Vehicle maintenance

Keeping your vehicle well maintained is important to ensure maximum economy and the least damage to the environment.

You should make sure that your vehicle is serviced and maintained regularly.

Servicing

Have your vehicle serviced as recommended by the manufacturer.

The cost of a service may well be less than the cost of running a badly maintained vehicle. For example, even slight brake drag can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption.

Make sure your garage includes an emissions check in the service.

Tyres

Make sure that your tyres are properly inflated. Incorrect tyre pressure

• results in shorter tyre life
• may create a danger, as it can affect stability and stopping distance
• can increase fuel consumption and emissions.

When replacing tyres, consider buying energy-saving types that have reduced rolling resistance. These increase fuel efficiency while maintaining a good grip on the road.

Engines

Make sure the engine is tuned correctly. Badly tuned engines

• use more fuel
• emit more exhaust fumes.

MOT tests include a strict exhaust emission test to ensure that engines are properly tuned. This means they operate more efficiently and cause less air pollution.

Recycling

If you do your own maintenance, make sure that you send oil, old batteries and used tyres to a garage or local authority site for recycling or safe disposal.

Don’t pour oil down the drain; it’s

• illegal and could lead to prosecution harmful to the environment.