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RUNNING IN A DIESEL: What's the best way to run-in a diesel engine? (FAQs)
For the first 1,000 miles do not exceed 3,000rpm, but make sure you reach 3,000rpm regularly. If running in on a motorway or autobahn, regularly vary the revs. So (in mph) cruise at 70 for 15 minutes, cruise at 80 for 15 minutes, cruise at 75 for 15 minutes, cruise at 60 for 15 minutes, cruise at 90 for 15 minutes, etc. -
LEADED PETROL: I have an older car designed to run on four-star leaded petrol. What should I be using now?  (FAQs)
If your car is post-1990 it should be capable of running on unleaded petrol of the correct octane without any additives. Nearly all 1980s Japanese cars or 1980s cars with Japanese engines are designed to run on unleaded. Many cars with aluminium cylinder heads have been fitted with hard exhaust valve seat inserts made of chrome steel rather than cast iron. -
FUEL: What are the benefits of running a vehicle on Superunleaded or Superdiesel? (FAQs)
So manufacturers 'optimise' their engines to give the best possible performance in the tests and, to achieve this, they optimise the engines to run on Super. Engines will still run on lower Octane and lower Cetane fuel, but not as efficiently, not as cleanly and will be more prone to damage from deposits such as olefins and carbon left inside the engines. -
JUMP STARTING: What is the correct way to jump start a car? (FAQs)
At this point as in using a jump starter pack, you could try starting the recipient vehicle, or alternatively start the donor vehicle and run for 2 or 3 minutes, but do not start the recipient vehicle while the donor vehicle engine is running. Turn off donor vehicle engine after 2 or 3 minutes, now start the recipient vehicle. -
STORING A CAR: How should I prepare my car for long term storage? (FAQs)
If the car has ABS, make sure the brake fluid has been changed within the past two years or the ABS pump could suffer internal corrosion from moisture absorbed by the fluid. Clean and polish the car. Take it for a reasonable length dry run to thorougly heat through all systems and evaporate off any condensation. Overpressure the tyres to 40+psi help prevent them flatspotting, then put it in the garage still hot from the run. Connect up to a trickle charger which monitors the battery and keeps it to a constant 13.5 volts without damaging the electronics. -
YOUNG DRIVERS. Where can youngsters aged 11 - 16 learn to drive safely? (FAQs)
Nicola Hyland has been running a Young Driver Scheme in Essex for 6 years at Earls Colne Business Park. By August 2011 1,655 youngsters have benefited from the scheme, which is supported by Chelmsford Group of Advanced Motorists, Essex Police, and the Essex Fire Brigade. -
LPG: Where can I get my car converted to run on LPG? (FAQs)
'Our' 2013 Ford Focus 1.6 Ecoboost 182 running on LPG averaged 37.7mpg (on an accurate odometer) compared to the Real MPG average of 41.5mpg. The cost was 65.9p a litre compared with 121.9p a litre for petrol and 126.9p a litre for diesel over the weeekend of the test. -
COOLING SYSTEM AIRLOCKS: How do I get rid of an engine cooling system airlock?  (FAQs)
Drive the car round the block at normal speed. When you get home, leave the engine running and VERY SLOWLY AND CAREFULLY AND USING A BIG RAG OR TOWEL, release the expansion tank pressurecap just enough to let any air out, but close it cagain before coolant comes out. With a bit of luck, that should get rid of the airlock. -
DUAL MASS FLYWHEELS: What are they and why are they so much trouble?  (FAQs)
Van specialists weld together the two parts of the flywheels of Transit vans to prevent separation trouble, but this leads to very rough running. Here is a Scotia Inspections engineer's report on a failed Dual Mass Flywheel in a Peugeot 407 diesel: The dual mass fly wheel was still in situ. The engineer could move the fly wheel back and forth, clearly the unit had excess movement between the primary and secondary flywheel on the 8 centre bolts, the fixing stud holes had clearly excessively stretched. -
MULTI CAR INSURANCE: Can I insure more than one car on the same insurance policy? (FAQs)
The renewal date will stay the same and you pay a proportion of the premium depending on how much of the year is left to run. Linking policies can also benefit you in total premium paid. The insurers Primo deals with all have purpose-built computer systems that allows them to look at the full picture. You would expect to get a better price from a cash and carry than a supermarket because you are buying in bulk. -
CONTINUOUS INSURANCE: What is it and how does it affect me? (FAQs)
(Clear risk if sustains any damage in the interim period, but solves problem of "bridging insurance" if you still have and run your outgoing vehicle on existing policy. 2) is recorded as stolen and not recovered by the police. 3) is scrapped 4) is held in stock off the road by an authorised motor dealer (if on the road then it must be declared as stock to the trader's insurer). -
AIR-CONDITIONING: How do I know if my air conditioning needs servicing? (FAQs)
You will notice a more significant drop in economy in traffic because then the engine is idling and not moving the car very much for the time it is actually running, while at the same time it is turning the a/c pump. So in traffic or about town, at relatively low speeds, where opening the windows creates less aerodynamic drag, it will save more fuel to open the windows than to run the a/c. -
MISFUELLING A CAR: What should you do if you accidentally put the wrong fuel in your car?  (FAQs)
Any amount of contaminated fuel will generally have some sort of detrimental effect on the vehicle. Higher contamination ratios will directly affect the running of the engine and are very noticeable in that the vehicle will splutter, lose revs, and generally run rough. A smaller amount of contamination may be less noticeable, but a small amount of petrol in a diesel car will lower lubrication and cause extra wear and tear on the fuel pumps, injectors, and exhaust sensors. -
CHILD CAR SEAT LAWS: What are the current child seat regulations? (FAQs)
Even if your own child is more than 135cms tall, there are things to think about if you ever find yourself giving lifts to other children, on school runs for example: the regulations will still apply. If you think you will be giving a young passenger a lift, and they are less than 135cms, why not check if their parents have a suitable booster seat they can lend you? -
OIL CHANGES: How often should I change the oil in my car? (FAQs)
If the engine comes factory-filled with special, very expensive recommended oil, be aware that if the engine is not run-in properly it could use oil at the rate of 1 litre per 650 miles, so, in effect, it changes its own oil four to five times in 20,000 miles at a cost to the owner of around £275. It seems that to allow for these long oil change intervals manufacturers raised the level of contamination and degradation acceptable in the oil. -
ADBLUE: What is AdBlue and What do I need to know about it? (FAQs)
If a diluted solution was used, this would be detected by a Euro 6 SCR system, causing the engine to run in limp home mode and not restart once it has been turned off. There is also apprehension about the calcifying/corrosive nature of the chemical (ph9) in terms of its effect on the longevity of system components. -
BATTERIES: How do I extend the life of my battery and prevent it going flat?  (FAQs)
A Morris Minor in the 1970s needed around 21A, a modern mid-sizecar uses as much as 65A" To help prevent problems, Paul says: "Regular long runs in the car could double yourbattery's life but if this isn't possible, a battery trickle charger will keep it ingood condition, extend its life and give you the reassurance that your car willstart. "There are other simple steps that drivers should habitually take to extend batterylife, particularly in cold weather. -
AUCTIONS: Is buying a car from an auction straightforward? (FAQs)
* Check the car - it's up to you to check the car's condition, so examine it prior to entering the auction hall. And listen to the engine running as it is driven into the auction hall. * All the right documents - check with the auctioneer to see if the vehicle comes with the V5, service history and an MOT to confirm the registered keeper, their address and the vehicle information.