Category: Servicing and Maintenance

There are various costs involved in owning and running a car, some of which you have more control over than others.

When it comes to fuel expenses, the good news is that there are a number of measures you can take to reduce the amount you spend.

You can be vigilant and keep your eye out for particularly low prices at the garages near you, and you can stick to efficient driving practices and positive habits to get maximum mileage out of every tank.

Another step you can take is to ensure your tyres are always in the best condition, which can have a big impact on how much fuel the engine requires to get the vehicle moving.

How tyres affect fuel consumption

The RAC points out that regular servicing and maintenance contributes to the overall efficiency of your vehicle, helping you optimise your fuel consumption. Making sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure is one of the most important checks to make, since incorrectly inflated tyres will adversely affect fuel economy.

If your tyres are underinflated, the surface area of rubber in contact with the road increases, which results in more drag on the wheels. Consequently, the engine has to work harder to move the wheels and uses more fuel.

Past research has shown that if your tyres are just 10 PSI under the recommended pressure level, your fuel consumption could increase by 2.5 per cent.

It’s also important to remember that the level of pressure you need in your tyres is related to the load you’re carrying. If you’re about to embark on a long drive with four passengers and lots of luggage in the boot, for example, you’ll want to inflate the tyres to the maximum recommended pressure to get the best fuel economy.

Other fuel efficiency tips

Making sure your tyres are in good condition and inflated to the correct pressure isn’t the only thing you can do to boost your car’s fuel efficiency.

Other useful steps include:

• Reducing excess weight by getting rid of things you don’t need, like a roof rack that hasn’t been used for years or unnecessary items in the boot.
• Limiting drag on the car, which you can do by closing the windows when you’re driving at high speeds.
• Planning trips in advance, so you know where you can fill up. This will help you pinpoint the garages with the lowest prices and also avoid refuelling at the last minute, which could cause you to panic and get more fuel than you actually need.
• Ensuring all acceleration is gentle and driving in the highest gear possible within the speed limit. Excessive speed is the enemy of fuel economy.

It’s generally a good idea to make sure your car is well maintained and running efficiently to get maximum mileage out of every tank of fuel.

You can keep up to date with your maintenance and servicing easily with MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services.

Breaking down and finding yourself stranded at the side of the road is one of those nightmare
scenarios no motorist wants to end up in.

One of the best ways to avoid this unpleasant situation is to educate yourself about the biggest
causes of vehicle breakdown and how you can avoid them.

Here are three of the most common reasons why cars malfunction and some tips on how you
can stop these problems affecting you:

1. Flat or faulty battery

Most drivers will know the experience of getting in their car, turning the key in the ignition and
being greeted by complete silence. This is probably because you have a flat battery, which
means you won’t be going anywhere until the car is seen by a mechanic or another driver offers
to help you out with some jump leads.

Car batteries only last for up to five years, on average, but the battery in your vehicle might
reach the end of its life before this if:

● You leave your car unused for a while, or you only use it for short journeys
● There is a faulty component
● The charging system isn’t functioning properly

Regular servicing and maintenance can help you keep an eye on the health of your battery and
reduce your risk of breaking down.

2. Tyre and wheel damage

It’s obviously impossible to drive a car safely if there are problems with the wheels or the tyres,
and the fact these parts are in such close proximity to the ground when the vehicle is moving at
high speeds makes them particularly prone to damage.

There are many hazards on the road that can pose a threat to your tyres and wheels – potholes,
for instance, which you should always be vigilant for when driving on British roads. RAC patrols
attended more than 2,000 breakdowns that are thought to have been caused by potholes in
the fourth quarter of 2019 – 300 more than in the same period a year earlier.

Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do about potholes except try and avoid them, but you
can take steps to maintain the health and reliability of your tyres, like inflating them to the right
pressure and making sure they have a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm.

3. Alternator problems

The alternator is another vital part of your car where power generation is concerned. Healthy
running of the engine and your vehicle’s various electrical components depends on the battery
powering the starter motor and the engine turning the alternator, which recharges the battery.
Frequent battery problems could be caused by a faulty alternator, which will eventually lead to
the battery going flat. Warning signs include:

● Dim headlights
● Slow wipers
● Flickering dashboard
● Ignition warning light coming on

If you notice any of these issues, get your car checked by a professional straight away. Taking
swift action could help you avoid a breakdown.

MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services provides benefits and tools including typical savings
of 30 per cent on parts and labour, and access to thousands of garages across the country,
which can help you keep your car healthy and reliable.

If you’re proud of your car, you probably spend a lot of time looking at it – admiring the curves
of the bodywork, marvelling at the paint job, checking out the alloy wheels and so on.

But how much time do you spend listening to your car? Car lovers have a particular place in
their hearts for the sound of a healthy, powerful engine, but the various other noises your
vehicle makes can be useful indicators of mechanical issues that need attention.

Listening to all of your car’s noises can help you catch small problems before they develop into
major faults that could require costly repairs.

Screeching from the engine

If you notice an unpleasant screeching sound coming from the engine, it could be a sign that
the alternator belt (also known as the drive belt or fan belt) is loose or worn down.
This is an essential part of the engine, responsible for delivering power to other components
including the alternator and power steering. If you hear a screeching noise, get it checked out
straight away to reduce the risk of the belt malfunctioning and damaging the whole engine.

