10 Tips To Improve Fuel Efficiency

10 Tips To Improve Fuel Efficiency

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Has lockdown made you realise how much you spend on filling up your car? Driving with fuel economy in mind can help you conserve fuel and save money. Michanic is always looking for ways to help our customers save, so read on if you want to improve your cars fuel consumption!

Here are 10 useful tips to improve your fuel efficiency

1. Go easy on the accelerator

It is obvious that harsh acceleration and driving at high speeds negatively impacts your fuel efficiency. Also, if a light is orange or red take your foot off the accelerator and let your car come to a slow stop. Use both your gears and brakes simultaneously. The same goes for keeping your distance from the car in front of you. The more distance your keep the better you can prevent harsh acceleration or braking.

2. Make Sure You are Filling Up with the Correct Fuel

Not all vehicles are made the same, some should use lower octane fuel (93 unleaded) and some higher (95 unleaded). Check your car manual to see what the recommended fuel type is for your car.

3. Get Rid of Dead Weight

Clearing out your boot or back seat of all those unnecessary things that you have been carting around can help to improve your fuel consumption. Some motorists go as far as partial refuels to reduce weight.

4. Reduce Drag

Those roof racks that only get used twice a year or open windows create unnecessary wind resistance. So, try keeping your windows closed and only fit your roof racks when you need them to improve your fuel efficiency.

5. Tyre Pressure

Tyre pressure is an easy one, and you should do it every time you fill up with fuel. Ensuring that your tyres are properly inflated will improve fuel economy and extend the life of your tyres.

6. Good Quality Oil

The money you may save on using a cheaper oil can cost you a lot more in car maintenance and higher fuel consumption. So, it is important to use the correct type of oil recommended by your vehicle manufacturer and to use a high-quality brand. We have partnered with Belgium based Wolf Oil Corporation to ensure that your car is getting the very best.

7. Drive in Higher Gears

The lower the gear the higher the RPM, and the more fuel your vehicle is using to produce the additional torque. So, change gears smartly. You want to be in the highest gear without putting strain on the engine – you should still be able to accelerate a little if you are in the right gear.

8. Air-conditioner

Your Air-conditioner draws power from the engine, meaning that your engine has to use more fuel to put out this additional power. So, now you know why your Uber driver never turns the aircon on. If it’s hot and you are in traffic, rather open a window. On the open road however, you should wind up your windows and turn on the AC. Here the drag created by having windows open is more detrimental to fuel efficiency than having your AC on.

9. Refuel in the Morning

Rather fill up on your way to work in the morning than on the way home. Because fuel is denser at lower temperatures, you get a little more bang for your buck by refueling in the morning when fuel is typically at its coolest.

10. Service Your Vehicle!

Servicing your car regularly can help improve fuel consumption. And vehicles that have not been serviced may have worn or dirty spark plugs, clogged air-filters, dirty oil, among other issues that could be costing you more in high fuel consumption. Book an inspection or service with Michanic and one of our friendly mobile mechanics will come to you to get your car running at optimum efficiency.

 

We understand that your car plays an important part of your daily life, transporting you and your loved ones. Michanic is dedicated to providing the most convenient services for our customers, so if you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

 

 

 

Nitrogen Or Air For My Tyres?

Nitrogen Or Air For My Tyres?

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You can choose Nitrogen or Air to inflate your tyres. Which one is right for you?

When changing your tyres you will probably be asked if you would like them nitrogen inflated. So, we have provided a summary of how nitrogen compares with air and what is best for you.

Nitrogen is more effective

Pure nitrogen inflated tyres are most used in highly specialised applications like Formula 1 and airplane tyres, or in highly demanding environments like commercial vehicle use. Nitrogen is an environmentally friendly element that does not support moisture or combustion. This means that it doesn’t hold heat and your tyres can run cooler improving road handing and extending tyre life. Plus the lack of moisture also leads to reduced corrosion.

