E stands for Ethanol which is a colourless alcohol that can be used as an alternative fuel and is considered a renewable biofuel as it is mostly produced from agricultural sources. It also produces less carbon and carbon monoxide emissions because it burns more cleanly than petrol.
In Australia, it is a more environmentally friendly fuel than pure unleaded fuels.
E10 fuel contains 10% ethanol by volume (which is the maximum allowed under Australian government fuel standards). It is sometimes marketed as 94 RON (Research Octane Number). E10 carries more water by volume, which can have impacts in certain vehicles.
Most cars post 1986 can run on E10, but cars that ran on leaded fuel or are carburetted (mostly pre-1986) cannot.
E10 contains less energy than premium unleaded (95 and 98 RON), as such it burns faster and is less efficient – you use more fuel, but is can still be overall cheaper as it is often a lower price per litre.
Always check if your car is suitable for E10 before using it – there is not a simple rule that can be applied as there are so many different cars and engine specifications.
Check the minimum RON for your car. This is often on a sticker under the fuel flap, but you may need to check the owners manual. If the minimum RON is at or below 94 then you could consider using E10.
Many European, turbocharged or performance vehicles require a minimum RON of 95 or 98, so E10 should not be used for these.
Occasionally a car is compatible with 5 per cent ethanol, but not 10 per cent ethanol, so care should be taken.
For ease – the NSW Government created a compatibility checker which you can use here: https://www.nsw.gov.au/topics/e10-fuel/compatibility-check
Don’t stress! Using E10 will not cause immediate damage to your car, so putting a tank through by accident is no big deal. However, prolonged use can cause long-term problems because ethanol is a solvent and can cause degradation of rubber and plastic components, such as seals, fuel lines and filters.
Occasionally we see vehicles that are underperforming or have engine warning lights come up due to the wrong fuel being used. So the bottom line is always check, then you can’t go wrong!
If you are unsure, just pick up the phone – we are always happy to help!
Worldwide, countries have announced upcoming bans on the sale of internal combustion engine vehicles. The United Kingdom, Sweden, India, Israel and Germany have announced the ban by 2030. Japan and Denmark by 2035, and Canada, France, Spain, Sri Lanka and Taiwan from 2040.
Whilst Australia itself does not have set date, being a comparatively small market we will be quickly forced to follow others.
In response to these targets, many manufacturers are phasing out their combustion engine models. For example Volvo’s target is for 50% of global sales to be fully electric by 2025. Most manufacturers have flagged 2025 as the year they will release their last non-EV models.
This will lead to a substantial cross-over period where service centres will need to service a wide range of propulsion types. In preparing for this future our team have been undertaking a training program specifically on hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.
Certainly a learning curve with a dramatic change in the design philosophy, technology and equipment ‘under the skin’ in these vehicles!
Exciting times!!
Planning your pilgrimage up to the snow? Here are a couple of tips to help you get up and back without hassle!
If you would like our assistance with any of these just ask – we are happy to help!
This is a question we are often asked and it is all the more relevant for some given the substantial changes in working circumstances over the past year.
The recommended approach is to service your car at the set kilometers, or the set date, as specified by the manufacturer: whichever comes first. Different manufacturers and vehicles have different time/km periods. The most common are below, but can change between makes and models so should always be checked for your car.
The due date is just as important as distance travelled as a number of items assessed during a service can degrade even if you don’t drive the car (as one example, the rubber in windscreen wipers is exposed to harsh conditions even when parked on the road and can fail without ever being used!)
So – can I safely defer? This is essentially a decision around risk.
The manufacturer’s guidelines are set to minimise the risk of failure. As you leave it for longer past the due date the risk of unreliability extends. It is of course your decision! So if you are unsure, or just want to talk through your situation by all means call and ask.
Funny thing about running a business – you make a whole heap of decisions about what you think your customer wants, but do you really know? We wanted to find out!
The ‘What and How’
To do this we undertook a 2-phase process. In Phase-1 we created a survey with broad questions to a smaller but diverse set of our customers. We asked 3 leading questions[1] and then compiled the results into a set of specific questions for the next phase.
Phase-2 consisted of another survey asking our customers to rank each question against how important it is to them, and how big the issue/hurdle is for them. This was sent out to everyone on our e-mail database (>700), as well as promoted via Facebook. The individual results were averaged to provide a reflection of our entire customer group.
