better FE.

Yes i meant the early upshifting of gears, if we look at the FE part then we will be loosing out the clutch plates and unnecessary stress on the Engine(especially the diesel one) which shouldn't be happening on the first place.

But my question on early upshifting is that, you won't really get to reach the Power Band to change to next. Isn't that you may be loosing the turbo, which is supposed to be more efficient than otherwise? Let me take Figo as an example in which the power band is 1500 - 2200 RPM. If I have upshift early, I normally end up shifting in 1200-1500 range, which is not in the turbo zone. Or should I rev it up to 1800-2000 for each gear? That takes a lot more time than the former and can't really be early upshift. Please clarify on this point.

I think Raj could help you on this point.

 

[nozzlering]

Raj has already explained it in few lines.
Early gear shift for increasing FE is misleading. There are various factors which go in determining the FE of a vehicle. The engine generates power. And more we are able to utilise it, better efficiency figures we will achieve.
If you feel engine is revving faster than normal, its time to shift up. As a driver, we do get a feel of it. Else we can take help from tachometers.
At the same time running at higher gear with accelerator pedal almost floored and engine struggling to speed up is also not good for engine (for ex situations when we experience turbo lag). We might face jerks in the engine which is called lugging (try shifting to 4th from 1st directly). Lugging is very bad for engine. So when needed, timely downshift is important too.
Earlier I said, early gearshift is misleading. Because if early gearshift causes lugging, then even if we manage better FE, we are harming the engine. At the same time, if we have enough rpm, we can even skip a gear and jump to say 3rd from 1st. The basic rule behind getting better FE is to reach the highest gear at the earliest without causing over revving or lugging.
So guys, chill out. dont stress out too much over rpm figures. Follow your senses and drive safe.

 

[saideb79]

Dos and Donts in driving while switching from Petrol to Diesel Car

Hi TAI,

One of my friends has shifted from MS Swift to XUV 5oo W6. Technically both the cars are two different worlds. The immediate thought that hits your mind is how to drive/behave with the car, the XUV 5oo W6. Request all tech experts on TAI to suggest the technicalities/driving behaviour required to be kept in mind while shifting from a petrol car to a diesel car. Those who are planning to switching from petrol hatchbacks to diesel SUVs can get benefitted from this information and myself also planning to go for a diesel SUV soon.

Thanks

 

[amit1km]

Re: Dos and Donts in driving while switching from Petrol to Diesel Car

Shifting from petrol to diesel ,there no big difference apart from turbo benefit of diesel.I do not think it will make any difference in driving.
But yes there is a big difference shifting from swift to XUV. Entire car dynamic is getting change here. Needs to understand the car turning radius, front and back Road clearance etc.
People generally mistake that SUV means it can run at very higher speed on highway. But a swift will be more stable at higher speed than a SUV.Due to high ground clearance SUV are not generally good at higher speed.
But with swift you can not do the off roading or you can not drive fast in really bad road but with in SUV you can do this.SUV are really very rich in torque.

This is my understanding,may be I am in wrong direction.Experts can give can give better technical answer.

 

[Figoian]

Raj has already explained it in few lines.
Early gear shift for increasing FE is misleading. There are various factors which go in determining the FE of a vehicle. The engine generates power. And more we are able to utilise it, better efficiency figures we will achieve.
If you feel engine is revving faster than normal, its time to shift up. As a driver, we do get a feel of it. Else we can take help from tachometers.
At the same time running at higher gear with accelerator pedal almost floored and engine struggling to speed up is also not good for engine (for ex situations when we experience turbo lag). We might face jerks in the engine which is called lugging (try shifting to 4th from 1st directly). Lugging is very bad for engine. So when needed, timely downshift is important too.
Earlier I said, early gearshift is misleading. Because if early gearshift causes lugging, then even if we manage better FE, we are harming the engine. At the same time, if we have enough rpm, we can even skip a gear and jump to say 3rd from 1st. The basic rule behind getting better FE is to reach the highest gear at the earliest without causing over revving or lugging.
So guys, chill out. dont stress out too much over rpm figures. Follow your senses and drive safe.

I somehow missed this post. Thanks for the explanation.

Now, given a situation, speeding at 50 @ 1500 RPM on 5th Gear without lugging or similar speed @ 1800 RPM on 4th Gear. Which is more better and efficient. I believe, the latter. If so, maintaining on the power band is efficient than staying on top most gear?

Similarly, while crawling in B2B Traffic, being on 1st gear without clutch or acceleration and moving on low end torque or on 2nd gear with minimal clutch management and moving on low end torque. Which consumes lesser fuel comparatively? Please clarify on this too.

 

[nozzlering]

Higher gear delivers more rpm of wheel compared to lower gear. So if you can maintain running your car at minimum possible rpm without lugging or revving (and keeping on highest possible gear), your car will travel more. SO if you feel engine is running healthy at 1500rpm on 5th gear, it would be better than 1800 rpm on 4th gear. Use of clutch means loss of power. If we can run on 1st gear (in b2b traffic) without use of clutch, IMO, it would be better than keeping in a higher gear with frequent use of clutch.

 

[saideb79]

Finally, to sum up the whole discussion the following are two most vital points to be kept in mind while driving a diesel car/suv (correct me if wrong)-

1. Gear shifting should be done between 2000-2200RPM
2. Observe 30Seconds to 1 Minute of idle time before and after a run

 

[Figoian]

I somehow missed this post. Thanks for the explanation.

Now, given a situation, speeding at 50 @ 1500 RPM on 5th Gear without lugging or similar speed @ 1800 RPM on 4th Gear. Which is more better and efficient. I believe, the latter. If so, maintaining on the power band is efficient than staying on top most gear?

Similarly, while crawling in B2B Traffic, being on 1st gear without clutch or acceleration and moving on low end torque or on 2nd gear with minimal clutch management and moving on low end torque. Which consumes lesser fuel comparatively? Please clarify on this too.

Higher gear delivers more rpm of wheel compared to lower gear. So if you can maintain running your car at minimum possible rpm without lugging or revving (and keeping on highest possible gear), your car will travel more. SO if you feel engine is running healthy at 1500rpm on 5th gear, it would be better than 1800 rpm on 4th gear. Use of clutch means loss of power. If we can run on 1st gear (in b2b traffic) without use of clutch, IMO, it would be better than keeping in a higher gear with frequent use of clutch.

Same question in a little different way Nozzlering.

Speeding at 50 @ 1000 - 1200 RPM on 5th Gear without lugging or similar speed @ 1800+ RPM on 4th Gear. The former is in the top most gear, but not in the power band whereas, the latter is just vice versa.

Which is healthier for the engine and which is fuel efficient?

 

[nozzlering]

You will get better FE in first case. Engine remains healthy in both the cases.
You're are driving sedately @ 50 kmph @ 1000-1200 rpm on 5th gear. But if you need power, this is the time to down shift. If we try to speed up in same gear, we will strain the engine, and engine will consume more fuel to gradually reach the demand.