Filling your tyres with nitrogen reduces variations in tyre pressure, and because nitrogen loses pressure slower than air, your tyres will stay properly inflated for around longer. This contributes to improved fuel efficiently and reduced wear on tyres.

Nitrogen does not prevent tire deflation caused by punctures, bead leaks, valve leaks or any other mechanic leaks.

Air is cheaper and more convenient

There’s nothing wrong with keeping your tyres inflated with good old air – it’s been used successfully for years. Air consists of 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen, despite often being referred to as oxygen. Air has limitations when compared to pure nitrogen, but it’s free and convenient. You can easily check your tyre pressure and top up at your local garage.

Which is right for me?

If you’re like most motorists and use your car mainly to get you from point A to point B, you don’t need nitrogen inflated tyres. The cost and hassle of nitrogen outweighs the benefits. However, if you use your vehicle for commercial purposes or if you want enhanced performance you should opt for nitrogen inflated tyres. You will just have to pay to inflate them and top-ups are more tedious.

Whatever route you decide, the most important thing is to ensure your tyres are inflated correctly. You can find the recommended tyre pressure sticker on the inside of the driver’s door. Check your tyre pressure each time you fill up – don’t forget to check the spare!

We understand that your car plays an important part of your daily life, transporting you and your loved ones. Michanic is dedicated to providing the most convenient services for our customers, so if you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

 

 

 

Car Winter Ready

7 Tips to Get Your Car Winter Ready

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Like it or not, winter is here. Your safety on the road is our concern, and besides for making sure that your car is running smoothly we would like to help make you feel safer behind the wheel. So, follow these 7 Tips to make sure your car is ready to stand up to the elements and doesn’t leave you stranded in the rain.

1. Change your oil

This is something that you should be doing at regular intervals. If you oil hasn’t been replaced is a while, consider replacing it with fresh oil. Clean oil reduces drag on the starter when a cold engine is cranked.

2. Check your battery

Cold weather starting requires a strong battery. Check your battery is fully charged and the terminals are clean of any corrosion and tightly fitted. Most car batteries only last 4 to 5 years, so check the age of your battery and consider replacing it.

3. Check and replace old window wipers

Your rubber wiper blades have a limited lifespan of a year or less. Exposure to the sun, extreme heat, or cold damage the rubber causing wipers to streak, smear, or chatter. This is no good for the rainy season and they need to be replaced.

4. Check your tyre pressure

Your tyres lose pressure as the temperature drops. Underinflated tyres offer less traction cause premature wear and tear making them more dangerous for wet roads. So, make sure that your tyres are inflated to your vehicle manufacturer specifications.

5. Keep your fuel tank full

Anything cold attracts moisture, and because your fuel tank gets cold in winter, moisture from the air inside your empty fuel tank condenses and drips down settling at the bottom. Your engine does not like water, so minimize this condensation effect by keeping your fuel tank full.

6. Check Your Heater and Defrosters

Make sure that your heater is blowing hot air, that your defrosters re-route hot air the windshield and that your electric defogger is working. You don’t want to be stuck in the driveway on a cold winter morning because you can’t see out your windshield.

7. Protect yourself

If you don’t have an emergency kit in your car, it’s time you get one. We also recommend that you prepare for winter and keep a torch, blanket, and umbrella in your boot… but hopefully you won’t be needing the first two.

 

Not only will you be well prepared for the colder winter months by implementing some of these measures, but you could also save yourself from a big repair bill. Car maintenance and servicing is a critical component of vehicle ownership. Your car plays an important part of your daily livelihood and we are committed to bringing you convenient, reliable, and affordable car service and maintenance. Check our what our customers have to say about us on Hellopeter and Google. If you have any other questions or concerns about your vehicle, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email, [email protected], or by phone, 087 803 9000.

 

Click here for a quote for your next service

 

 

 

Michanic Brings Contact-Less Service & Repairs

Michanic Brings Contact-Less Service & Repairs

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At Michanic (pronounced mychanic), we’re taking action to keep our customers and mechanics safe during the current outbreak of COVID-19 by bringing you contact-less service and repairs for your car.