The Results
The following 2 graphs represent the averaged results of all the respondents.
What did we learn?
What we are doing about it?
The results have provided support to a number of things we have introduced over the past year, but also flagged areas for opportunity! Going forward we now have in place:
Doing all of these things ensures that our customers get a full picture of their vehicle, and no surprises!
The one glaring observation is that it is not just ‘the customer’, but it is ‘customer communication’ who is truly king!
Footnotes:
[1] Q1 What are the 3 most important things when getting your car serviced?
Q2What are the 3 biggest hurdles you experience?
Q3What is the one thing you would love your service centre to do for you?
Melbourne is the capital of hay fever…. Is that a sarcastic “yay” I can hear?
With spring upon us the nights become less chilly and the days get a little longer. Flowers start to bloom and those little bees are as busy as ever pollinating everything in sight.
However, if you’re one of 25% of Melbournians that suffer from hay fever or other seasonal allergies, this time of year can be a nightmare. Read more below, and if you would like us to help – just reach out!
Allergies and Car AirCon
Your vehicles heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system needs regular servicing to perform well.
A poorly serviced system can allow pollen, dust and other airborne pollutants to be drawnyour vehicle.
Once these are in the aircon system they can make being in your car particularly uncomfortable – especially if you suffer from asthma, hay fever or other allergies.
The first place to start if you experience allergies in your car is the interior. Make sure you vacuum the seats and floors and wipe down all the interior hard surfaces.
Even the exterior of your car should be washed.
Most cars on our roads have a built-in cabin air filter. These are also sometimes called pollen filters. The cabin filter cleans the air coming into the cars interior by trapping pollen, bacteria, dust and exhaust gases. They also stop leaves, bugs and other small pieces of rubbish from entering the HVAC system and becoming lodged in the vent ducting.
Like all filters, once they become clogged their effectiveness deteriorates very quickly. A clogged cabin filter can concentrate the contaminants in your HVAC system and also lead to constant musty odours. The airflow can also be significantly reduced, in turn causing you additional problems when trying to heat or cool your car.
All vehicle manufactures recommend that you should replace your cabin air filter every 25,000 to 30,000 kms. A brand new cabin air filter every year will go a long way to reducing the symptoms of asthma, hay fever and other seasonal allergies. The best time to replace your cabin air filter is in September, at the beginning of spring, before the major hay fever season hits.
This is especially important to do so should you live in a dusty rural setting or any area that has poor seasonal air quality.
In the last few years, there have been enormous advancements made in the designing and manufacturing of better quality cabin air filters.
Ryco have developed 3 levels of premium cabin air filters that filter from 10 microns down to 2.5 microns. If you suffer from hay fever or asthma, make sure to flag this with your mechanic and get the right cabin air filter.
You already know that during allergy season, it’s not smart to drive around with your windows open. If there are any gaps or even a slight crack in the window seals, that may be all that’s needed for unwanted allergens, irritants and other pollutants to find their way in.
What’s more, you’ll want to make sure that all the door seals (the weather stripping) on your vehicle are free of cracks or tears and is still one continuous piece.
With a clean car, a properly serviced HVAC system and your brand new cabin air filter installed, you’re ready to enjoy the fresh air inside your vehicle. A great tip for minimising any further symptoms is to set your HVAC system to ‘re-circulation’. This prevents any contaminates being drawn into your vehicle’s cabin from outside.
A quick update:
As we are slowly coming out of the ‘Covid fog’, now is a great time to get your vehicle sorted out, whether it be servicing, repairs or tyres.
We continue to understand and support those aiming to isolate as much as possible. As such we can provide:
• 𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸-𝘂𝗽 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳𝗳 of your vehicle upon request
• 𝗣𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 solution
• 𝗘𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 via e-mail
• We can also 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘀’ 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 if you would like (saves you a trip to the servo)
If there is anything else we can support with whilst we have your car just ask!
Full sanitisation both before and after we are in your car goes without saying, and is now just normal procedure for us!
Keep safe,
Chris
Hopefully this doesn’t happen to you, but if it does, even if it just a minor bingle, knowing what to do helps keep everyone safe and helps to protects you.
