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Finding a trustworthy garage is vital. While a bad experience at a restaurant is disappointing, a bad experience at a garage could not only burn an unnecessary hole in your pocket, but leave you with a car that’s even less roadworthy than before.

Here’s some advice that may help you avoid the trial and error process and find a garage you can rely on:

Ask your family and friends for recommendations

Reach out to people close to you who live in the same area for their opinions. Which garage do they currently use, and would they recommend them? Make sure to ask questions about what is most important to you. For example, if you find visiting a garage a nerve-wracking experience, question the environment of the garage your friend/family member recommends, and ask how they usually treat their customers.

Do your research

A website can provide initial insight into how a garage operates, particularly in terms of its professionalism. Look out for garages with informative websites; clearly listing their services and contact details. If the website has a blog, this can also help by giving you an idea of their expertise.

Read the reviews

Good online reviews are one of the best indicators of a credible business; however, you should take them with a pinch of salt as some may be fake! Take some time to read through the most recent reviews local garages have received as a quick way to compare your options.

If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

If a garage is boasting that they are the cheapest in the area, or that they are offering free services, this may be a red flag and reason not to use them. As much as it’s important that the garage you choose is affordable and good value-for-money, garages that are offering services at a price well below the industry average should be approached with caution – there’s a reason they are that cheap!

Despite how much time you put into finding the best car garage for you, in the end, it’s a case of biting the bullet and giving one of them a chance. If you are ready to put your trust in a garage after following the above advice, you can be fairly confident you will be happy with the service you receive.

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We are a local garage with over 25 years of experience. Learn more about us by continuing to browse our website, or contact us to speak to our friendly reception team.

Are you constantly having to top up your engine coolant with water? We’re sorry to tell you, but that’s not normal and definitely not healthy. 

Topping up your engine coolant is fine, but should only really be done in an emergency to enable you to get to a garage.

So, why are you having to do this so frequently? What is causing it? 

Both are good questions, but there’s never an obvious answer when it comes to the inner workings of a car – they’re confusing, intricate machines and there could be all manner of things causing you to lose engine coolant. However, here are a few of the more common issues that you may be up against:

• The most likely culprit is a leaking component, such as a radiator. Anything water passes through could perish or wear out and create a leak.
• Head gasket failure
• A cracked cylinder head (usually as a result of overheating)

More often than not, what starts as a small leak, can end up causing further damage – like head gasket failure and a cracked cylinder head – if not taken care of in enough time. This is because the longer you ignore the leak, the more water you will lose, causing the engine to overheat resulting in a myriad of problems. 

As stated above, topping up your coolant with water more than once is NOT NORMAL.

Here’s what you should do instead…

If you find yourself having to top it up just once, treat it as a warning that something more sinister is going on and take your car to a garage. A garage will run an engine pressure test to diagnose the original problem, and then work to fix it. 

To keep your car’s cooling system in good condition, you should ideally check the level of your coolant weekly, and take your car to your local garage on a regular basis so they can check the strength and condition of the coolant and replace it if necessary. They will recommend replacement intervals to ensure your coolant remains effective.

Did you know…

If your vehicle is serviced at the recommended intervals following manufacturer schedules, your garage should be checking your coolant levels and make you aware when a coolant change is due. We always encourage our customers to go for the manufacturer-recommended service schedules to ensure that things like coolant changes (which are due at certain mileage and age intervals), brake fluid changes and transmission services, for example, are not missed. We will always check and inform our customers when these additional service jobs are due; you can trust us to give you the information you need to keep your car safe and on the road.

IS IT IMPORTANT TO CHANGE YOUR CAR’S OIL?

In short, yes; oil is incredibly important for keeping your car running safely and smoothly, but many often put this job at the bottom of their to-do list. It’s easily done – life just gets in the way. 

However, not changing your oil regularly comes with consequences:

Poor engine performance

Oil is considered the lifeblood of a vehicle, so it makes sense that regular oil maintenance would have an impact on engine performance. It keeps the inner workings of your car clean; dirt and debris that builds up and moves around with the oil is removed during an oil change, preventing it from affecting the engine. 

Oil is there to reduce friction in the engine; if it’s degraded, it does the opposite, meaning the engine has to work harder. Simply out, old and contaminated oil does not protect the engine as it should do. Good-quality, fresh oil in an engine improves its performance. It’s also worth noting that degraded oil can actually cause engine noise as well. 

The easiest way to understand what happens to your oil if left unserviced for too long is thinking about it as cooking oil. Imagine you’re heating oil in a pan on the hob – what happens if you cook it too hot for too long? It turns nasty and inedible, of course. A similar thing happens with engine oil if not seen to; go too long without getting it changed and it becomes ineffective and harmful to your car. 

Engine failure

In worst-case scenarios, avoiding an oil change could cost you your car. Ultimately, once oil becomes degraded, it no longer protects the engine. Running like this, the engine will eventually destroy itself and/or seize up.

