New Record FC!!!!

Managed to achieve 715.3km per full tank as indicated by odometer. 
Journey from Parit Raja to Pendang, Kedah along PLUS highway.
After service - oil change/air filter change + balancing/alignment

Pumped in Esso petrol.

With stock ECU, stock tyre (205/65R16) will have - 338,363.3 complete rotation.
Therefore my actual distance is calculated by 2.0725 X 338,363.3 = 701.3km.

Finally, my Alphard FC > 700km per full tank...!! I am sooo satisfy... :)

Time to service

Time Up!!!! 
My Alphard need to be serviced today. Actually already clocked more than 4500km mileage since last service. Time to shop engine oil, oil filter and others (suspect front & rear brakepad). The existing brakepads (original Toyota) were never replaced since owned this giant. Already 2.5 years.

Surveying the maintenance's items.
Went to Carrefour Batu Pahat to take a look at engine oil. Personally, i prefer Semi-Synthetic Mobil Super2000. Yes, there were clearance stocks there. Priced at RM90 per 4 litres bottle. But something is disinterest me. The manufactured date is November 2010. That's 2 years ago. Plus the oil's spec is API SL standard. The new API is API-SN. I opted to choose the latest API Standard for my cars. So, i did not buy the engine oil although the price was really interesting.

Finally, i bought the engine oil at one of the Mobil Petrol Station at Sri Gading (before the pedestrian fly-over). Bought at RM113 per 4 litres and met the standard API-SN. Mobil Super 2000 10W-40 Semi-Synthetic 4 litres to be exact. The manufacturing date is December 2011 but with latest API-SN standard.



Bought the original Toyota oil filter, RM18 at sparepart shop.

The part number is 90915-YZZE2

Part is manufactured in Thailand by Toyota Thailand. 

Just for record, 

1) changing engine oil without replacing oil filter need - 4.1L

2) changing engine oil with oil filter need - 4.2L

This is service setup by Hamamatsu Netz Toyota based on my observation during my time at Japan.

Some workshop may be said that 4L is sufficient. Used to top up only 4L Estima ACR30W which use same engine 2AZ-FE. Honestly, did not find any irregularity or abnormaly by using this setup.

Went to one of tyre workshop at Parit Raja to change oil. 

Also, i did replace the air filter DIY.

Luckily, during my visit to Autobacks last year, managed to buy MITSINBO brand part - 2 pcs at RM10.10/pc.

My regular spare part shop quote RM15/pc for aftermarket air filter, brand - FILTON.

The part number is 17801-28010 sharing part with Toyota Estima ACR30W.

Front brake pad also needed to be replaced.

The workshop told that original front brake pad cost RM300 while aftermarket brand 'BestForm' cost at RM150. Opted to buy aftermarket one. Yes, that part may be decide between death or live!! But the BestForm is not a 'cikai' brand from China Mainland. Part are manufactured by Malaysia company. Moreover, i am not that kind of speedy driver (ayat utk sedapkan hati..hehe).

Total cost of maintenance:

At tyre workshop

Mobil Super2000 semi-synthetic (10W-40)  = RM113

Oil Filter 90915-YZZE2                               = RM18

BestForm semi-metallic brakepad (Front)      = RM150

Balancing                                                      = RM28

Alignment                                                      = RM18

Labour charge                                               = RM15

Changing Air Filter DIY

Air Filter 17801-28010                                 = RM10.10

Labour charge                                               = free Maaa DIY..hehehe

TOTAL COST OF MAINTENANCE (67,000KM) = RM352.10

Just for an update:

Testimonial: (26/7/2013)

The BestForm brake pad served it's purpose but the dust from the braking event is significantly much compared to OEM making the rims dirty/ blacken with the dust. Suspect that the lifespan is much shorter than OEM.

My advice, go for OEM... :(

ETIQA Motor Claim Insurance

My car is insured by ETIQA. This is my first experience dealing with ETIQA's claim. Previously (back on 2009), when my KIA Spectra driven by my wife got hit by a motorcycle was insured by TAKAFUL Malaysia - bad experience..!!

We can track our claim status online for ETIQA claim.

http://www.merimen.com.my/claims/index.cfm?fusebox=MTRcmt&fuseaction=dsp_claimant&ins=ETIQA

We also can view the total cost repair quaoted by repairer and approved by adjuster.

Which parts are replaced/repaired and the part's price also.

In my case, the loss is quite small visually. From my observation :

1. Replace the headlight LH  - my estimation cost about RM1,300

2. Replace side bracket LH - my estimation cost about RM200

3. Repair dented left fender

4. Paintwork front bumper + left fender - about RM400

The total cost is about RM2000 ~ RM3000 if i want to repair without insurance's claim.

Surprisingly, the repairer quoted about RM11,235 !!!!

While based on adjuster the quotation is reduced to RM6,460.26

The repairer quoted that my car need to replace the whole front bumper + front grill assembly which no need to be repaired at all!! hahahahahah..what a joke...

The workshop just want to take advantage of the claim - more money are flowing right down into their mouth..hihi.

The best part is the repairer also replace my already left side broken my sonar sensor before accident happened..hahaha

But i did not care at all as long as I do not need to pay extra which i expected earlier.

Actually, my car is under insured beyond the market value.Luckily, it is only 10% below the market value and ETIQA still willing to pay all the cost. Still, i expect to pay for the new part price (headlight) coz the insurer will indemnify us. There is a clause in insurance policy - Betterment. The claimant need to pay percentage of new part price according to the age of car. In my case, the car already 9 years, so i need to pay 40% of the part's price.But, the repairer do not ask any extra payment at all.

I suspected that the

approved total repair cost by ETIQA = actual cost repair + profit margin required by repairer + actual i need to top up

Whatever la......hopefully in future, i will never never again deal with motor insurance claim at all..AMIN..