Guides
Guides and in-depth articles
How to spot a part that needs changing, how often to check it, what you need to do it. Written by us, no shortcuts and no advertising dressed up as advice.
How often to change the oil, when mileage is not enough
Why time counts as much as distance, what 5W-30 and the specifications on the bottle mean, and the mistake of topping up with a different oil.
3 min readBrake pads: when to really change them
The minimum thickness, the signs that come first, and why they are always changed in pairs on the same axle.
3 min readThe car battery in winter: the warning signs before you get stranded
Why it gives up with the first cold after months of symptoms, how to measure it with a tester, and what changes between a standard battery and an EFB or AGM one.
3 min readOE number and manufacturer number: not the same thing
How to read a part number, why the same part has at least two, and how to check that it really is the one you need.
3 min readThe four filters in your car, and what happens if you skip the wrong one
Air, cabin, fuel and oil: what each one is for, how you can tell it needs changing and which of the four must never be put off.
3 min readThe size on the tyre sidewall, explained figure by figure
205/55 R16 91V: what each number says, which ones you can change and which you cannot, and where to read the tyre's age.
3 min read