During these uncertain times, we have to take extra precautions while delivering world class service. We have put some contingencies in place to ensure that our car services and repairs are safer and more convenient.

How we are keeping you safe

We are now offering a “contact-less” key exchange and service, to support the governments’ recommended social distancing. This means you can leave a note for the mechanic who will accommodate your request.

This is how we ensure we fulfill our contact-less service

  • You place your booking on the site, add notes for mechanic and pay by card or EFT
  • Our mechanic follows your instructions and carries out the service
  • After completion of the service, the mechanic will wipe down and disinfect high touch areas.

With these additional steps we want to assure you of Michanic’s dedication to the safety, health, and well-being of you and your family. And of course our mechanics, and as always your cars. We are committed to helping slow the spread of the virus, while making sure your car is well maintained.

Your car is a very important part of your daily life. It transports you and your loved ones, takes you to work, the shops, or even the hospital. Although you may be spending a lot of time inside your home to practice social distancing, make sure your car is always ready to go if you need it. Michanic is dedicated to providing the most convenient services for our customers, so if you have any other questions or concerns about how we are moving forward during this outbreak, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email, [email protected], or by phone, 087 803 9000.

Stay Safe!

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

 

 

 

How To Ensure That Your Car Is Ready For Use After An Extended Time Being Parked!

How To Ensure That Your Car Is Ready For Use After An Extended Time Being Parked!

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With the lockdown in South Africa due to the COVID-19  pandemic, most cars are parked.  When the time comes, here are a few tips that will ensure your cars health when we get back to our normal lives again:

 

Keep your vehicle undercover (if you can)

Although garages and covered parking ports are better than open parking, as your vehicle will be exposed to sun damage, dust, raindrops, bird droppings, and other debris. So if you parked in an open parking, it is advisable to get a waterproof car cover while your car is parked for an extended amount of time.

Periodically washing and cleaning out your vehicle: Clean the interiors before parking the car

This might be stating the obvious, but we’re going to tell you anyway. People tend to leave trash in cars, including chocolate or biscuit wrappers (with crumbs inside), old newspapers, and water bottles and so on. All of this could rot or, worse, attract rodents that can damage floor mats, seat covers and even wiring. So, clean the interior thoroughly and spray a little freshener. But don’t use too much as even as it will stink in the closed confines over a long period!

Keep Critters and Creepy crawly‘s Out

If your car is parked in a garage it will typically keep your car dry and safe from the elements. Unfortunately, those are also two things that make a garaged car attractive to rodents like rats and mice, and cockroaches.

But even if you are parked under sheltered parking, they still get into your car and engine! Try to cover any gaps where rodents and other insects could enter, such as the exhaust pipe or an air intake. Placing a ball of steel wool in your exhaust pipe is a good hindrance!

Next, spread mothballs or cotton swabs dipped in peppermint oil along the perimeter of the vehicle. The smell drives mice away. If you want to take a more proactive approach, lay down a few mousetraps. Just make sure someone can check the garage periodically in case there are some casualties.

Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with a smell much worse than mothballs when you take the car out of storage 🙂

Keep It Charged or Disconnect one of your battery terminals

Unless disconnected, the battery in a parked car will eventually lose its charge.

We advise that if you do not know what to do at least take some time to start your vehicle and let it run for about 15 minutes at least every 5-7 days, to ensure that the battery stays charged. If this seems like too much, you can explore a full proof low-tech solution of disconnecting the negative (usually black) battery cable. You’ll likely lose the stereo pre-sets, time and other settings. You really wan’t to avoid having to jump start your car or worse, having to buy a new battery! Yikes!

Top Up Your Fuel Tank

We may need our vehicle to get essential items from time to time therefore having petrol is a good idea. Having petrol in your car is also a good idea. A full tank will prevent moisture from accumulating inside the fuel tank and keep the seals from drying out.