If you can do it safely, pull the car over to the side of the road, and well off the road. The best thing to is to stop and catch your breath. You may not be thinking straight, so taking a few moments and not going anywhere is the best immediate thing to do.
Been in a car accident – what do I do?
This seems obvious, but after an accident the adrenalin can be flowing and your ‘fight or flight’ instincts can be on overdrive.
Ask everyone if they are hurt in any way, and if suspicious of more than just a bruise call an ambulance. Car accidents can cause neck injuries which need to be carefully treated until they can be confirmed minor, so avoid moving if safe to do so.
If anyone is injured it is also required that you call the police and notify them. You should also call the police if you suspect drugs or alcohol are involved, or if there is any damage to street signs, traffic lights, bollards – anything that might need fixing or replacing.
In an accident involving another vehicle, you only have your side of the story. So don’t admit to being at fault even if you think you are – you don’t have the full picture, and can leave this to insurer’s down the track.
Also, don’t blame them for the accident, even if you think it might have been their fault – again, you only have your side of the story. Apportioning blame can lead to anger, so best to stay away from this when people are worked up after an accident!
Make sure that you collect the information of other drivers involved, and share your information, including:
With mobile phones so easy to access, a great idea is to walk around the vehicles and take photos of things such as the damage, where the vehicles ended up, number plate, drivers licences, business cards, etc. Basically everything you can think of.
By doing this you can be sure that you have accurately collected the information, and you never know what question might be asked by an insurer down the track – the photo can be referred to and might just provide the answer!
A First Aid Course is a great way to be prepared, not only for a car accident, but for life in general. You can find sutiable courses here.
Make sure your car is safe before you drive it away! It is vital that you are confident your car is safe and roadworthy before attempting to drive it after an accident. Key things to check include:
Basically, if you have even the slightest concern it is best to call a tow-truck. The worst possible outcome after an accident is to drive off and then cause another one because of a part failure!
You can find a one tow-truck company by clicking here. Or google search for local options. Also keep in mind that if you have roadside assist, this will likely cover towing.
Mechanical Repairs: If you find that you have some damage you can have your car towed to us and we are happy to help – click here for more information or call (03) 9328 4237.
If there is anything you are unsure about, simply give us a quick call. We are happy to be a sounding board and make sure you and your car are safe if you have been unlucky enough to be in an accident.
This is a question we get quite often. The real answer is it depends on your car, how well it has been serviced in the past, and what are your goals for your car.
Our aim is to gather all this information and make sure that we have a servicing plan in place that finds the right balance of frequency, cost and reliability to match your needs.
The key point to remember is that your car should be serviced at the set kilometers, or the set date: whichever comes first.
The date is equally important as a number of items assessed during a service can wear out even if you don’t drive the car (as one example, the rubber in windscreen wipers is exposed to harsh conditions and can fail without ever being used!)
The ultimate approach for reliabilty is to follow the manufacturers’ recommended frequency. Our Logbook Servicing frequencies are done in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations. We also setup a reminder system for you to support this approach. But there are some key considerations to take into account:
Each manufacturer has a recommended set of service schedules. You can find these in your car’s logbook. These are typically every 6, 9 or 12 months, or at a set km range (whichever you get to first).
If there is no strong history (i.e. the logbook has not been followed), the car is old or has done a lot of kilometers, you may be better off switching to a Minor Servicing regime. When customers elect to convert to minor servicing (which includes oil, oil filter and inspection), we default to the 10,000km or six month rule to make sure your car stays safe on the road, and gets regular check-ups to make sure everything is performing OK.
Some vehicles have key items that require regular (although in-frequent) replacement in order to avoid catastrophic damage. A good example of these is timing belts or chains. When they do they are often only required every 125,000 or 150,000km (varies by make and model of car). Although, not all cars have them. If these are not replaced and fail, it can cause significant damage to your engine and lead to a engine replacement or perhaps even writing off the car.
It is important to keep an eye on these critical items. This is why we check for this if you are no longer following the manufacturers’ servicing regime.
In general you should book your car in for a professional service every six months or 10,000km (whichever comes first).
For an independent view on this, checkout: https://www.whichcar.com.au/car-advice/how-often-should-you-service-your-car
If you are ever unsure, don’t hesitate to give us a call and check.