Motorists improve fuel economy by up to 20% in 30 minutes

Motorists who don’t change their engine oil, use the wrong grade or put clean oil in to a dirty engine are killing their fuel economy. Dirty fuel injectors add to the problem. Motorists driving 15,000 miles a year could save around £500 by ensuring correct products and procedures are used, according to mail order supplier, Car Parts Direct.

Mark Cornwall of Car Parts Direct said: “Most garages don’t flush an engine clean before changing the oil and injection cleaner is not normally included in an engine service. Some garages use cheap oil to increase their profits at the expense of the customer. Checking what products and procedures are used by a garage can save a motorist a small fortune in fuel and in some cases avoid serious engine damage.”

Another alternative is to carry out the job yourself or have a friend help - that way you can save on garage labour costs and you know the correct products are used.

Car Parts Direct has launched a D.I.Y engine service kit which has been designed to increase a vehicle’s performance, reliability and economy.

Included in the kit is a concentrated engine flush which, when added to the old oil before draining, removes dirt, sludge and harmful residue that builds up and can block oil ways. This ensures that your new oil is going in to a clean engine - It’s pointless putting clean oil in to a dirty engine claim the suppliers.

Friction Film, a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) additive is used to reduce friction wherever metal meets metal. PTFE is claimed to be one of the slipperiest substances available to reduce engine wear and is a major contributor to the increase of an engine’s performance, economy and reliability. Friction Film is added with the fresh engine oil.

Five litres of Exol fully synthetic engine oil is included in the kit. Synthetic oil flows through oil ways faster to provide lubrication within split seconds of starting a cold engine. Fully synthetic oil provides improved protection compared to ordinary mineral oils and helps to reduce fuel consumption by maintaining a constant viscosity at all temperatures. Some franchised dealers charge up to £80 to supply this grade of oil in a service according to Car Parts Direct.

A powerful fuel injection cleaner is added to the vehicle’s fuel tank. This restores lost power due to injector dirt build-up. It helps improve fuel consumption, reduces emissions and lubricates and cleans the entire fuel system.

Kits are available for virtually all petrol and diesel vehicles. Car Parts Direct is able to identify your vehicle from your registration number at time of ordering to ensure the correct kit is supplied. The complete 30-minute Engine Performance and Economy kit includes an oil filter, engine flush, Friction Film, Xtreme Injection cleaner, five litres of fully synthetic oil and D.I.Y instructions - as the name implies; it’s claimed to be about a 30 minute job on most vehicles.

All kits are priced at £69 including free UK delivery when ordered online - visit carparts-direct.co.uk.