Reducing Wear & Tear On Your Car

The blog this week is about how you can reduce wear & tear on your Volvo or Toyota to make things last longer and save you money. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring, insurance costs are rising etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:

Taking care of your Volvo or Toyota to avoid wear and tear can make your car last longer. This is particularly beneficial given the current cost of a new car - we really are keeping our cars for longer - so it pays to look after it from the outset to keep it in tip top condition for longer.

1)   Looking after your tyres

Keeping the correct tyre pressure is essential for safe braking and handling. The recommended tyre pressure for your particular car can usually be found in your owner's manual. Driving on tyres that are not correctly inflated can be dangerous - especially due to the ever increasing potholes on our roads. Under inflated tyres will wear down quicker and puncture more easily - costing you money prematurely. Check your tyres monthly at least to ensure you get every mile out of them before they need replacing. Correctly inflated tyres will also ensure that you have better fuel economy. So it’s a win win for your pocket.  Having the tracking checked too will help you ensure even wear across your tyres - again an important item to keep an eye on with the number of potholes we experience on a day to day basis!

2) Oil & Fluids

Changing your engine oil and oil filter regularly is another key element of reducing wear and tear. This is an item that is covered in your annual servicing schedule. It is important to maintain your servicing schedule – not just for the health of your Volvo or Toyota but also to help maintain the warranty and the resale value of your car.  As well as checking the oil levels, make sure that you also keep an eye on the coolant fluid levels and the windscreen wiper fluid levels - an absolute must to keep topped up.

3)Air Filters

The air filter in your car needs to be changed every year to maintain its efficiency - this is because it has come to the end of its shelf life and will no longer be able to operate in the manner it has been designed to. You may need to look at your owner's manual to pinpoint exactly where it is located in your car if you wish to change it yourself. Do not attempt to do this unless you have some knowledge and the correct tools.

4) Saving your Suspension

Sudden acceleration and braking during driving can have a detrimental effect on your car's suspension. Driving aggressively on a regular basis will cause your car's suspension to wear down - smooth driving is always best. We have mentioned this many times during blogs – make subtle changes it will make all the difference.

5) Saving your Engine

Instead of starting your engine and waiting until it has fully warmed up in the winter, it can be better to start it and drive off slowly (without putting too much pressure on the clutch or brake pedals) to warm the engine up. This is kinder to your engine and allows all the relevant fluids to move around. Happy Safe Motoring Flks!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire