[JasonSelmes]

Hi folks Jason here from Sydney

I purchased a 1991 Suzuki Vitrara JLX Manual Trans.

153,000 km's on the clock
15" Wheels - General Road Tyres
No Mods
Not Lifted

I am wondering what maintenance I should or need to do or check prior to my trip coming up in early November? The Trip is from Sydney down to the Riverina close to swan hill. Its around 900km trip each way. I am planning on doing the 900km in stages. Leave at 5pm in Sydney. Sleep in Wagga Wagga NSW. 6am next morning departure. Stop in Hay NSW for Breakfast Then head to Moulamien about 60km North East of Swan Hill.

Also with the age of the car I dont really want to thrash it down there. Whats a good speed to keep the car at? Normally it runs around 3500 rpm for 100km p/h. IS this a good speed?

We are staying for 7 days Then will head back to Sydney leaving early in the morning or do what we did on the way down. Leave late when the weather is cooler and Sleep at a rest stop then head the rest of the way back home the next day.

The owner said the clutch was barely 6 months old and the mechanic who did my rear tail shaft seal said it bites a bit indicating it was maybe a heavy duty clutch that was installed. Are heavy duty clutches normal on a rig like this?

Here is some maintenance Ive done in the last few weeks since I have owned the car.

1. Rear and front Diff oil
2. Manual Trans Oil
4. Transfer Case Oil
5. Crankcase Engine Oil + filter
6. Air Filter
7. Fuel Filter
8. New Thermostat
8. Full radiator flush and refill.
9. New Leads
10. Dizzy cap + Rotor Button
11. New Spark plugs
12. Rear Tail Shaft Seal
13. New Front brake pads(old ones were half meat but I changed them anyway)

Cheers fellas have a good one

[DarkHorse]

Sounds like you've covered the basics - as long as it isn't losing fluid anywhere, getting hot, clunking over bumps or wandering on the road it should be fine. Did you do a brake bleed and top-up when you did the pads? The only other things I can think of would be to replace the suspension bushes, get your tyres balanced and wheels aligned, power steering fluid topped up if it needs it... If you get a check engine light after a few minutes at freeway speed it'll be the oxygen sensor - $80 for the part and an easy swap.

A heavy duty clutch is fine if that's what's grabbing, it'll just be a bit more work then stock, but doesn't do any harm. Most of us don't bother - doesn't last any longer.

You haven't said if it's LWB or SWB? How many ks on it? Is it modified - lifted, bigger tyres?

Generally speaking it's always worth carrying spare oil, coolant and brake fluid, engine belts, radiator hoses.

Planning any offroading while you're away? Dramatically increases your spares list Depending how hard the driving factor in CVs, unis, balljoints, hubs, shocks - the list could be endless.

A Vit, especially if it's EFI, will sit at 110kmh happilly all day. It'll get on your nerves buzzing away, but the motor won't have a problem at all. For the best fuel consumption (and slightly better mental state) cruise at around 90-95.

Short answer is - you'll be fine. Have a good drive!

[atari4x4]

+1

but take heaps of pictures... we like pictures

[JasonSelmes]

DarkHorse wrote:

Sounds like you've covered the basics - as long as it isn't losing fluid anywhere, getting hot, clunking over bumps or wandering on the road it should be fine. Did you do a brake bleed and top-up when you did the pads? The only other things I can think of would be to replace the suspension bushes, get your tyres balanced and wheels aligned, power steering fluid topped up if it needs it... If you get a check engine light after a few minutes at freeway speed it'll be the oxygen sensor - $80 for the part and an easy swap.

A heavy duty clutch is fine if that's what's grabbing, it'll just be a bit more work then stock, but doesn't do any harm. Most of us don't bother - doesn't last any longer.

You haven't said if it's LWB or SWB? How many ks on it? Is it modified - lifted, bigger tyres?

Generally speaking it's always worth carrying spare oil, coolant and brake fluid, engine belts, radiator hoses.

Planning any offroading while you're away? Dramatically increases your spares list Depending how hard the driving factor in CVs, unis, balljoints, hubs, shocks - the list could be endless.

A Vit, especially if it's EFI, will sit at 110kmh happilly all day. It'll get on your nerves buzzing away, but the motor won't have a problem at all. For the best fuel consumption (and slightly better mental state) cruise at around 90-95.

Short answer is - you'll be fine. Have a good drive!

Hi folks thanks for the replies. I have modified my post at the top to ad more info. I am not sure if its Long Wheel base or short how would I check?

Where we are going is flat driving and wont require any 4WD work at all. Down that way the bloody place is as flat as Texas is in the USA . Some if it will be unsealed roads but nothing a car wouldnt be able to do.

Its a 1991 so its a carby engine.

Funny thing is the bastards only carry a 30 litre tank Might carry a 20 liter jerry can with me as well as fuel can be expensive down that way.

[atari4x4]

2 doors = swb
4 doors = lwb

carby vit will be swb

[JasonSelmes]

atari4x4 wrote:

2 doors = swb
4 doors = lwb

carby vit will be swb

Yeah mate its the 2 door including the back door.

