Tune-up queries (for taxis)

[Bry]

Hi.

My mechanic told me that everytime we change the oil sa mga taxi namin (we're new in the taxi business), he adds STP (oil additive). Is this really necessary?

And also as mentioned in another thread of mine na hindi na rin daw kailangan mag oil flushing? And in fact, nakakasama pa?

One more thing, our local Toyota casas advice na every 5T kms. mag-change ng oil/tune-up. But I read somewhere na every 10T kms. daw ang recommended ng Toyota in Japan. Which is true? Btw, my mechanic advices na around 6-7T kms daw.


TIA.

[1D4LV]

Hi.

My mechanic told me that everytime we change the oil sa mga taxi namin (we're new in the taxi business), he adds STP (oil additive). Is this really necessary?

And also as mentioned in another thread of mine na hindi na rin daw kailangan mag oil flushing? And in fact, nakakasama pa?

One more thing, our local Toyota casas advice na every 5T kms. mag-change ng oil/tune-up. But I read somewhere na every 10T kms. daw ang recommended ng Toyota in Japan. Which is true? Btw, my mechanic advices na around 6-7T kms daw.



TIA.

mukhang naiconnect ko na yung thread mo dun sa engine flush with this thread.

to answer your queries:

a) on adding oil additive. it is not required. the purpose of oil additives is to add cleaners inside your engine. oils nowadays have their own additives na, so definitely, if you would add an additive after an oil change, you would be spending more.

b) hindi na kailangan mag flushing if your car's oil is regularly changed. ang flushing is done lang kung medyo matagal ang oil change interval which results in sludges.

c) on the toyota oil change intervals, it would depend on the oil that you use. fully synthetic oils require a max of 10k kms, but because of the traffic conditions in manila, medyo diminished ang interval requirement from around 10k kms to around 7k kms. pag semi-synth or mineral oil gamit mo, it should be at max of 5k kms. i myself (i use either mineral or semi-synth), change my oil at around 3.8k to 4.2k kms. hindi ko na pinaaabot ng 5k kms.

[Bry]

Ok thanks. Napagsabihan ko na yung mechanic ko.


What brand of oil would you guys recommend na pang-taxi? (Pang-taxi meaning pang heavy duty and at the same time hindi masyado masakit sa bulsa)


The oil that we use is either the regular oil from Petron or Kwangwoo Parker 'Supreme Gear Oil' SAE 90 (both cost around 90-100 Php per liter). I really have no idea kung OK ba 'to or hindi.


TIA.

[mazingerZ]

Gear Oil is different from engine oil bro. SAE 90 usually ang mga gear oil, whereas engine oils as far as I could remember hanggang SAE 50 lang. Try mo lang mga monograde gasoiline oils from petron or shell SAE 40 okay na yan. Pang heavy duty pa. Mineral oil na lang para makatipid.

[mark_t]

Hi guys,

Question

Has anyone tried testing for acidity/ph their engine oil to find out the maximum usage of their engine oil?

[mazdamazda]

Hi guys,

Question

Has anyone tried testing for acidity/ph their engine oil to find out the maximum usage of their engine oil?

Shell used to offer that before... don't know if they are still offering that service for free.

MBT, Glennster & me was able to do the initial review for this service a few years back. AFAIR - MBT has an article here somewhere regarding this.

[1D4LV]

Ok thanks. Napagsabihan ko na yung mechanic ko.


What brand of oil would you guys recommend na pang-taxi? (Pang-taxi meaning pang heavy duty and at the same time hindi masyado masakit sa bulsa)


The oil that we use is either the regular oil from Petron or Kwangwoo Parker 'Supreme Gear Oil' SAE 90 (both cost around 90-100 Php per liter). I really have no idea kung OK ba 'to or hindi.


TIA.

imho, the regular mineral oil will do. for shell, i think it costs around 170/liter.
also i have used before the regular mineral oil of valvoline (color black yung container, which costs around 140/liter. ubra na yan kung taxi.

[Bry]

Thanks again for the replies guys. I'll just stick to the regular oils offered at the gasoline stations.

New question: Regarding the timing belt, it should be replaced every 80T kms. right? If for heavy-duty or taxi use, would the 80T kms. interval still be applicable? Also, how would one know if we are buying original (Japan) timing belts? I have called up two (2) auto supply shops and they quoted me 450-480 Php for the timing belt. Tama lang ba or is it too cheap to be original? I was expecting kasi somewhere in the 900+ Php area. Btw the name of the brand ng timing belt is Gates.

