Engine oil, coolant topup - Swift Petrol

Hi, My swift a year and a half old and around 9k on the odometer. Its next service is in 6 months.

At an Indianoil pump where I fuel up, the staff checked and told me that the engine oil level is very close to the second dot on the dipstick and the coolant is also close to minimum.They offered to top up the engine oil with a 1 litre and said it should suffice. I told them I would get back to them.

I returned home and checked myself and indeed the engine oil level was very close to the lower dot on the dipstick and even coolant was low. The oil is still very vicious though when tested between 2 fingers. It was changed only 2k km ago.

Can the slight increase in engine running noise be attributed to the low engine oil level?

I refered to this chart and my service manual - and since im in Mumbai where temps are around 30-40C i think the right oil for me is SAE 40 Rating.Please recommend brands as well.

Can the oil just be topped up or does it have to be completely drained.

Please advice if i should get the oil changed at the pump or take it to the service station as it only involves opening a lid and pouring?

Please tell me what to do about the coolant too.

Thanks!

Get the car checked for oil leakage, just to be sure. Engine noise is probably related to either the low level, or increased viscosity or both. Change the oil rather than top up in the interest of the engine's reliability.

For the oil grades you can use 10W40, 15W40, 20W40 or 20W50 - confirm with the dealer for the particular engine (petrol/diesel) though many oils are formulated to work with both engine types. Don't bother about the brands though (castrol GTX, castrom magnatec, HP cruise are a few) - all of them adhere to the industry standard and the differences are more of advertising differences than anything else. Yes, prices will be very much different depending on whether semi-synthetic/multigrade or fully-synthetic, the former being cheaper by almost Rs. 300 for  a 3 litre can.

If the car is under warranty let the ASC do it - they might say its not needed but insist on it. A failed or bad engine simply translates to more profit for them.

PS: Low oil/coolant level and viscous oil look rather abnormal for a car that's only 1.5 years/9000 km old...

I dont see any visible leakage - cause i use the car only for about 3 hours a day at other times its parked in the garage and there no stains/spill on the floor whenever i check. I feel the ASC did not fill it up to the right mark on last refill and I did not even check on delivery.

The car is under warranty, will the ASC refill/top up for free?

Thanks!

I don't know but there's no harm in asserting it!! At worst you will have to pay for the oil, but labour should be free.

completely agree, While I am at it. is there is a better oil brand like castrol and what are the costs i am looking at approx?

Well, there's no "best" oil if you ask me, except for the differences between multigrade/semi-synthetic/fully-synthetic. Practically the only difference is price, fully-synthetic being the most expensive but oil changes can be done at greater intervals. For the other two the oil change interval is smaller (i.e., more frequent) but price is less. Castrol magnatec (fully synthetic) will be about Rs. 900 for 3 litres, HP cruise or other around Rs. 650 for 3 litres.

thanks for this #'s - what about coolant - should i change that too - or top up and how much will it costs

Rohit - since you too are in mumbai - is there a good dealer you know off in the malad/kandivali w area - I hate the formalities and time it takes to get stuff done at a ASC besides i like to see whats being done in front of me vs leaving the car and collecting it after a few hours especially if its petty stuff like oil and coolant change.

Coolant can be topped up - again after verifying that there's no leakage.

I am also in Borivali, but cannot recommend any dealers as such - all are more or less the same: in the business to make money. If you go to MG road/link road cross junction, towards Hindustan naka there are quite a few car part dealers and garages there who will do the job for a reasonable amount. For the coolant, I guess you can top it up yourself, just buy the pre-mixed coolant and pour it into the radiator when the engine is cool. Pour till the coolant consistently overflows from the radiator - that's when its full. Then pour coolant into the reservoir to the recommended level.

I got the car checked at an ASC and they ruled out any leakage of oil. Since the last oil change was only about 1250 kms ago as per the service record, they just addded another litre of it to mantain the level.  Even topped up the coolant.

Rohit, Thanks for the advice.

Engine is much more silent now.

@rohit - correct me if i am wrong , 

coolant top up has to done in two steps ,1) filling the radiator (till it overflows)  & 2) the coolant tank (till the MAX mark is touched or should it be full coolant tank ??)

Can you suggest any good coolant brand ??