Keep the tires properly inflated

When you do go for your essential trips, pass by your local garage and check the tyre pressure and make sure the tyres are at the correct pressure. Proper inflation helps prevent cracking of the sidewalls and flat spots. Check the valves and valve caps for leaks and that the valve caps fit properly.

Maintain Insurance while Parked

You might be tempted to cancel your insurance when your vehicle is stationary, but unforeseen circumstances happen, like hail storms, or someone backing into your vehicle while you are “safely in your parking bay”!

In these cash strapped times, that might initially save money, but there is a chance that the insurance company will raise your premiums due to the gap in coverage, which could cost you more in the long run.

This can vary based on where you live and who your provider is, so contact your insurance company to see what options are available to you.

Before getting back to action, make sure you have all your bases covered

Here’s a checklist of what to do when you’re ready to drive your vehicle regularly again:

  • Check under the bonnet for any evidence of rodents. Look for chewed belts, hoses, wires or nests. If you covered the muffler (like the steel wool) or air intake, remove that material before you start the car.
  • Make sure to change your air and oil filters, to ensure that no sludge or other contaminants affect your engine performance!
  • inspect your windscreen wiper blades. The rubber should not be brittle or show cracks.
  • Check the tire pressure and inflate the tires to the recommended specs.
  • Check the brake and brake disk! Rust may have accumulated on the brake disks! In most cases, it should go away after you drive the vehicle for a short time. But to be safe, if it doesn’t make sure you book an appointment with us and we will check them out of you!
  • Check fluids to make sure there have been no leaks and that they are at the recommended levels.
  • If the battery cable has been disconnected, make sure that you reconnect it and that the battery terminals are clean.
  • Wash your vehicle to remove any dirt that may have accumulated.

Michanic! #StaySafe #StayHome!

Covid-19 Stay Safe

 

We understand that your car plays an important part of your daily life, transporting you and your loved ones. Michanic is dedicated to providing the most convenient services for our customers, so if you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

Covid-19 - Reduce Your Risk! Your Car May Need To Be Sanitized Too!

Covid-19 – Reduce Your Risk! Your Car May Need To Be Sanitized Too!

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Car Sanitization Can Reduce Your Risk Of Spreading or Contracting COVID-19

Having sanitized hands is great, however, alone, it may is not enough! Our cars are one of the high-touch surfaces we come into contact with regularly over and above that we also tend to lift people, drive our kids in them, etc. However how many of us have thought about sanitizing our vehicles? Not many of us i do not think. This is a very important aspect that has been overlooked and it is very important, for our safety and that of your families!

Together, We Can Beat The Corona Virus!

We have prepared this article based on much research and thought it would be beneficial to share.

Germs and viruses breed on surfaces and we now know that COVID-19 remains on surfaces for up to 4-6 hrs. This is especially true for porous surfaces that can be found in the car. The following areas need special attention to minimize you and your family’s exposure:

  • Your steering wheel (including appendages)  and gear selector – wash your hands/sanitize prior to handling your steering wheel, so you are not reinfecting it. “The steering wheel has four times the amount of germs found on an average toilet seat, thanks to all the cracks and crevices on the rim and spokes.” Shocking isn’t it!
  • Door handles (exterior and interior) – Carry disinfecting wipes with you so that after you car has been sanitized, you keep the germs at bay, by wiping the exterior handle before you open the door and the interior handles before closing or opening your door.
  • If you have a touchscreen radio – it’s best to clean that with a microfiber cloth, so as not to scratch it!
  • Seats and Hand rests – pay more attention to the spaces between the seat and head rest and well as the sides of the seats
  • Seat Belts – we always have to have our seat belts on! So wipe them down with a dissecting wipe before and after you use them!

Michanic has your back!

Some of the most effective method of disinfecting or sanitizing a car is by using foggers. The foggers produce tiny droplets of disinfectant reaching beyond what the eyes can see. Some of the most effective disinfectant used in homes, hospitals and even in cars contain Didecyl Dimethyl Ammonium Chloride. It’s an an active ingredient that has been proven as a broad spectrum disinfectant.

