Engine Oil

I got to know more about engine oil today while I send my car for alignment and balancing.

Engine oil differs by thickness and heat resistance.

Mineral oil (lowest grade) has normal heat resistance and fully syntatic ones have highest level of heat resistance.

Mineral oil is suitable for older cars and fully syntatic ones are for new cars.

Mineral oil costs around RM50 and fully syntatic ones can costs up to RM200.

So, I'm glad I'm driving an old car...

What about engine oil for NGV?

Well, it will make a difference if you use fully syntatic which translate to a new car converted to run on NGV. Difference brand of engine oil contains different level of heat resistance. Make sure you pick the right one.

RM1.90 to RM1.80

The petrol price drop once again the same month 3 days back from this post.

Looking at the crude oil price, it's likely to continue dropping...

Crude oil price is recorded at USD36.22 per barrel at the time of posting.

Luckily I've got my investment back last month.

Phew~

RM2.00 to RM1.90

The petrol price dropped again in Malaysia.
This would mean savings dropped using CNG.

Oh well~
It must be very dissapointing to most of the people whom have their car runs on CNG due to price hike in petrol.

NGV is coming to PH

Everyday passing by the PETRONAS near the entrance to Putra Heights tells me that they are working on something, perhaps NGV pumps.

Finally I decided to drop by to check it out...asking the shopkeeper reveal that NGV is coming to PH. Just that I have to wait for a long while for it to be ready.

My plan is to pump everyday on the way home to maintain the pressure.

YEAH~

3 months didn't pump petrol

It's been 3 months I didn't pump petrol.
It's still half tank full.
I only use petrol every monday for 10km.

NGV rocks~

NGV ROI Table (dated 30th November 2008)

ROI Realised

As of today, I've got my investment back.
All the money spend on adding the NGV kit on my Iswara have returned thru savings.
Total run is 20,000 KM for 9.5 months.
Average savings per month is RM400 (after the system is perfectly tune).

Next is to start monitoring on maintenance expenditure.

RM2.15 to RM2.00

The price has dropped since 18th November 2008.
Rice price down 20cens to 30cens per kg after fuel price cut...

RM2.30 to RM2.15

The price has dropped since 1st November 2008.
Rice price down 20cens per kg after fuel price cut...

NGV ROI Table (dated 31st October 2008)

Hybrids

Recently the government decided to reduce the tax to hibrid cars.
Since petrol price is killing us, I believe that would be the preferred next generation vehicle.

Honda Civic Hybrid would costs RM125k - 130k
The rest, yet to find out...

NGV Engine Oil

RM2.45 to RM2.30

The price has dropped since 15th October 2008.
Nice try~

Air filter hose

The elephant nose thing is meant to allow more cool air into the carburetor.

Broken Spark Plug

After one week I had my car serviced, I felt that my car lost substantial power. Since I didn't change the spark plug during my last service, decided to go back to my mechanic to check things out. Guess what, taking the spark plug out shows that one of the plug is broken. Now that explains why the car loost power suddently. Thank goodness I send my car in to check without second thought.

NGV ROI Table (dated 30th September 2008)

RM2.55 to RM2.45

The price has dropped since 25th September 2008.
It dropped with the reason that festive season is around the corner.
Good thinking...

But...

4 days later, petrol station announce insufficient petrol.
Rumours say it's because the petrol that they have in stock is more expensive.
I'm not going to say more, you go figure it out...

What is a Camry doing here?

Power Cushion (Box)

NGV ROI Table (dated 31st August 2008)

RM2.70 to RM2.55

The price has drop since 23rd August 2008.
How long would this last?

Anyway, does it really matter?
Damage has been done...

NGV

Is it
Natural Gas Vehicle
or
Next Generation Vehicle
?

Identifying real NGV Plugs

NGV Demand is increasing

With NGV demand increasing due to the petrol price hike.
We're afraid that price of NGV will increase in the near future.

I hope it won't happen too soon as I'm only able to get back my investment at end of the year.
It's already a risk converting a carburetor vehicle which costs only RM3200, now should be around RM4000. Not to mentioned injection vehicle which will take 2-3 years to get back the investment (assuming that every month run 1000km).

It's already a fact that the installation/conversion price have increased.
It use to costs RM6800 to convert an injection car, now costs RM7800.
Of course, I'm talking about the sequential injection system (best and more stable compare to pre-mixer injection)

Convert only if you are ready to take the risk.

