Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Tibet here I come - 10 days to D1


I'm feeling very excited as the days to the departure draws nearer. Next week would be the last week spent in Singapore. My Land cruiser KZJ78G with a 1KJ-TE engine is all set up and ready for the 40 day expedition to Mount Everest Base camp.
The final accessory I fitted was a snorkel. It will enable the engine to breathe cooler dust-free air. So far so good. The air filter appears to be super clean and the looks enhanced to a more rugged 4X4. As for increased performance, I could not feel any visible increase in power.
I am especially happy that the engine temperature remains within the manufacturer's specs when going uphill. This is a direct result of topping up the silicone oil in the viscous hub of the fan hub assembly. Most Landcruisers will keep to normal engine temperatures with the standard clutch fan. No need to change to a 4 layer radiator or a larger fan. Just top up the silicone oil and all will be okay.
I tested the tyre pressures on the Highway yesterday. I found that 30psi when cold, which is about 32psi when hot suits just fine. Anything lower feels slugish and anything higher feels too hard on the bumps.
I will probably start packing today. Don't want to miss any items. Next week, I'll send the LC to Panjang's workshop for a complete servicing. This time I'm determined to have a 100% mechanical fault free drive there & back.       

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