Service The Waja

Today I send my Proton WAJA for normal and regular service. I replace the engine oil and filter plus make some tire balance and alignment. I also replace my left hand sight my head lamp because the glass broken and it cost me RM190.00.

All of these cost me;

Wheel Alignment RM15.00
Wheel Balancing RM20.00
Head Lamp + Labor RM190.00
Bulb Signal RM4.00
Bulb Chasing RM10.00
Gasket Drain Plug RM2.00
Engine Oil RM89.00
Oil Filter RM8.00

I also renew my car Insurance ( RM525.80) and Road Tax ( RM93.00) because it due on October 29,2009.

My Proton Waja now is almost 5 year old and been value at RM19,000.00 !. I have 2 more years to go to pay for the car loan. After that it totally be mine..

5 Tips On Making Your Car More Fuel Efficient

With gas prices sky high most individuals who drive are interested in ways they can make their car more fuel efficient and save as much money as possible. While there are no fuel saving tips that will keep your car full of gas without filling up, there are some tips that really can help you save money on fuel over the long run. All of these tips focus on making your car more fuel efficient.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #1 Drive When You Crank Up This might seem obvious, but as soon as you crank up your car you should drive off. However, many people crank up and leave the car idling for a while. Instead of this, when you crank up drive off and only keep your car running when it is absolutely necessary.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #2 Don't Ride the Break Many drivers hit the break more often than is necessary. Additionally there are quite a few drivers that slow down for a braking car when they could easily switch lanes. Not riding the break can increase your fuel efficiency by up to 30%, so this is a great tip you should follow.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #3 Turn Off Your Car If you are going to be stopping for more than 10 minutes you should switch off your car to keep fuel efficiency at its peak and not burn more gas than is necessary.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #4 Don't Turn Off Your Car If you are only stopping for a brief moment or less than 5 minutes then don't turn off your car because the amount of gas used to crank up is more than you would burn in that short period of time.

Fuel Efficiency Tip #5 Inflate Tires Properly Too many drivers never think of their tires, unless one goes flat. However, having tires that are properly inflated can save fuel and make your car more fuel efficient, saving you money. Because of this, you should check your tire pressure on a regular basis.

While gas prices don't seem like they will be dipping considerably in the next few months every tip to help you make your car more fuel efficient is helpful. So, follow the above fuel tips and you will see that over time your car really is more fuel efficient.

My Proton Waja Stuck Again

Today, 13 Jun 2009 my proton waja stuck again while I travelling from KL to Kota Bharu. It happen went I stop at Petronas Petrol station at Felda Kechau for a short rest. I stop the car, turn off the car and I went to the rest room.

After I came back and try to start the car, it cannot be started.I asked for mechanic nearby, if it is battery faulty, afther he check, the battery is ok but the car cannot start. When this thing happened, I suspect it was due to the Car Stater in which it's flyweel not work and it also because of clucth and a gearbox.

Because unexpected things, I have stranded at the Petronas Felda Kechau. Thus I have to use a toll truck nearby to tow my car to the nearest workshop which is at Lot 1433, Miles 16, Jalan Pagar Sasak, 27100 Padang Tengku, Kuala Lipis Pahang Tel 09-3291137 and Fax 09-3291563.

At this moment, I don't know how much it will cost me !...Oh Proton Waja...

The Funny Thing About Synthetic Oil

by: Dirk Gibson

Synthetic oil has been touted as the cure all for engine wear. While there is little doubt that such oil provides strong benefits, are all the marketing claims to be believed? The answer is fairly surprising.

The idea of creating synthetic petroleum products was first pursued to a successful end by a surprising group – the Nazis. Germany was involved in a small war you’ve probably heard about from the late 1930s on. The country had deficient oil supplies and sought out alternatives. By 1944, they were producing huge swaths of synthetic fuel. During this process, Dr. Hermann Zorn started doing research on synthetic lubricants that didn’t gum up. This research led to the evolution of synthetic oil as a commercial product.

In the late 1960s, Chevron launched the first synthetic oil on the consumer market. Amsoil and Mobile soon followed. The great synthetic oil movement had begun. At the time, the synthetics were clearly much better at lubricating against friction in engines. This fact soon became standard lore when discussing oils, much like the idea that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles.

The question today is whether synthetic oils are still better for your engine than standard oil, which is known as mineral oil. Surprisingly, the answer is not entirely clear. The quality of synthetic oils has not gone down over time. Instead, the quality of mineral oil products has gone up. This seems a bit odd from a business perspective. Simply put, why would a company “close the gap” on two of its products? Whatever the reason, it is clear that synthetic oil now provides minimal benefits compared to mineral oil for most cars.

The originator of this idea was Consumer Reports. It did a study comparing oils and found there was no discernable difference in wear rates between the two oils so long as the recommended oil change schedule was followed. The study received a lot of criticism regarding the testing parameters. Even if valid, the criticism doesn’t change the fact the gap between synthetic and standard oil has been closed dramatically.

