Car Mechanics April 2022

Email martyn.knowles@kelsey.co.uk Follow us on Facebook @ Car Mechanics Fuel prices on the up! ► I know I keep going on about fuel costs but I feel at the moment we are about to see rises like we’ve never seen before. How much are you paying in your area? Every time I go to fill up it seems to have risen by 1p per litre. However, last week 10p per litre was added within a five-day period. For those of us (me included) who choose to put E5 petrol into their tanks (instead of E10) we are already accustomed to paying higher prices than those listed on the illuminated billboards. I paid £1.759 a litre at the end of February for Esso’s finest Supreme+ Diesel whilst trying to find a way of getting the…

Editorial Martyn Knowles, Editor Email martyn.knowles@kelsey.co.uk Follow us on Facebook @ Car Mechanics Fuel prices on the up! ► I know I keep going on about fuel costs but I feel at the moment we are about to see rises like we’ve never seen before. How much are you paying in your area? Every time I go to fill up it seems to have risen by 1p per litre. However, last week 10p per litre was added within a five-day period. For those of us (me included) who choose to put E5 petrol into their tanks (instead of E10) we are already accustomed to paying higher prices than those listed on the illuminated billboards. I paid £1.759 a litre at the end of February for Esso’s finest Supreme+ Diesel whilst…

The Peter Simpson COLUMN Peter looks at the new private parking code of practice, and ponders what’s really likely to happen over the next few years. ► As has been widely publicised in the mainstream media, long-overdue change is finally coming to the private parking industry. Provisions of the new, and compulsory, Code of Practice include a maximum charge of £50 (with a compulsory 50% reduction for payment within 14 days) for “most” (but not all) cases. There’s also a total ban on added debt collection charges, a requirement for clearer signage, a compulsory five-minute ‘consideration of terms’ period at the start of paid parking and a ten-minute grace period at the end before charges can be levied. The present system of two different ‘independent’ appeals bodies, depending which trade body…

► As has been widely publicised in the mainstream media, long-overdue change is finally coming to the private parking industry. Provisions of the new, and compulsory, Code of Practice include a maximum charge of £50 (with a compulsory 50% reduction for payment within 14 days) for “most” (but not all) cases. There’s also a total ban on added debt collection charges, a requirement for clearer signage, a compulsory five-minute ‘consideration of terms’ period at the start of paid parking and a ten-minute grace period at the end before charges can be levied. The present system of two different ‘independent’ appeals bodies, depending which trade body the company in question is a member of, is also being replaced by one single appeal body. As is so often the case, however, the devil…

Winter has never been especially kind to motorcars. Yet, the consequences of COVID-19 have made the past few years even tougher. Whether enforced by freedom of movement restrictions, flexible home working, cutting out the commute, or people just not wanting to travel, many vehicles have covered fewer miles but spread across more trips. Perversely, these apparently gentler conditions are tougher on many mechanical components, compared with longer and less frequent journeys. Now that the weather is becoming more hospitable for outdoor DIY car maintenance, CM has liaised with garages, parts suppliers and manufacturers to establish how cars are fairing. While we do not intend to cover general servicing and pre-MOT checks, there will be some cross-over. For this reason, follow your car’s service schedule closely, paying extra attention to the following…

INSTANT EXPERT UN-LOCKDOWN-ING Get your car BACK ON THE ROAD As if damp and chilly conditions were not hard enough on your car, infrequent use makes things worse. Therefore, Rob Marshall goes back-to-basics and investigates areas that demand a little extra attention. Winter has never been especially kind to motorcars. Yet, the consequences of COVID-19 have made the past few years even tougher. Whether enforced by freedom of movement restrictions, flexible home working, cutting out the commute, or people just not wanting to travel, many vehicles have covered fewer miles but spread across more trips. Perversely, these apparently gentler conditions are tougher on many mechanical components, compared with longer and less frequent journeys. Now that the weather is becoming more hospitable for outdoor DIY car maintenance, CM has liaised with…