Ford Fiesta service - should I pay extra for an engine flush?

My 65 reg Ford Fiesta EcoBoost has just had its first service at 11,000 miles. The invoice states that gas treatment and motor flush have been used at a cost of just over £20. Is there any real benefit...

Is my 2005 Fiesta worth repairing?

We have a 2005 Ford Fiesta which we noticed one day had no coolant. I took it to the garage and they pressure tested it and diagnosed a cracked expansion tank, which was replaced. A few days later I found...

What should I check when buying a diesel Renault Megane?

I have a 2002 Renault Megane 1.9 dCi. The car has around 83,000 miles and has been owned from new by a family friend. Over the past 10 or so years the car has had oil changes every 5000 miles. Should this...

Timing chain rattle – do I need to replace it?

The timing chain on my 2002 BMW 318i has begun to make a rattling noise. It has 146,000 miles on the clock and I rely on it for my daily travel. Should I replace the chain?

What should I check when buying a used Vauxhall Corsa?

I am looking to buy a Vauxhall Corsa that is 10 years old. It has a full service history, two owners and only 27,000 on the clock. A friend has advised that I should avoid the car if it hasn't had a cam...

Automatic gearboxes and towing - what do I need to know?

Could you tell me what I need to look out for on my Volvo XC60 when towing a 1500kg caravan? The car has the eight-speed automatic gearbox, will I need to fit a gearbox air cooler and change the gearbox...

Mazda 3 - full service history vs full dealer service history?

I have a Mazda 3 which will be three years old in February and out of warranty. I would like to get the car serviced by an excellent local independent garage. Obviously this will mean not having a full...

What's the best method for running-in a new EcoBoost?

I'm due to collect my new Ford with the EcoBoost petrol engine. Do new cars still have a running-in period? Is there anything to be careful of with this type of engine?

Is an engine flush really worth £30?

I have a two year old Hyundai i20. When I take my car in for servicing, they are quite insistent that it is necessary to flush the engine with flushing oil (cost £30) before refilling. However, if I use...

Why is my Volkswagen Touran using so much oil?

I have a 2013 Volkswagen Touran 1.6 diesel with 13,000 miles on the clock. Recently the car has been giving me some problems. A while ago it was emitting a strong oil smell, which turned out to be a split...