So, should you save money and go with standard oil over synthetic? Well, first check your owner’s manual to see what is called for. If synthetic is not required, you probably don’t need it unless you live in an extreme temperature like Phoenix in the summer or Minneapolis in the winter.

About The Author

Dirk Gibson is with http://www.dcjautoparts.com - find high performance auto parts and accessories for your car or truck.

Car tyres

Today I replace 2 of my proton waja tires that cost me RM340.00 with free balancing and free nitrogen gas for all my tires. My mechanic give me few tips that we should know about tires;

Pressure

Paying attention to your tires pressure can save on their wear . In cold weather, a tire can lose a pound or more of pressure for each drop of 10 degrees F. If your tires are under inflated and its cold you can lose traction on the road in the snow and ice, as well as put more wear on your tires. So a few minutes each week, can save you $$$$ and make your drive safer!

Air Pressure

Take advantage of the next mild day and check the air pressure in your vehicle’s tires. Don’t forget that spare tire also! Proper air pressure lessens the wear on your tires.

Good Driving Habits

Good driving habits really help your vehicles tires to last longer. Jack-rabbit starts, screeching stops and turns and scuffing curbs all undermine a tire’s lifespan! Try a monthly inflation pressure check when the tire is cold, before driving anywhere. Look in the glove compartment or on the edge of the driver’s door for the carmakers recommendations.

Tire Rotation

Rotate your tires every six months. Rotate tires front to back only, DON”T switch them from one side to another.

Tire Tread

Check the tire tread on your vehicle’s tires on a regular basis. The wear should be uniform around the entire tire. The tread grooves must be at least 1/16 inch deep for the tire to be usable. If you have wear at both edges but not in the middle, you have underinflated tires, and they aren’t wearing properly!.

You maybe asked why I used nitrogen gas in all my tires, I make this move because it's recommend by my mechanic which also give me some benefit of using nitrogen,

Nitrogen Takes You Farther

With gas prices going up every day, every little bit helps.

Nitrogen in your tires maintains proper pressure, which keeps the recommended “contact patch” on the road longer and reduces rolling resistance, which translates to better fuel economy. In fact, properly inflated tires can improve your gas mileage by about 3.3 percent. That’s a savings no one would scoff at.

But that’s not all. With nitrogen maintaining more consistent pressure, your tires won’t wear as fast on the shoulders from under-inflation or in the center from over-inflation.

There’s more. By replacing oxygen with nitrogen, there is less oxidation. Oxidation occurs when oxygen reacts at high temperatures and pressures, and it damages inner liners, belt packages and rims. In fact, some tire manufacturers claim nitrogen use extends tire life as much as 25 percent.

Nitrogen in tires maintains proper pressure, keeps the recommended “contact patch” on the road longer and reduces rolling resistance. That translates to better fuel economy and fewer toxic emissions into our atmosphere.

But that’s not all. With more consistent pressure, your tires won’t wear as fast. Theoretically, if everyone used nitrogen we could decrease the demand for tires. Manufacturing fewer tires would decrease pressure on natural resources used in the process, lower toxic emissions coming from manufacturing plants, decrease shipping of tires and…well, you get the idea.

When it comes to protecting the environment, every little bit helps. You can pitch in by using nitrogen in your tires. With nitrogen, you won’t have to have your tires serviced as often and, in the long run, you’ll buy fewer tires.

Nitrogen In Your Tires: Safety First

You and your family will be safer when you’re riding on nitrogen.

Every day – as you drive to and from work, drop the kids at daycare or soccer practice, buy groceries – air is constantly escaping through the walls of your tires. Oxygen molecules, which are smaller than nitrogen molecules, seep through three to four times faster. A tire filled with “plain old air” will lose 1.5 psi in less than a month; with nitrogen, this can take six months or longer. If you’re not constantly watching your tire pressure, escaping oxygen leads to under-inflated tires.

With nitrogen in your tires, they will maintain proper pressure longer. Properly inflated tires not only reduce the chance of a blowout, they also ensure that the recommended “contact patch” is on the road. That improves your vehicle’s handling so you can react more quickly and decisively in potentially dangerous road conditions and situations.

I also send my Proton Waja to car wash today and for the first time I'm ask the washer boy to wash my proton waja engine this cost me RM12.00 . In addition I also replace one front head light bulb ( driver side ) for RM18.00 !

Proton Wira Top Overhaul

I sent my proton wira for top overhaul at workshop near my apartment. My proton wira is almost 12 years old and since than, I have not sercive much inside the main engine. So on my mechanic advised I do top overhaul for my proton wira. He told me that my proton wira have to do top over haul because he saw some engine oil liking at the bottom of the car and also due to my complained that sometimes white smoke came out from my exos and once a while it seem that some how I.m loosing my engine oil.