Chugging or rattling

Chugging or rattling noises coming from underneath the car are a common sign of an exhaust
system that is in need of attention from a mechanic.
If the car is chugging, it might be because there’s some sort of blockage in the system, while a
rattling sound might mean the exhaust is out of alignment.

Squealing or grinding brakes

It goes without saying that healthy brakes are imperative for safe driving, so you should be on
alert for any signs of faults in your car’s braking system.
One of the key things to listen out for is a squealing or grinding sound when you apply the
brakes, which usually means the brake pads are worn out and need replacing.

Signing up to MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services will help to ensure that, when you come
across these sorts of issues, you can get them checked as quickly and affordably as possible.

Owning a car can be an expensive business, what with tax, insurance, fuel, maintenance and various other costs to think about.

So it’s a good idea to grab every opportunity to cut down your vehicle-related outgoings. One way to reduce your spending that you might not have thought of before is to clear out all the unnecessary clutter from your car, which can help you get more mileage out of every tank of fuel.

Boost your fuel efficiency

Most people would admit to letting their car get cluttered and messy from time to time. If you only spend up to a couple of hours driving at any one time, it’s easy to ignore the various items that build up and eventually make a mess of your car.

But did you know that, as well as making your car look like a dumping ground, allowing clutter to accumulate has an effect on how much you spend on fuel?

Having lots of stuff in your car makes it heavier, which means the engine has to work harder to get the vehicle moving and consequently uses more fuel. As a result, the mileage you get out of every tank of petrol or diesel is reduced.

The fuel efficiency benefits you gain from clearing out your car will be particularly noticeable if you’re in the habit of keeping particularly heavy items in the boot. Clearing out things like sports gear, tools you might use for work, kids’ toys and bikes will make the car much lighter, more fuel efficient and also easier to drive.

Other ways to cut fuel spend

There are plenty of other things you can try to get more bang for your buck where fuel is concerned.

According to the RAC, one of the wisest steps you can take is to carry out regular maintenance and servicing to ensure the vehicle is always operating at maximum efficiency. Frequent inspections can verify that your tyres are always inflated to the correct pressure, which is important because fuel economy suffers when tyres are either underinflated or overinflated.

Other recommendations include:

• Accelerating gently and not driving too fast. Excessive speed is “the biggest fuel-guzzling factor”, according to the breakdown recovery firm.
• Driving in the highest possible gear while staying within the speed limit. In urban areas, change up through the gears quickly to keep revs to a minimum.
• Taking unused roof bars and boxes off the vehicle to reduce wind resistance. Driving with windows open can also create drag that increases fuel consumption.
• Driving consistently and at a steady speed, which can be aided by cruise control if you’re on a constant flat surface like a motorway.
• Not using air conditioning unless you really have to, since it relies on engine power and uses fuel. This applies to heating as well as cooling.

If you want to have confidence that your car is in the right condition to make the most efficient use of fuel, it’s worth getting it checked and serviced by professionals.

MyService.Expert makes it easy to maintain your car with calendar reminders and money off parts and labour.

Taking your car to the garage and being told that you need to have hundreds (or even thousands) of pounds’ worth of repairs done will top the list of nightmare scenarios for most drivers.

One of the best things you can do to avoid paying out eye-watering sums for remedial work is conducting regular checks and servicing to keep your vehicle in good working order.

Here are some of the costliest repairs you can avoid with frequent maintenance:

Head gasket replacement

The head gasket sits between the cylinder head and the cylinders or engine block. It performs the important job of keeping the combustion chambers, oil and cooling systems separate, which is vital for the engine to run properly.

While a head gasket itself is not a hugely expensive part, the process of replacing it can be costly because of the labour involved. Regular servicing to change the engine coolant and check the cooling system is working efficiently will help you avoid a head gasket failure.

Timing belt repair

Failure of the timing belt (also known as the cambelt) is a problem that is most common in older cars, particularly those that haven’t had regular servicing. Frequent inspections can help you spot signs of wear and tear, reducing the risk of a full-blown failure that could spell the end for the engine and possibly the entire car.

A professional mechanic will be able to tell you when you should replace the timing belt.

Battery replacement

It’s true that switching your old battery for a new one isn’t the most expensive of jobs, but if you fail to look after the battery and have to replace it regularly, the cost can really add up over time.

There are various things you can do to look after the battery and preserve its long-term health, such as getting the terminals cleaned at regular intervals. You can also charge the battery by going on frequent long drives.

Clutch replacement

The clutch in your car will wear over time, and if you find yourself in a situation where it needs to be replaced, the bill is likely to be pretty steep.

Truth be told, there isn’t a lot you can do in terms of maintenance to stop the clutch from wearing out, but you can prolong the health of this vital component by adopting good driving habits like:

• Not ‘riding’ the clutch
• Changing gears smoothly and not grinding them
• Taking the car out of gear and using the handbrake when stationary

Turbo repair

If your car has a turbocharger, you might already know that this component is prone to failure because of problems linked to oil starvation, contamination and leaks. If you want to keep it in tip-top condition, it’s worth carrying out regular oil and filter changes to combat gradual damage and wear and tear.

With MyService.Expert from Fuel Card Services, you can keep on top of all the checks and maintenance your car needs with regular reminders and access to thousands of garages across the UK.