Testing the Grantt diesel engine lube for my Land Rover Defender 2.2 Puma engine. Like most modern diesel engines since 10 years ago, the Puma 2.2 diesel engine is turbo charged, which means it needs a lubricant that is formulated for higher heat than a normally aspirated engine. Also it must be a low-ash specification to minimise carbon build-up on the turbo bearings which need to spool up to 10,000 to 20,000 rpm.
How will I test? Just regularly check the oil level for oil consumption, and smell the oil. The aroma of a new oil and used oil will change but it shouldn't smell burnt. Finally, for these Defender Puma 2.2 engines, many owners and workshops in hot Malaysia observe a more frequent change interval than the 10,000 km recommended by JLR. Happy Off-Roading
Car buyers benefitting from China's charge into Southeast Asia and world car markets
The world auto industry is roiling with change and car buyers are happily enjoying discounts and bold new designs as car companies from Germany to China fight for market share.
The race for market share is especially reflected in the booming national car shows in Asia unlike in Japan and Europe where attendances and participation is on a declining trend.
Just as the Beijing Motor show opens this week with the Germans out in full force to push back their slide in China’s market share, so too the Bangkok Motor Show that ended last month with Chinese new-energy vehicles dominating the show.
Let’s talk about the Bangkok International Motor (BIM) show first. This show marks the time when China’s car makers, led by Great Wall, show that they intend to make Thailand their export base for the world, not just the region.
Their target is the light pick-up truck segment.
Can Great Wall Motor’s petrol-electric hybrid pick-up, the POER, overthrow the legendary Toyota Hilux, a super-reliable diesel-powered pick-up truck? Impossible, would be the general opinion of users if they were polled this year.
But there you go, GWM’s petrol-electric hybrid pick-up truck beat the Japanese to it. Prices and roll-out date of the POER should be announced in May.
But what if there is a carbon-tax or emission law such as in the UK and eventually, Australia?
GWM sold about 2 million cars worldwide last year and is said to be the top-selling pick-up brand in China with a 50 per cent market share.
Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of light pick-up trucks with most of the models from the above two Japanese and the third being Mitsubishi Motors Corp.
The second take -away from BIM is that EVs and the car brands from China that were the buzz of the show.
The third take-away is the confirmation, if any was needed, that electrification has levelled the playing field so much that Vietnam, which had
Xpeng
Right hand drive versions of xPeng electric vehicles will be available in southeast asia by the middle of the year. Bermaz has secured the franchise for Malaysia.
This 45th edition of the Bangkok International Motor Show will be the biggest ever with 49 car brands. Join me for the exclusive VIP and Press days starting tomorrow. The two big things will be the debut of the Mercedes-Benz hyper concept ONE-ELEVEN, its first outside Germany and the Vietnamese- made Vinfast electric pick-up, VF Wild, as well its electric SUV. The show opens to the public from 27th March to 7th April. #bangkokinternationalmotorshow #newjeepwrangler2004 #volvoex30,
Borneo Mulu 4WD recce
Off-road adventure with 4 highlights:
1. Penawan waterfalls near Lawas
2. Merarap Hot Springs
3. Mulu Cave National Park
4. Temburong Causeway the longest in southeast asia
Improve the lights on your mature car. Polish the plastic lens and extend the revived clarity with a plastic film. Total price starts from rm100 to rm150 for the top grade film said to last 3 years. At Brothers Sect 8, Kota Damansara. #Peugeot 3008 #automotive lights
The lights were getting dimmer and the solution for this 10-year old Peugeot is to polish the plastic headlamp cover and protect it with a plastic film. This job costs rm150 because the installer used the highest of the 3 grades of film available.
Toll-free days amplifies traffic congestion and carbon emissions
Were you in one of the estimated 2 million cars that were crawling on the North-South highway on Saturday (23 December), the eve of the year-end holidays?
The announcement of a toll-free day on Saturday added to the traffic congestion as motorists who wouldn’t otherwise have travelled, joined in the exodus.