TIA.

[1D4LV]

Thanks again for the replies guys. I'll just stick to the regular oils offered at the gasoline stations.

New question: Regarding the timing belt, it should be replaced every 80T kms. right? If for heavy-duty or taxi use, would the 80T kms. interval still be applicable? Also, how would one know if we are buying original (Japan) timing belts? I have called up two (2) auto supply shops and they quoted me 450-480 Php for the timing belt. Tama lang ba or is it too cheap to be original? I was expecting kasi somewhere in the 900+ Php area. Btw the name of the brand ng timing belt is Gates.

TIA.

its 80k for regular driven vehicles. for taxis i would recommend to have it changed at around 60k.

a 480 timing belt is a replacement. its too cheap to be an original. to have an idea, the original and oem timing belt for a mitsu lancer is around 1,900.

[mazingerZ]

I'd rather go for the BANDO brand bro. Mga 100 - 200 petot higher pero OEM quality na. Not that i'm downgrading the Gates brand, pero para sa akin mas matibay ang BANDO. Been using this brand for so long na din, never pa ako nadisappoint.

[Langabe]

Thanks again for the replies guys. I'll just stick to the regular oils offered at the gasoline stations.

New question: Regarding the timing belt, it should be replaced every 80T kms. right? If for heavy-duty or taxi use, would the 80T kms. interval still be applicable? Also, how would one know if we are buying original (Japan) timing belts? I have called up two (2) auto supply shops and they quoted me 450-480 Php for the timing belt. Tama lang ba or is it too cheap to be original? I was expecting kasi somewhere in the 900+ Php area. Btw the name of the brand ng timing belt is Gates.

TIA.

original timing belt for 2E engine would cost you P1500.00 tapos tatagal ng 100t km basta original talaga. kung gusto mo naman lagyan mo ng butasyun cover para masilip mo yun timing belt kung ok pa.

[Bry]

I just got back from Banawe. I got three (3) sets of timing belts (original Toyota, I got it for 1,490 Php), tensioners and idlers. Thanks a lot guys. Buti na lang hindi ko pa nakabit yung Gates.

Another question: I also have two (2) Nissan Sentra GX taxis (yung new body, 2004 and 2006 model). How different is this in terms of maintenance versus the Lovelife Corollas?


TIA.

[vinj]

Stick to regular 20W-40 mineral oil and change it every 5,000kms (Petron oils are one of the more lower priced ones); no need for additives of flushes. Spark plugs are changed every 10,000kms but if you want a little more longevity then use platinum spark plugs. Fuel filter also has to be changed every 20,000kms along with the air filter (w/c is cleaned every 5,000kms).

The original T-belts cost more than 1K; if you have to change bearings, just get the Koyo brand, they're the same as the originals w/c Toyota uses.

Check also the cooling system (flush and clean every 40,000kms usually), a/c and alternator belts, and do the public a favor by keeping the Taxis clean inside and out; it goes a long way for both the owner and the passenger. ;)

IMO, it helps a lot if the driver's see you personally checking the units once in a while.

[1D4LV]

I just got back from Banawe. I got three (3) sets of timing belts (original Toyota, I got it for 1,490 Php), tensioners and idlers. Thanks a lot guys. Buti na lang hindi ko pa nakabit yung Gates.

Another question: I also have two (2) Nissan Sentra GX taxis (yung new body, 2004 and 2006 model). How different is this in terms of maintenance versus the Lovelife Corollas?


TIA.

imho... the nissans are in timing chains, so no need to replace them at that kilometer reading. but have them checked at around 80k kms for the tension.

for the maintenance, aside from the usual fluid changes, you may also want to check the condition of the fan belts, the aircon (heck, who wants to ride in a hot taxi), the suspension (nissans have more softer suspensions than toyotas, so mas marupok sya).

[Langabe]

pre ingat ka lang sa timing belt na binibili mo dami kasi ngayon timing belt na original yun packing pareho sila pag compare mo sa original.

[Bry]

pre ingat ka lang sa timing belt na binibili mo dami kasi ngayon timing belt na original yun packing pareho sila pag compare mo sa original.

Yup. That's why I bought the timing belts sa reputable shop, kahit na malayo.