It is wise to ensure that your vehicle is sanitized for those essential trips to the shops during a lock down.We are currently offering car interior sanitization for only R400 and we will come to your home. Book your car sanitization today for peace of mind.

Together we can beat this pandemic! Let’s keep hygienic! Contact us or click here to book you vehicle sanitization with Master Mechanics that Care!

 

Keep it Cool Under the Hood! Engine Coolant (or Antifreeze) and Why it's Important.

Keep it Cool Under the Hood! Engine Coolant (or Antifreeze) and Why it’s Important.

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Why engine coolant is important in preventing your car from overheating

Ever seen a car on the side of the road with smoke coming out the bonnet? It makes you thankful that its not your car. To make sure that this doesn’t happen to you we are highlighting the importance of taking good car of your engines cooling system. The two most common reasons for engine overheating are low water and coolant levels or a leak in the cooling system. So, it is critical to regularly check your engine coolant level.

Many people only have water in their cooling system and that’s why their engines overheat. Engine coolant (or antifreeze) is a liquid that is added to the water in your engine cooling system. Coolant and antifreeze play an important role by change the boiling and freezing temperatures of your cooling system, ensuring that your car doesn’t overheat in extreme conditions. There are different types of coolant, each one is specifically formulated to keep your engine running in extreme weather conditions. It is also a corrosion inhibitor, protecting the radiator and engine from rusting.

We are more concerned about overheating than freezing in South Africa. Temperatures can be extreme, and we have a hilly terrain so make sure that your car has coolant in it! The coolant reservoir is under your bonnet and should be easy to find. You could have a coolant leak if it’s low or empty and should have it checked out by a mechanic.

Avoid overheating by regularly checking your coolant level, and make sure that you have fresh coolant and not just water.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

THE UBER/BOLT (Taxify) DRIVER'S CAR MAINTENANCE GUIDE

THE UBER/BOLT (Taxify) DRIVER’S CAR MAINTENANCE GUIDE

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If you drive a Uber/Bolt (Taxify), you rack up a lot of kilometers, which means extra wear and tear. A car in the garage is not making you any money, so keeping up with the maintenance is extremely important. If you’re doing Uber or BOLT (Taxify), driver/owner, here are tips on how to stay on the road and earn the most cash.

First off, if you drive your own vehicle for a living, you likely want to follow the severe service car maintenance schedule. You might be thinking, “Hey, I’m only taking two people to the airport. I never tow, so it’s not severe service.” Actually, it is. The average driver in the South Africa racks up around 30 000 kilometers per year, but driving full time for a UBER/BOLT (Taxify) service can bring that annual total to 90 000 kilometers. A lot of those kilometers are spent carrying passengers through stop-and-go traffic in the summer heat nor winter colds. That’s work more in line with a taxi or police car. Let’s use some tricks of the trade from those services.

ENGINE PROTECTION

Oil: While you probably know how often to change your oil in a regular daily driver, an UBER/BOLT (Taxify) car needs a more frequent oil change schedule. You’re looking at lots of idling, stop and go, long periods with the engine on, and a lot more kilometers in general, so you want to use a high-quality oil. Depending on the kilometers you cover, you may be looking at changing the oil as often as every two weeks. While that may seem excessive, it is excellent preventative maintenance.

Filters Change out the oil filter with your oil change, and take a look at the engine air filter, too. These two are key to preventing engine damage. Also change your cabin air filter more often. The usual schedule is once a year, but aim for twice a year to keep your vehicle smelling fresh.

SUSPENSION & BRAKES, TIRES

Brakes Most drivers only change their brake pads every two to four years. With full-time UBER/BOLT (Taxify) work, however, you’re probably looking at every six months and sometimes every three months. Get the highest-rated pads you can afford, and save money by swapping them out and replacing the brakes yourself.

