Abigail

So, you’ve not long purchased a new car and you need to get it into the garage for a service. You don’t want to pay an arm and a leg to the main dealer, but what choice do you have? Turns out, quite a lot. 

According to an agreement called the European Union Block Exemption legislation (and, yes, this does still stand in the UK, despite us leaving the EU): 

• Car makers in the UK cannot force a buyer to have their vehicle serviced by their official dealership
• A car under warranty needs to be serviced using approved parts only…
• …and must be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines, adhering to a set schedule
• If your car requires repair work for failed parts under its new car warranty, the manufacturer has the right to insist that this work is undertaken by its official dealerships – they are paying for the repair, so this is fair. 

It is completely up to you where you take your new car for its service. If you do choose to turn your back on the main dealer and search for a more affordable option, make sure you choose a reputable organisation; one with professional, qualified technicians to do the job. 

Most importantly, make sure you have your service book stamped, ensure you keep records of any work done and insist that approved parts and lubricants are used in any repairs, as this is one of the requirements to ensure your car remains under warranty. 

Although this is a regulation put in place by the European Union, and the UK is no longer part of this, a spokesman for the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said, “…we don’t see anything changing in that respect for the foreseeable future.”

“It’s important that you follow the manufacturer’s guidelines concerning service intervals, such as one year or 10,000 miles, and you must use the approved parts. But otherwise, you can’t be forced to use a dealer’s workshop for your car’s service.”

At K Brown Auto Repairs, we use up-to-date, recognised software to determine a vehicle’s service schedule and the relevant parts to use. We have fully trained technicians at both our garages. Any work undertaken by mechanics-in-training will be closely monitored by fully proficient members of staff to ensure a high quality of work is maintained. 

Rising fuel costs, along with an increase in the cost of overall living, is a problem we are all facing. Understanding how your car uses its fuel, and what you can do to reduce the amount consumed, is a way to help offset the rise in costs.

Since the weather is due to heat up in the next couple of months – we can only hope! – it’ll be handy to know how to cool your car interior effectively, without using too much fuel. 

How much fuel does your air-con consume?

The compressor needs energy to run your vehicle’s air conditioning system and will use a small amount of fuel whenever the system is running. It could increase your fuel usage by as much as 10 per cent.

This inflation is more noticeable on short journeys; when you set off, the system has to work really hard to bring the internal temperature down. Once it’s down to a comfortable level, the airflow rate can be reduced, the temperature increased, or even turned off completely. Long journeys usually don’t require the air con to be blasting the whole way, hence why using your air-con on short journeys can cause more of an increase in fuel consumption.

How to save fuel:

• When you first start driving, try opening the windows for a couple of minutes if it’s warm. This will remove the majority of the hot air in the cabin so your air conditioning won’t have to work too hard.
• Remember, although driving with your windows open is fine (and can help reduce fuel consumption) at slow speeds, it is not advised to do the same when you’re driving faster. The drag caused by open windows could actually use additional fuel. 
• In terms of fuel usage, it’s obviously better to drive without the windows open or the air con on. But, on a hot day, this can make the cabin incredibly uncomfortable. 
• It’s crucial to have your car’s air conditioning system serviced regularly. Much like a boiler, your car’s air-con has to be maintained to prevent problems in the future, despite the fact that it seems to be working fine in the present. Your air-con system should be serviced every two years to ensure it is running efficiently and any lost refrigerant is replaced. The less efficient the system, the more fuel it will use. 

If your car is more than three years old, an annual MOT test is non-negotiable – in fact, it’s a legal requirement to ensure your car is roadworthy. A car with an expired or failed MOT is illegal to drive and could land you with a hefty fine, and even a driving ban. 

It is estimated that around 40% of cars submitted for an MOT check fail the test. Here are some quick checks you can do to improve your chances.

There are other checks that a technician will conduct during the MOT that are not so easy to do yourself beforehand. This list is not exhaustive, but it does help you prepare your car at least somewhat for its MOT test.

Is your MOT expiring soon?

If the deadline for your MOT test is coming up you’ll want to get your car booked in for a test ASAP. Try our online booking system if you’re tight for time. Or, if you fancy a chat, call either of our friendly reception teams on 01485 533786 for Hunstanton or 01553 763763 for King’s Lynn.