Voided warranty

If your car is under warranty, you will have to adhere to manufacturer specifications, which should include instructions to change your oil regularly. You will also have to use specific oil.

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How often should the oil be changed?

You can change your oil every 3,000 miles (as some people suggest, however, it’s always best to check and adhere to the service interval recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. In fact, lots of new cars have extended service intervals – but these must be adhered to rigidly. Both the climate you drive in and your driving style can impact the duration between oil changes.

Most cars have some sort of service indicator that will appear on the dashboard and it’s vital that this isn’t ignored – it has appeared for a reason!

In conclusion, although it can be a pain to book your car in for something that may seem insignificant on the face of it, the ramifications can be costly. It may be worth pushing getting your oil changed further up your to-do list after all!

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Our technicians are able to access any manufacturer recommendations and service your car with the approved oil to ensure you keep your warranty, and car, intact. 

Contact us for more information or to book your oil change.

Most driving hazards are associated with wintertime, but summer can bring a host of different risks. 

We’ve put together a list of the top summer driving hazards and some safety tips to help you dodge them.

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What are the dangers to look out for when driving in summer?

• Roadblocks, detours and, traffic jams
• Motorcycles
• Pedestrians
• Holiday traffic
• Drowsiness
• Sun glare
• Social events

Roadblocks, detours, and traffic jams

Most road works take place in the spring and summer months, and they can be a real nuisance to drivers, causing detours and delays.

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Plan your journey ahead of time and check for construction work. 
• Avoid routes affected by road works if possible. 
• Drive sensibly in work zones. 
• Merge into the correct lane early when approaching a road closed for construction work. 

Motorcycles

There are undoubtedly more motorcyclists on the road in hot weather, which, in turn, increases the risk of motorcycle incidents. 

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Be careful when making turns – make sure to double-check your blind spots.

Pedestrians

As more and more people venture out to enjoy the sun, drivers need to be extra aware of what’s happening around them. 

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Double-check for pedestrians when turning.
• Be mindful of pedestrian crossings and ensure you stop for people waiting to cross.

Holiday traffic

Now we have more freedom, many people are heading out for a summer holiday, and who can blame them! But, this increase in traffic can lead to a higher risk of incidents. 

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Avoid driving during bank holiday weekends.
• Avoid driving at peak times, if possible.

Drowsiness

Failure to keep high temperatures under control due to ineffective air-conditioning can induce tiredness and lack of focus in drivers. 

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Stay hydrated. 
• Check your car’s air-conditioning before a long journey. 
• Get your air-con serviced regularly.

Sun glare

The glare from the sun can restrict your view and make it difficult to spot hazards and, ultimately, drive safely. 

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Always have sunglasses in the car in case you need them. 
• When planning a car journey ahead of time, note what time of day you will be leaving and prepare accordingly.
• Remember to use your car’s sun visor – consider purchasing an anti-glare visor extension if your standard one is ineffective.

Social events

Warmer weather encourages more social gatherings, many of which include alcohol consumption. Unfortunately, some people ignore the law and drive home drunk, making them dangerous to other drivers, nearby pedestrians, and cyclists. 

⇒ TOP TIPS:

• Keep your distance from traffic ahead to avoid being involved in a collision should one occur.
• Always wear your seatbelt.
• Use extra caution at junctions and roundabouts.
• Don’t drink and drive!

It’s getting hot out there – and we’re definitely not complaining! – but that means it’s time to put your car’s air-con to good use. Here are a few tips to make sure you get the most out of it during a heatwave:

Open your doors and windows first

You get in your car on a hot day and it feels like a sauna, so you switch the air-conditioning on full-blast, right? Wrong! To cool your car down fast, first open all the doors and windows to allow the hot air to escape, and cooler air to enter. Once you’ve done this for a couple of minutes, then you can close everything, turn on the AC, and enjoy a cool, comfortable drive.

Tilt the air vents upwards

You may think that angling the air vents towards you when the air-conditioning is on is the best way to cool down; however, this prevents the air circulating, which it needs to in order to work effectively. Instead, tilt the vents upwards so that the air can flow easily around the car’s interior.

Use your air-con regularly

It is recommended that you turn your air-conditioning on regularly – even in winter – to help ensure long-term reliability.

Try and park in a shaded spot

We know that our cars get the most hot when they’re sat in the sun all day. Try and position your car in a shaded spot when parking it to keep it as cool as possible.

Stick to a regular air-conditioning service schedule

The air-conditioning system often gets overlooked when it comes to car maintenance. The last thing you want is to get in your car in hot weather to find the air-conditioning is no longer working. To avoid this, test your air-con regularly to make sure it’s working, and take it to a garage to service if necessary. Most garages include an air-conditioning check as part of their standard service package, so any problems can be identified and fixed. We recommend simply keeping to a regular overall service schedule so you never run into any issues.

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Contact us to book an air-con service, or for more advice.