Suspension Shocks and struts are wear items that need replacing, usually only around three times in the average lifespan of a car. If you are a full-time driver, you are looking at annual replacement. No skipping out on this one, as shocks and struts are critical components of the suspension that determine ride quality. No one wants to ride in a vehicle with an overly harsh or bouncing suspension, so get it replaced on time. In addition to shocks and struts, you will probably have to replace the vehicle’s springs around 170 000 kilometers. In South Africa, there are a lot of potholes, this means that, you’ll probably need to replace the tie rods early and get to know a reliable place for an alignment.

Tires Get a super-affordable tire pressure gauge and check your tire pressure daily before starting your shift. Why daily? Tire pressure affects everything from the ride quality and tire wear to petrol mileage, so it’s an easy and quick way to save more and earn more. Rather than going out of your way to a petrol station with free air, use your own portable pump. Keep tire rotation on your calendar, too, for longest tire life. A good rule of thumb is to do so during every oil change.

LET US, HELP YOU!

We hope this information keeps you on the road so that you can make maximum cash. If you need assistance with nay repairs or juts a service just click here for and instant upfront quote and Michanic will send a trusted and qualifies mechanic to you. We operate every day of the week and after hours to make sure that our customers can get maximum use out of their cars.

If you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000. Or check what our customers say about out service on Hellopeter or Google.

Click here to get a quote for your next service.

Car Wont Start inspection

My car wont start. What do i Do now?

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There’s nothing more frustrating than getting dressed up and smelling nice, then getting into your car to go to work or meet u with friends and family and the car will not start. This happened to me once. My car was fine the one day and the next, it just would not start.

There are many things that can lead to a car not starting. A skilled mechanic can identify the problem within a few minutes or it can take up to an hour trying to figure out what is wrong, as it was in my case. In my case, it was initially the battery that packed up after my car was parked for month without being driven. All i thought i needed was a battery and i will be on my way, but boy was i wrong.

Before i can go into detail of all the possible causes of a car not starting, i found out that you need to make sure you buy the correct battery for your car or else it can make your starter pack up. And that happened to me and yep, as you may guess it was quite costly. So, when you car wont start, there can be a few causes which i will outline below.

Flat Battery

This is probably the most common cause of car not starting issues. This one is easy to identify, the dashboard light will either fade or will not illuminate at all. If these are the symptoms, it will be a good idea to get a new battery, and in most times the car start on the first crank.

Alternator

The alternator for those who do not know, is a device that helps run your electrics in your car while it is running and also, one of its main function is to recharge the battery. In most instances when your alternator is/has packed up, a battery light will illuminate on your dashboard informing you that there may be a problem with the charging system. If your battery is relatively new and you see that light come on, the alternator is the possible culprit. Your car will run with power from the battery and once that has been completely withdrawn, your car will not start. This will need an alternator replacement.

Starter Motor

The job of the stater motor is to crank the engine. Now, you probably ask yourself, how will i know it’s the starter. Well a process of elimination will have at this point excluded the alternator and the battery. The starter motor will display symptom of a weak crank sound, and when this motor is initiated too many times, the crank sound will start to fade and sometimes even burn out the starter completely. If you crank sound is weak and goes hlihee heee heee hee he ee ee, then the cause could be a starter that has packed up.

Fuel

Fuel is a very important element in the starting of the car. When a car wont start, but it cranks fine and healthy, the battery light is not on and the lights are not fading, the possible cause is that the fuel is not getting to the engine to initiate combustion which turns the engine. This could be as simple as purchasing petrol and pouring in into the tank, or could be as expensive as a damaged fuel pump. The mechanic will usually test if the pump is working by monitoring fuel flow into the engine from a pipe that is responsible for delivering the fuel to the engine. If no fuel comes out, one needs to first check if they have fuel in the tank and if there is fuel, then it can be potentially be the petrol pump or in some instance a filter that is blocked.

I hope this help you gain a little bit of knowledge and also save you some money and head aches.

PS: It is always good to check with a mechanic to help you get to the root cause of the problem.

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