Abigail

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.

As with most industries, the car world has its own version of Chinese whispers. Unfortunately, it’s often hard to determine what’s true and what’s false. Follow the wrong advice and you could suffer real-life consequences. 

So, what are some of the most common car maintenance myths?

Premium fuel is better for your car and will improve its performance

This myth can be both true and false, depending on the car you drive. The cheaper petrol fuel has to meet quality standards, so won’t actually harm your vehicle’s engine; however, if you have a car with a big engine, the premium option is best as it can make for a smoother and potentially even faster drive. If you drive a car with an average-sized engine, choosing premium fuel will cost you more without the added benefits – it makes absolutely no difference to the cars’ performance in this case.

Roll down the windows instead of using the air conditioner for better fuel economy

Some people believe that rolling down the windows is better than blasting the air conditioning to keep your car cool. It’s thought that this reduces the amount of fuel consumed, however it actually makes little difference to fuel efficiency.

You need to change your oil every 3,000 miles

Although this used to be the case, nowadays how often you need to change your oil depends on the manufacturer. Schedule your oil changes based on your owner’s manual recommendations – otherwise you might as well pour your money down the drain. 

Vehicle servicing at independent repair shops will void your warranty

Many people assume that you should have your car serviced at the dealership while it’s under warranty, and that going elsewhere will void it. It’s in the dealerships best interest to make people believe this; however, it’s not true. Any VAT registered garage can work on cars under warranty – just save your receipts to prove what was done and how much it cost. As long as the garage you go to sticks to the maintenance specified in the owner’s manual and does it at the correct times, your warranty will stay intact.

There are lots of motoring myths out there, some harmless, others that could cause serious damage to your car. Hopefully the above will save you some grief!

It may be referred to as the most wonderful time of the year, but, for unprepared drivers, it can quickly turn into the most dangerous. Now, we don’t want to put a dampener on the festivities, but believe us when we say nothing could ruin this season more than getting a flat battery on the way to stuff your face with Christmas dinner. 

Here are five things you can do to get your car ready for winter:

1) Check your battery

Your battery suffers from cold temperatures and the increased use of your lights, heater and blower at this time of year, putting it under extra pressure. If it’s already in need of some TLC, you may find yourself stuck on the side of the road with a car that won’t start – not to mention how cold you would be!

2) Top up your engine coolant with antifreeze

Although this may seem like a simple job, there’s still a right and wrong way to do it. For example, if you’ve previously topped up your coolant with water, any antifreeze added later would be over-diluted and be prone to freezing. To avoid any problems, it’s best to take your car to a garage who can do it for you. 

3) Inspect your tyres

When it starts to feel like the North-Pole outside the roads can turn icy, making them particularly perilous. Make sure your tyres are ready to tackle this by checking their pressure and tread depth. We recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm.

4) Get ready for icy mornings

If you haven’t allocated yourself enough time before work in the morning to de-ice your car, you may feel compelled to drive off without finishing the job, despite your sight being compromised. Obviously, this is incredibly risky, so it’s important that you’re prepared for this scenario; you should always have a good scraper (if not, something similar like a spatula or credit card can work too) and a De-Icer product in your car. 

5) Book in for a winter car service

If your car is due a service, get it done before the temperature plummets. A mechanic will look at your tyres, battery, coolant and antifreeze, windscreen wipers, lights and oil. Getting everything checked and any work done by a professional prior to the cold weather will give you peace of mind that you’re as safe on the road as you can be this winter.