A top overhaul only covers the replacement of components inside the cylinder head without removing the engine from the vehicle, such as valve and rocker arm replacement. A full overhaul however covers the whole engine component replacement which requires the engine to be removed from the vehicle, such as replacing the connecting rods and crankshaft bearings. By comparison, a full overhaul service costs more than a top overhaul service.

So these are the part that my machanic have replace and the job during top overhaul;

1. Grand Valve - 1 unit- RM80.0
2. Skimmed Cylinder head - 1- RM80.0
3. Gear Oil - RM25.00
4. Aircond Belt - RM28.00
5. Tensioner Bearing Aircond - RM45.00
6. Timing Cover Gasket - RM65.00
7. Thermostat - RM65.00
8. Valve Exhaust -(4 x RM30) - RM120.00
9. Valve Intake - ( 8 X RM30) - RM240.00
10. Top Overhaul Gasket - 1 unit - RM180.00
11. Labour for Top Overhaul - RM220.00
12. Maintenance service charges - RM15.00

TOTAL = RM1163.00

That the cost of my proton wira top overhaul.

Proton MPV - PROTON Exora

Proton have launched its MPV called Exora. Nowadays People buy MPV for different reasons, and most rational people just want a big box to move people or stuff around. I'm thinking of buy one proton Exora but for me I have to wait and see because my budget is quite tight this year.

Proton Exora is suitable for family driving and outing. The seven-seater - Proton’s most important model for the year - also marks the company’s entry into the MPV market, which is growing domestically and regionally.It also represents the Proton management’s response to market needs and consumer demands.

The Exora’s interior is more spacious than other MPVs in its engine class. It also has separate air-conditioner blowers with ceiling mounted vents for the second and third row passengers.Large doors allow for easy entry and exit, while the second and third row seats can be folded for a flat floor layout when carrying bulky items.

The vehicle has safety features like dual front airbags, pretensioner seatbelts and anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution.The Exora, which is powered by a 1.6-litre CamPro CPS engine, was the result of an investment of RM450mil and 18 months of intense in-house research and development.

The MPV is available in four-speed automatic version, in trim levels of Mid-Line and Hi-Line. The Mid-Line Exora costs RM69,998 and the Hi-Line variant, RM75,998 (prices quoted here are for metallic colours only.

While waiting to get more budget to buy proton exora, today I send my Proton Waja for normal sevices, Changing Engine Oil using Petronas Synthium 800 (RM97.00), Engine Oil filter (RM16.00), Air Filter (RM15.00), Spark Plug (RM20.00) plus labour RM15.00 and all together RM163.00. This is the normal cost to maintain a proton waja and how much it would be for Proton Exora ?.... This thing keep wondering in my head...and it seem another day dreaming for me to own a Proton Exora...but...who know I will driving Proton Exora...

PROTON EXORA

How To Purchase A Used Car

Purchasing a used car can be a risky proposition for a variety of reasons. For starters, unless you buy a certified used car, then you really have no idea how well of a condition the car is in and even if you buy a used car from a dealer, you can't be sure that the car won't die the minute you sign the contract.

Another issue is false mileage readings and previous accident history. Although there are services that can help you address this problem, you need to make sure you are aware of them and use them. To help you, I'd like to tell you step by step how you can decrease your chances of getting ripped off and increase your chances of finding the used car of your dreams.

The two most common places to buy a used car are at car dealerships and in newspapers, although eBay is becoming very popular as well. If you are dealing with a private owner, you should always ask for a CARFAX vehicle history report, which will tell you the vehicle's mileage and accident history. If the owner is unwilling to show this to you, then the chances are very high that they have something to hide, at which point you should walk away. Most car dealerships will offer this without any hassle, but again if they refuse, then you need to walk away.

The second thing that you need to do is to try and trace the owner history as far back as possible. Knowing how many owners have owned the car will be great help in making your decision. If there have been a lot of owners, then it will be difficult to know the overall condition of the car or could signify the car has had a history of problems. If a vehicle has had very few owners then it is much more likely to have been treated well and sold in good condition.

f you are buying from a private owner, you will definitely have a hard time getting a warranty from them, but you can always purchase an aftermarket warranty from another company. However, at a minimum you want to make sure they have kept and maintained vehicle service records. Car dealerships often provide a minimum of a 1 year warranty, although often you can find one up to 3 years. Try to find a car with the longest warranty possible in the event that there is a hidden problem.

Lastly, make sure you check the used vehicle's value in the Kelly Blue Book, which should offer both private and dealer values. You are much more likely to get a fair price if you know what the car is worth beforehand.

Buying a used car can definitely be a very risky proposition if you don't know what you are doing, but if you are armed with the tools necessary to do it right, then you are much more likely to end up with a steal rather than a dud.