Oils and Fluids
Brake fluid testers
Technology is a wonderful thing – in many cases, it has made tools that were once solely the preserve of the professionals more accessible to the enthusiastic car owner. A particular example of which is DIY brake fluid tools. Yet, we advise that you must buy with care. The dangers of old brake fluid […]
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Will the new Green E10 petrol cost you dear?
The government consultation (which lasted for fewer than two months) closed on the 16th September. In it, the Department of Transport (DfT) sought public feedback on whether and how to introduce E10 petrol in the UK, in what way to label the new fuel, plus for how long a continued supply of the ‘traditional’ E5 […]
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Level checks – heed the Max
While ensuring correct fluid levels is vital for year-round reliability, a useful reminder to help prevent a ruined summer holiday is to make sure that your car is in good health, prior to venturing on a long journey. Yet, while levels should not be permitted to fall below any ‘minimum’ marks, it is essential to […]
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My toolbox – Gunson Tools One Man Eezibleed kit
While not trying to get too philosophical, everything has a finite life and one of the most useful items in my toolbox has just bitten-the-dust. My Gunson’s one man brake ‘Eezibleed’ kit has been dispatched to landfill after eight years of renewing the fluid from the brake and clutch systems of the ten cars that […]
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Diesel Particulate Filter introduced for petrols
Despite the heavy criticisms that have been directed at diesel engines in the past few years, the fuel still offers advantages. Recently, I liaised with a committee that influences the UK government’s air quality policies, which recommends the diesel scrappage scheme (of which I do not approve, as written here). I queried, if people scrap […]
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Watch out for the expensive refuelling mistake…
Especially at this time of year, most of our minds are focussed on other things. Therefore, it is easy to drift into ‘auto-pilot’, when conducting some of most simple tasks. Refuelling is a case in point. OSV, the vehicle supply professionals, surveyed 500 people and found that, while men were more likely to fill a […]
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Post-winter car checks
Now that spring is in the air and the weather is improving, it is a good idea to reward your car for getting you through winter safely. Not only will your vehicle look and feel better, treating it to a spring clean will also help to enhance its value. 1. PAINT Paint tends to suffer […]
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Your Guide to Automotive Cooling Systems
The cooling system tends to be overlooked until a fault develops and so Rob Marshall explains how to avoid car overheating. As an internal combustion engine wastes so much energy, the cooling system is charged with dissipating large amounts of excess heat. Coolant (a solution of water and antifreeze) is pumped around the engine to […]
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Your Guide to Servicing: Filters
An essential part of car servicing is routine replacement of filters but, because they are often neglected, Rob Marshall reveals what they are and why periodic replacement is so important. Keeping the various fluids and fuels clean is essential to prolonging your car’s life and enhancing its reliability. Unfortunately, the ‘out of sight, out of […]
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Your Guide to Servicing: Choosing Car Engine Oil
With choice at the motor factors being so utterly bewildering, Rob Marshall advises on the importance of buying the correct engine lubricant. WHAT DOES ENGINE OIL DO? Ultimately, motor oil separates your engine from a very large repair bill. Without lubrication, an engine will run for less than a few minutes, before being severely damaged, […]
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