Toll free travel on those days where the traffic is already going to be at the peak is like adding petrol to a wildfire.
The granting of toll-free travel on festive seasons was started by former PM, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, and because he was seen as an interim leader who sought popularity, most motorists accepted it rather than change their travel plans.
There are many analogies why this granting of toll-free day on a traffic-peak day is counter-intuitive.
For instance, cinemas never give discounts during peak show times. Conversely, they offer cheap tickets for matinee shows during non-peak hours to attract viewers to otherwise empty halls.
In the case of highways for instance, if there is to be a repeat of toll-free travel, it should be for the period from midnight to 6am when the traffic load is low.
And in any case, toll-free is not free. The government must compensate the highway concessionaires for the tolls that were accumulated during the toll-free period.
But is this year’s latest toll waiver mere populism?
Could it be driven by business interests that want to push the issue that it’s time for an expensive multi-lane free flow system that has been estimated to cost RM3.46 billion.
On that note, many ministers from the previous governments over the past four years have talked about toll highways and traffic congestion and solutions.
While the payment system is now more liberalized and includes payment by credit card, this is limited to 11 toll plazas on open highways ie, those plazas that collect toll on entry.
However, there are some positive developments.
First, entry points on PL
I wonder how we can successfully improve the convenience of our tolling system.
One journalist recently wrote that the RFID was so convenient that we should scrap the SmartTag n TnG card.
As motorists, we think there are many things that can be done by the Highway Authority of Malaysia (LLM).
It should benchmark a lane's smooth thruflow and penalise the relevant operators for non compliance.
In the context of highway safety, there is obviously more that the LLM can do for heavy commercial vehicle operators.
Surely the lines of big lorries parked at night along the R&R lanes is neglectful of the truck drivers needs, as well the safety of night drivers.
Perhaps the LLM can tell us it's limitations as to its role as the custodian of Malaysia's highways and whether its jurisdiction applies in Sabah and Sarawak.
Electric vans are today's ideal path towards decarbonisation of the commercial transport sector.
Pos Malaysia and DHL are showing the way, with purchases of 143 units and 50 units respectively of EV vans from the Sendok group.
The 2-day e-mobility exhibition at the KLCC ends Thursday 24th November 2023.
Celebrating with a Jamboree -- The 26th anniversary of the Land Rover Owners club of Malaysia was held at a hide-away in Karak, the Petai Jungle Lodge.
Members and friends were provided opportunities for some practical off-road tips by LROM president, Rate de Silva, as well some fun and games.
There was a talk on Orang Asli concerns by Dr Colin Nicholas, the Chairman of the Centre of Orang Asli Concerns. A veteran masseur, Francis Tam, was on hand to provide his acupressure services in the fresh air and shade of giant trees at the Lodge.
More than 50 Land Rovers, mostly Defenders and some Discovery 1s and 2s attended the 3D2N camping event which ends 13 Nov.
Pity though that the river is still not yet what it was before the terrible floods that tore through the hill about 2 years ago.
The LROM is a club that was founded by a small group of Land Rover enthusiasts who enjoyed off-roading, camping and enjoying the commune with nature.
The LROM does its part in assisting in the provision of logistic services for jungle communities. Membership forms can be downloaded from the LROM's FaceBook page.
Now that there are a record 22 passenger EVs and 4 light commercial EV vans in Malaysia, it's time for the civil service to implement the Green Procurement Policy where 20 pct its annual purchases are of green products including EVs.
This GPP which is spelt out in the Low Carbon Blueprint should also include e-motorbikes because e-motorcycles are far from parity with combustion bikes like the Yamaha Y suku.
The energy transition towards low heat, low carbon is disrupting the world and Malaysia will seize the moment for the maximum advantage in creating high value jobs and advancing Malaysia as the regional hub for renewable energy, said PM Anuar Ibrahim.
