Top Money Saving Maintenance Tips

The blog this week is based around saving money by doing simple Volvo or Toyota car DIY. By learning some basic Volvo or Toyota car maintenance you can save money throughout the year on what seems to be ever increasing costs of running your car. Please see below some money saving tips to help keep more money in your pocket. Read on to find out more:

Checking Your Volvo & Toyota Oil Levels

Check your oil levels in your Volvo or Toyota at least monthly. The oil helps to lubricate the moving parts of your engine thus minimising friction which
reduces the wear and tear on your engine and the moving parts. Running out of oil could be very costly mistake. During your routine Volvo or Toyota
service at an independent garage your oil will be drained and replaced with new oil along with the filter. It is imperative that you do not miss your regular servicing with your local independent garage. Preventative maintenance is always more cost effective than reactive repairs and regular maintenance will help to maintain the value of your car when it comes to selling it.

Volvo & Toyota Fluid Levels

Your Volvo & Toyota’s cooling system needs fluid – make sure the fluid you use has antifreeze in it. This will help to stop your engine from overheating
in the summer (especially so in this very hot summer that we are having at the moment) – especially if you get caught in the typical summer traffic jams and will also protect your Volvo or Toyota engine from frost damage
during the cold winter months. Never put tap water in there – buy a bottle of coolant from your local petrol station or from your local independent garage and keep it in the boot of your car for topping up.

Volvo & Toyota Air Filters

These will normally be checked and changed during your Volvo and Toyota annual servicing. It is recommended that they get changed annually or every 12,000 miles – not to cost you money but because they have come to the end of their usable life. There are plenty of pictures on our Facebook page that shows the state of some of the filters that we remove from cars each day. You can change them yourself – however you do need to take your car to an independent garage for servicing if you want to maintain the warranties and get your service schedule book stamped – this will ensure your warranties remain intact and that if it comes to selling your Volvo or Toyota in the future a documented service schedule will ensure you get maximum re-sale value.

Volvo & Toyota Tyre Pressure & Depth

Check your tyres regularly – every 2 to 4 weeks – easy to do this when you stop at the garage for fuel. Under inflated tyres not only wear unevenly meaning they will need to be replaced sooner than normal – costing more money – they also wont grip the road properly – not good if driving in inclement weather – increasing the risk of an accident. Under inflated tyres also use more fuel because there is more drag – meaning your tank full of petrol doesn’t last as long – more money! We have written many blogs on tyre health. At present we are all looking at ways to cut costs and making each £1 go further – underinflated tyres cost you money – simple! If your tyre depth is low you risk the possibility of having illegal tyres and face a fine and penalty point – just spend 10 minutes a month checking your tyres!

Volvo & Toyota Windscreen

If you get a chip in your windscreen, call your insurance company – they will organise a repair – normally free of charge and it wont affect your no claims
bonus! You can often see chip repair stations at the supermarket car park – you can get it done whilst food shopping – wasting no time for you. Chips can also mean a failure on the MOT if it is within a certain section on your windscreen. If the chip turns into a crack – so easy to happen if going over a pothole – and let’s face it there are so many of them on our roads today -  or during cold weather, it will end up costing you money to get it replaced. So don’t stick your head in the sand and ignore it – act straight away.

Wash Your Volvo or Toyota Regularly

Washing your Volvo or Toyota regularly will help to keep the bodywork in great condition. There are many things that will corrode your bodywork such as salt from road grit, tree sap and bird droppings. By ensuring these are removed will help to keep your paintwork in good condition. Cleaning regularly will also ensure you spot signs of dents, rust or scratches quickly so you can take the appropriate action. Keeping the inside clutter free and clean will help when it comes to re-sale – if your car is a mess inside you are unlikely to spot any issues early like spilt drinks and food. Trying to sort these things out way down the line is sometimes very expensive!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020,  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.