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Category: Maintenance

Top tips to make looking after your car easy. Find out how to choose the best oil, check your motor before a long trip and change its windscreen wipers

Engine oil
Maintenance

How do I know the best engine oil for my car?

There are so many different makes, types and grades of oil that buying a new one can be a daunting process for car owners. Here we demystify choosing an oil…

By James Foxall21st September 202321st September 2023
image showing someone filling a car engine with oil
Maintenance

How much oil does my car need? How do I check and top up my engine oil?

The easiest way to find out how much oil a car needs for an oil change is to look in the user manual. Most regular family cars in the UK…

By James Foxall20th September 202321st September 2023
image of white bmw x5 cornering
Maintenance

How much AdBlue does my car need? How do I add AdBlue and will I know when the tank’s full?

AdBlue is designed to reduce harmful exhaust emissions from diesel engines. If your car runs out of it, the engine won’t start. Here we answer how you fill your car…

By James Foxall19th September 202321st September 2023
image showing different bottles of prestone coolants
Headline feature, Maintenance

Which engine coolant do I choose for my car?

It’s important to know which engine coolant to choose for your car. Coolant is vital to keep your car running properly so it’s worth checking and if necessary topping it…

By James Foxall15th August 202315th August 2023
replacement brake pads
Maintenance

My Audi dealer says company standards insist on replacement brake pads at 10mm of wear. What is the legal minimum for brake pads?

Our reader was horrified when he took his Audi A5 into a dealer and it said he needed replacement brake pads. It then revealed that his brake pads had 10mm…

By James Foxall24th May 202327th July 2023
overheating engine
Maintenance

How do I stop an engine overheating?

Back in the day it was common to see cars stopped roadside, bonnet up, steam pouring from an overly hot engine. Overheating is less common now but it does still…

By James Foxall26th April 202327th July 2023
evs cheaper to maintain
Maintenance

Why are EVs cheaper to maintain than petrol cars? And by how much over their life?

It’s true that electric vehicles (EVs) tend to be cheaper to maintain than the equivalent petrol or diesel models. And over a lifetime they can work out much cheaper. We…

By James Foxall21st February 202329th June 2023
make your own screenwash
Maintenance

What is car screenwash made of and can I make my own to save money?

We’ve seen various hacks with people suggesting you can make your own car screenwash to keep your windscreen clean and save money. Here we look at whether that makes sense…

By James Foxall17th January 202329th June 2023
customers supplying spare parts to save money
Maintenance

Can I supply the garage with my own spare parts to fix my car?

Increasing numbers of people are struggling to pay their car maintenance bills. One way some drivers think they can save money is to source spare parts cheaply to fix a…

By James Foxall8th December 202229th June 2023
brake fluid
Maintenance

I read that changing brake fluid is easy to do yourself. Is this true?

We see a lot of advice from supposed experts making all sorts of outlandish claims. That changing brake fluid is a simple DIY job is one of these. And because…

By James Foxall10th October 202214th February 2023

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  • Can I take my 125cc bike on a motorway with a CBT and full car licence?
  • How do I know the best engine oil for my car?
  • How much oil does my car need? How do I check and top up my engine oil?
  • How much AdBlue does my car need? How do I add AdBlue and will I know when the tank’s full?
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