What is a cam belt? 

Simply put, it’s a vital piece of the engine. Its job is to control the timing of your vehicle’s internal combustion engines. It’s also sometimes referred to as a timing belt.

Does your car have one? 

Some cars don’t actually have a cam belt and have a cam chain instead, for example, most BMW and Mercedes cars. Check your vehicle handbook or speak to your garage to find out if you have a cam belt or cam chain.

What’s the difference between a cam belt and a cam chain?

The main difference is the material. Cam chains are made of metal, housed inside the engine and lubricated by the engine oil. Whereas cam belts are usually outside the engine, however, some manufacturers are now using “wet belts” which run internally in the engine oil like cam chains. Cam chains can last longer than cam belts because they’re made of stronger material.

When do you need to replace a cam belt? 

This differs depending on the make and model of your car; your best bet is to check the manufacturer’s specifications, which will set out the necessary service intervals. These intervals can either be time-related or by the number of miles the vehicle has done (whatever comes first).

It’s so important that you follow the manufacturer’s requirements and get your cam belt replaced when it needs to be as the risks of not doing so can be both costly and dangerous. It will cost you much less if you honour the recommended service intervals and get it replaced on time, then if you wait till it’s at breaking point – or breaks completely. If you don’t look after your cam belt, it can perish, damaging your engine. Take extra care if your car stops and starts a lot (if you take your car out on a lot of short journeys) or if you rarely use your car as this can cause the cam belt to disintegrate quicker.

Things you need to know: 

• Ensure you use a qualified technician to fit a new cam belt. As long as you take your car to a reputable garage, you should be fine. 
• Is the technician doing the job cam belt insured? If something goes wrong and they’re not, you may end up paying much more than you expected.
• A lot of cars nowadays require specialist tools to carry out a cam belt replacement. The technician doing your cam belt should have access to and be competent in using these tools. 
• DON’T FORGET a poorly maintained cam belt could destroy your engine.

In Summer 2021, the UK made the switch to E10 as the standard petrol grade – as opposed to E5 – in a bid to cut carbon dioxide emissions. Formula 1 is now also committing to this change; as of next season all race cars will run on E10 fuel. Ferrari has complained of having to redesign the internal combustion engine of its vehicles to ensure the new fuel doesn’t negatively impact their performance on the track. But, what does the introduction of E10 really mean for us and our ‘ordinary’ vehicles?

If you’re not already clued up, E10 motor fuel contains less carbon and more ethanol (a kind of alcohol manufactured from plants) than other fuels. The idea is that E10 will help reduce the overall quantity of fossil fuel’s needed to power cars in the UK. Previously, the petrol grades in the UK were all known as E5, as they contained up to 5% ethanol, with the other 95% being regular unleaded petrol. Which means – you’ve guessed it – E10 contains 10% ethanol instead.

There is much debate as to whether E10 is damaging vehicles or not; many complain of a reduction in power meaning the car has to work harder, increasing overall fuel consumption. However, the government claims that this new, more eco-friendly fuel should be safe for every petrol vehicle built after 2011. Those with older vehicles should avoid it and use the old E5, which is still on sale in the super grade at most petrol stations. If you’re unsure visit https://check-vehicle-compatibility-e10-petrol.service.gov.uk/, a site set up by the government where you can check whether your car will run on E10 fuel. Be careful though, as the government will not be liable for any damage to your vehicle as a result of using its checker, especially if you have had replacement parts fitted. If you accidentally put E10 fuel in a vehicle that isn’t compatible, don’t panic as it will still run, according to the RAC. Over time though, it could cause damage to rubber seals, plastics and metals.

So, the big question; how environmentally friendly is E10 really? Of course, there is no straight answer. Despite the fact that ethanol is seen a carbon-neutral (the plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air while they are growing, offsetting the CO2 emitted when the fuel is burnt), sceptics are debating whether this is really the case. Some are even questioning using food crops to produce fuels from a moral standpoint, worrying that it may cause food shortages or an increase in food prices. It is yet to be determined whether this change is for the better or not – if it is genuinely good for the planet, drivers may just have to ‘suck it up’ and deal with the blow to their car’s performance.