I already took the rear seats out to give me extra room for the camping gear.

Where can I get an O2 sensor from? I dont seem to be having issues with that so far but preventative maintenance is key i guess.

[Bucketload]

Few beers for passenger, bottles of water, bog roll, cable ties, shifter, something to hit shit with (shifter may do), torch, munchies,gaffa tape, cool tunes = ROADTRIP!

[303zuke]

JasonSelmes wrote:

atari4x4 wrote:

2 doors = swb
4 doors = lwb

carby vit will be swb

Yeah mate its the 2 door including the back door.

Where can I get an O2 sensor from?

If it's carby, it won't have an O2 sensor, that's part of the Efi system.

JasonSelmes wrote:

Funny thing is the bastards only carry a 30 litre tank Might carry a 20 liter jerry can with me as well as fuel can be expensive down that way.

Are you sure it only has a 30 litre tank????????? Should be nearly double that!

[zukmeista]

Carby Vit=42L fuel tank standard.

[JasonSelmes]

zukmeista wrote:

Carby Vit=42L fuel tank standard.

re you sure? Its filling up to 30.5 litres or so on fill up. I am getting just on 300kms per tank. Unless there is a problem with the gauge because I have been filling up on empty and it takes between 30 and 31 litres everytime.

[zukmeista]

Sounds like it. Best way to find out is to run it till it stops due to lack of petrol, then fill it up.

[Poita]

Yeah tank is just over 40ltrs. I have the same but 92. I did a similar sized trip and the same prep as you. Carried spare oil and coolant but just used a bit of oil. Need new rings but just topped it up a couple times.

I sat on 100 no worries with the boot full, roof rack full, 2 people and a dog. 110 was ok but pushing it. No roof rack and you should be fine.

[Reubs]

JasonSelmes wrote:

zukmeista wrote:

Carby Vit=42L fuel tank standard.

re you sure? Its filling up to 30.5 litres or so on fill up. I am getting just on 300kms per tank. Unless there is a problem with the gauge because I have been filling up on empty and it takes between 30 and 31 litres everytime.

That sounds correct. Empty on my SWB Vit was only about a 32L fill. I once ran it dry and got 440km to the tank. About 300km and 30L to fill when the guage reads empty is OK.

[Reubs]

JasonSelmes wrote:

Also with the age of the car I dont really want to thrash it down there. Whats a good speed to keep the car at? Normally it runs around 3500 rpm for 100km p/h. IS this a good speed?

I bought my SWB in Perth and drove it to Brisbane 2 weeks later. I sat on 110km/h most of the way - IMO there's nothing wrong with running at that speed all day.

[DarkHorse]

My tank goes well past the 'E' on the guage. Not sure about 30%, but you get the point.

[Sweenz]

Just wondering about the comment made on cruising speeds. I usually sit on 90km/h at 3k. If i go to 110 it goes up to 4.5k. I'm guessing that's bad for these motors to sit at for hours at a time on the highway? Bearing in mind i have 31.5 tires. Come to think of it I don't think Ive ever revved my motor past 5k for fear of breaking something. How tough are g16b's?

[JasonSelmes]

Sweenz wrote:

Just wondering about the comment made on cruising speeds. I usually sit on 90km/h at 3k. If i go to 110 it goes up to 4.5k. I'm guessing that's bad for these motors to sit at for hours at a time on the highway? Bearing in mind i have 31.5 tires. Come to think of it I don't think Ive ever revved my motor past 5k for fear of breaking something. How tough are g16b's?

I am not sure mate ive only owned my 3 week.

I am keen to just sit at 95-100km/h and thats that. I will take my time no rush really. I am not a hugh fan of driving huge distances anyway. I normally getting tired easily and taking break is good.

I hope my littler rig holds up to what i am asking of it!

[JasonSelmes]

DarkHorse wrote:

My tank goes well past the 'E' on the guage. Not sure about 30%, but you get the point.

I might run it till it goes empty. and keep a jerry in the back to see what I really get out of it.

[atari4x4]

mine is pretty much dead empty when the needle hits the middle part of the E.

[Reubs]

Sweenz wrote:

I usually sit on 90km/h at 3k. If i go to 110 it goes up to 4.5k.

I'm guessing that's bad for these motors to sit at for hours at a time on the highway? Bearing in mind i have 31.5 tires.

I'm guessing Auto? If you have a manual then your clutch is stuffed!

A vitara sitting on around 3300RPM is normal - it's what the engine is designed to do and it will happily do it.

My coily (G13) is sitting on 4000RPM at 110km/h and it's fine too. I have had a G16a sit on 5000RPM for about half an hour and didn't explode either.

[Bugsta]

900km is not a long trip when its broken into stages... Just a bunch of short trips strung together. 1/10th of a service interval. If your car is well maintained in good condition, which you have demonstrated, you'd expect no issues. You've done your research and prep so that all you can really do.

RACQ (oops NRMA) is worth every cent IMO. Cos shit does happen.