Don't Let your Diesel Let you Down

With diesels often in the news these days relating to pollution and scrappage schemes, it is unsettling for those of us with a diesel car to know exactly what to do.

What can you do if you are concerned about your diesel car in the meantime?

For peace of mind, ensure you service your car regularly. Contamination from fuel builds up in your engine even if you don't drive often or cover many miles. Good Garage Scheme member garages can offer help and advice to drivers with diesel engines and a Complete Cleaning Solution to keep them clean and running smoothly.

What about a blocked DPF?

Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), which are fitted to diesel cars to meet European emission standards and reduce the emission of particulate matter (soot) produced by the engine, are designed to trap larger soot particles within the filter. As the soot particles build up, the filter requires emptying. The only way to empty the soot is to burn it off at high temperatures – most often when you are driving on a motorway.

If you use your diesel car mainly for short journeys, it may not reach the temperatures required to burn-off the soot, leading to a blocked DPF.

If you are concerned about your DPF or have had a light come up on your dashboard, don’t leave it. Visit your local Good Garage Scheme member garage for help and advice.

Here are some fuel-saving tips for all drivers:

• Check and adjust tyre pressures regularly – Under-inflated tyres make your car work harder and reduce fuel efficiency
• Watch your speed - Driving at 65mph as opposed to 55mph increases fuel consumption by up to 20%
• Switch off when idle - fuel is wasted while the car idles. If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, switch off the engine.
• Lose the weight! Removing any junk from the boot will reduce the weight on your car and the workload of the engine.

For more useful advice and to find a garage you can trust, whether you’re at home or on the move, visit www.GoodGarageScheme.com  - It’s like having a friend in the know!

Easter Holiday Driving Advice from the IAM

If you’re driving somewhere nice this Easter to indulge in a spot of egg rolling and family feuding over whose fault it was that the Easter eggs were left next to the heater, consider taking some time to prepare yourself and your vehicle for the trip.

At any time of year it is important that you check that all of your lights are working. You should also ensure that your tyre pressure is correct and that they have enough tread – particularly since you are likely to be facing some poor road surfaces after the wintry weather we have experienced in March.

What better time to give your car a spring clean? The grains of salt which have been spread on the roads over the winter period will inevitably have made their way on to your vehicle like tiny corrosive stowaways. Leaving a salt build-up can be damaging to your car, causing rust to appear.

When packing your vehicle for your journey, try to carry as little unnecessary weight as possible as this will increase your fuel consumption – do you really need those extra pairs of shoes? Pack your things as compactly as possible; making sure that nothing obstructs your view through the rear window.

Make sure your washer fluid is topped up before you leave, and give the windscreen and headlamps a quick clean when you stop for fuel.

If you’re taking the kids with you, it’s worth gathering up some tools to keep them occupied during the long periods spent on the road, in which you will need to concentrate, and they will need to be entertained. Portable DVD players and cordless games consoles are perfect, but don’t forget the headphones as the Super Mario Brothers tune may start to grate after an hour or two.

If you feel your eyelids getting heavy whilst driving, it’s likely that opening a window or turning the radio up will not cut it. Pull over somewhere suitable and safe, drink some strong coffee, and have a 20 minute nap while the caffeine takes effect. Sharing the driving is also a great option, if possible.

The Good Garage Scheme would like to thank the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) for their guest blog this week.  For more information about the IAM, visit www.iam.org.uk

If you are unsure if your car is up to a long journey to see family and friends over the Easter holidays, why not visit a Good Garage Scheme member near you that can offer a Spring Check for peace of mind?

Are you driving less because of fuel prices?

Fuel prices are a hot topic of debate these days. With the welcome news that the Chancellor will scrap the planned fuel duty in January as well as the inflation increase in August 2012, we would like to share the results of a recent consumer poll.

The Good Garage Scheme has surveyed over 1300 motorists up and down the country in the last two months and found that 78% are driving less because of higher fuel prices.

The results of our poll are not surprising as consumers are trying to cut corners wherever possible. Walking and cycling are great alternatives, but if there is no other option but to use the car, the Good Garage Scheme offers handy tips on saving fuel.

•    Choose gears wisely – Over revving uses more fuel. Changing up a gear slightly earlier can reduce the number of revs.

•    Prevent idling – Being at a standstill for a long time consumes fuel unnecessarily. If you think you will be at a standstill for more than 3 minutes, simply turn off your engine.

•    De-clutter – A heavy load puts more pressure on the engine resulting in more fuel being used. Unload any necessary clutter, especially from the boot.

•    Abide by speed limits – We all know how tempting it is to exceed the limit on an open road, but higher speeds mean more fuel.

For more fuel saving tips, please visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/driving 

Fair Fuel Campaign Fight in House of Commons

Yesterday the Commons approved a backbench motion challenging the Government to help drivers with the rising cost of fuel.

Campaign group, Fair Fuel UK, and Tory MP, Robert Halfon, gathered over 100,000 signatures on an e-petition demanding that the Government call off a 3p increase in fuel duty due to come into force in January 2012.

The Business Secretary, Liberal Democrat, Mr Vince Cable, indicated yesterday that there wasn’t an easy answer and that he did not wish to raise the expectation of motorists.

The Good Garage Scheme supported the Fair Fuel UK campaign through its social media network and encouraged followers to sign the petition. We continue to support motorists and offer sound advice on saving fuel through our website’s ‘Fuel Savings Tips’ page. Some handy tips include:

•    Service your car regularly
•    Check your tyres
•    Drive at an appropriate speed

For more information, visit http://www.goodgaragescheme.co.uk/driving.

To find the cheapest petrol in your area, visit http://www.PetrolPrices.com.
Enter your postcode to find the lowest UK petrol price in your area. The site lists over 10,000 petrol stations and is free to use.