Petrol Price and FC of my car

NGV ROI Table

Engine mounting

Hope to get the price of original engine mounting from my dear friend soon. If the price is right, I'll just go ahead to have the mounting replace and hope this will solve the problem of my car vibrating while idle...

Distributor

My distributor is still in ok condition. Not showing any sign of failing yet.
Anyway, signs of distributor failing is:

• extremely difficult to start your car
• engine die half way running on the road

So, it's not my time yet...

Grounding and voltage stabilizer

Just got to know from a friend (car crazzz) that grounding and voltage stabilizer will not resolve the idling issue on my car...

Sorry ya~ for calling you car crazzz (you know I'm referring to you one)...
:P

Running on NGV (full time)

My car is running on NGV on a full time basis since my car can start easily even after leaving it on NGV for the night. I'm currently doing research on what is the best way to maximized the savings every month.

Cold Plugs

Both BP6ES and BP6EY are cold plugs.
It is made to release heat faster.
It's used mostly in sport car or NGV as they produces more heat.

Currently using NGK BP6EY

Previously using NGK BP6ES

Time to change spark plug

Time to change air filter

Auto Choke

Auto choker can be found on the left side of the carburetor (if you are standing facing the front of your car)

It's near the cable that gets pulled when you accelerate.

It's a component that controls the air intake into the carburetor before and after the engine warms itself up.

This is a crutial part of your carburetor.

My prefered air filter

Have I install TAP?

No I have not.
It's available but my installer said he need to study the instruction before installing it for me.
I'll give him a call to see if he's ready later this week.

Will update more once done...

TAP

TAP stands for Timing Advance Processor.
It's installed to auto advance the frequency of spark.

By default, our car frequency of spark is 10 degree for petrol.
Anything lower will cause extreme underpower.
Anything higher will cause engine knocking.

Since NGV is difficult to burn compare to petrol, we need to increase the frequency.
The setting allowed is either 12 or 15 degree depending on individual car settings.

Once installed, the air restrictor/choker will not longer be required.
Reason being the choker method is classify as black magic.
Try telling mat salleh that we're using choker, they will respond saying "NO!"

Air restrictor/choker

See the cut out water bottle at the front of the air filter box?

That is the air restrictor/choker (home made DIY)

See the pipe connecting from the cut out water bottle inlet to the side of the car?

That is to have colder air intake (home made DIY)

Underpower?

This happens on initial pickup from idling state.
You can either have an air restrictor/choker in place to reduce the air or install TAP.

Cause of problem?
NGV does not require too much air to burn.
Too much air will make the gas thinner and much difficult to burn.

Difficult to start?

Is your car difficult to start even in petrol mode?
If yes, have your trusted mechanic add a relay that will ease the starting engine process.
If no, then it's due to fuse setting on NGV.

The sign is that the pressure indicator and petrol/NGV switch inside your car LED will go off for a couple of seconds when you start your engine. It is supposed to stay on when you start your engine. The NGV installer just have to do some adjustment to the fuse setting then all will be ok.

Idling not stable?

This could due to many possibilities in which I'm still trying to figure out.
They are but not limited to:

• auto choke on carburetor is not 100% functioning
• power output is not stable
• faulty distributor
• not so reliable engine and gear mounting
• tuning not done properly

Possible solutions:

• have your trusted mechanic service the auto choke on the carburetor (less than RM30)
• replace your carburetor (more than RM1000)
• install voltage stabilizer (around RM100)
• setup proper grounding (costs unknown)
• replace distributor (around RM300)
• replace engine and gear mounting (around (RM600)
• have your trusted mechanic tune your engine on petrol mode
• have your NGV installer tune you engine on NGV mode
• readjust torque

I hope I didn't missed anything. If I find that I do, I'll update this entry

Black smoke from exhaust pipe?

This is due to too rich of petrol, meaning not enough air.
Possible caused:

• air fuel ratio on carburetor has been changed to suit NGV mode
• air restrictor or choker is in place

Possible solution:

• have your trusted mechanic service your carburetor (less than RM30)
• replace the air restrictor with TAP (around RM200)

Problems Faced

• car do not run smoothly on petrol (tick black smoke from exhaust pipe)
• car idling not stable (sometimes too low @ traffic light)
• difficult to start after leaving the car for more than 6 hours or when engine die off
• underpower during initial pickup

Saved RM1700 in 6 months

Converted since FEB 2008

My NGV Iswara