He's seen here arriving for the TNB Energy Transition conference today.
As a motoring journalist for 40 years, I’ve followers both from the old days of print and now from smart phone screens.
Over the past half year, the advice that was sought was if it was the right time to buy an EV.
What do you think that question means? It means that there is a fear of losing out. Also referred to as FOMO or Fear of Missing Out.
There is now a fear of missing out on the EV boom. Yes, it’s a boom from 3 EV models for sale in 2019 to 21 EV cars in today’s Malaysian car market.
And some people are starting to realise that there’s more than enough sense to own an EV if you’re already going to buy a car from RM100,000 to RM350,000.
Here are the facts:
1. EV’s are a Best-Buy in Malaysia where almost all other cars attract a variety of taxes. EV’s join the twin-cab pick-up truck in the Best Buy category. This makes Malaysia the cheapest place in the world, after Shanghai where it’s made, to own a Tesla Model Y.
2. Malaysia has the world’s top two EV makers – BYD and Tesla Cars – invested in Malaysia as National Sales Company’s. And both are fiercely competitive in prices and technology. That means Malaysia has the two best EV car makers in the world competing to sell cars to Peninsular Malaysians with great offers.
3. Both these two car makers are brilliant and disruptive and offer a new way of life.
And here are the other things where you need to be sufficient to own an EV if you’re thinking of buying a new car:
4. You stay in a house with a covered garage for your car and you have TNB electricity.
5. You must be a normal person who arrives home by 10 pm and wake at 8am and you are able to park your car in the garage and plug in your car continuously from 10pm – 8am.
6. You don’t drive more than 200km a day just to be safe. The China car costing RM100,000 has almost the same 400km range as the RM400,000 German premium EV SUV.
7. You must invest in a wall charger which would c
Priced to sell -- new Tesla EV model Y with full manufacturer's warranty starting from rm199,000. Check it out at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur
Tourists from China are bringing back back more smiles in Sabah because of RM600 direct return flights from Beijing to Kota Kinabalu. Congrats to theTourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Christina Liew. Tahniah to Shanghai-based and China's first low-cost carrier Spring Airlines.
Car buyers are shocked by the amazing deals offered by major China car maker, Chery, to commemorate its official entry into Malaysia.
Car buyers are shocked by the amazing deals offered by major China car maker, Chery, to commemorate its official entry into Malaysia.
It’s offering its first global car, the OMODA 5 (C) at RM108,800.00.
It's top selling SUV, the Tiggo 8Pro which has gained traction in Indonesia with its powerful engine output is priced from RM159,800.
The special deal for the first 3,000 customers in Malaysia is a super value 7-year/150,000-kilometer vehicle warranty and a 10-year/one million-kilometer engine warranty.
While the above two models are Internal Combustion Engine models, Chery plans to introduce the OMODA 5 EV and TIGGO 7 PRO in 2024.
Chery also announced to its Guest of Honour the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, Tengku Zafrul, that it was investing in a battery plant and establishing its regional production hub in Malaysia.
On a separate note, the new car companies from China are headhunting for senior management staff from the existing auto industry.
It's glee time for employees at certain German car companies especially those reaching retirement age who are enjoying a new lease of life.
These China car companies are also riding a wave of employee discontent. As one senior management level Malaysian employee observed: “It’s good that the China car companies are pinching staff (from the German brands) because as now, only the expats get promoted).”
To further delight customers, Chery Malaysia announced the price of the OMODA 5 (C) at
RM108,800.00 and OMODA 5 (H) at RM118,800.00 This competitive price reflects our commitment
to making excellence attainable, offering our customers an exceptional vehicle that combines style,
performance, and value.
Additionally, Tiggo 8Pro will be available at the price of RM159,800. This exceptional value
allows our customers to indulge in the luxury, sophistication, and advanced features of this
remarkable SUV.
Chery offers a comprehensive warranty policy for Malaysian users, including a 7-
year/150,000-k
