IIRC, it was in a recent Technical thread that someone stated that short journeys and gentle driving (generally in small cars…mine is a Jazz) were the catalytic converters worst enemy.
My driving comes mainly in this category (apart from a 60 mile Motorway trip in the Grandpa Lane once or twice a month). I am anxious to avoid the wear and tear consequences of such car usage.
In H.J.-FAQ #13 there is specific advice regarding diesel engines and how frequently to hit 4500rpm but in FAQ #10 no figure is given for petrol engines. I therefore concluded that rpm was of less significance with petrol engines.
Am I correct? If not, is there anything I should be doing (especially re rpm) apart from making each journey a *minimum* of three miles and changing oil and filter every 5000 miles?
Thanks in anticipation of your help.
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My cars don't get to full operating temperature until 7 miles out; I don't think a 3-mile minimum trip will do you much good. When my erstwhile better half couldn't manage to break her short-trip habit, I insisted that she used the VAG fuel additive to counteract the strong tendency for things to clog up (part number G 001 700 03; it works on non-VAG cars too!). You shouldn't push the revs until the car is fully warmed up. Good-quality petrol (Shell, Texaco) will help keep things clean.
So, it's walking or pedal-biking for short trips, as far as you can, if you want your car to be healthy. It's not just the cat that suffers with short-trip usage; the whole engine suffers. If you can't avoid short trips, get into the habit of giving the car a good breather once a week -- the Italian tune-up run of at least 10 and preferably 20 miles.
At least, that's my amateur understanding of the problem, mostly straight from HJ. Others may know better.
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Thanks, Roger; several interesting points there.
(1) Unfortunately, the 'S-type' Jazz does not have a temperature gauge(!!), just a green light which goes out after a couple of minutes but I did emphasize *minimum* 3 miles.
(2) Point taken about the additive. I used to use Millers Diesel plus on my Golf and have wondered whether there was any need to use a similar product with petrol engine.
(3)Agree 100% re petrol. I use Shell u/l all the time.
(4)Again agree 100% re walk/bike. Helps to keep me healthy too!
(5)Italian Tune-up for *petrol* engines? I thought that was strictly for *diesels*!! Please can anyone else comment on this point?
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Petrol additives - my wife's Punto 1.2, which does mainly short trips in the week, is always run on Texaco mixed with Redex injector cleaner. It runs very smoothly and pulls cleanly, even when cold, which in my view isn't bad for a four-year-old small car with a low, mostly urban mileage (27,000).
I noticed when buying more Millers Diesel for my car that they have now started doing a petrol version - have bought some of that to try on Mrs B's car...
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The key here is how long your engine is running before it gets up to operating temperature. That of itself can be a particular problem because many modern cars do not have a temp indicator. For example my wife's YARIS has a cold indicator (Blue) which goes out at some point and I assume if it ever overheats a hot indicator (Red) will come on.
If you are fortunate enough to have a temp gauge then you will be in a better position to judge.
BUT - as you rightly say your cat will not operate until it is 'hot' and you are not doing the engine any favours. To avoid this may require a change in your operating pattern - 'blob up' your trips if you can so that you take your car out less often. If that is not possible then consider doing an extra few miles at operating temperature than your actual trip justifies (if that makes sense).
If you are in the position where you could substitute car journeys by shanks pony then this is the option to take - of course not everyone has that luxury!!
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Italian Tune-Ups definitely work for both petrol and diesel cars, generally helps to clear out carp deposits
All that has been said so far is true, however i am tempted to bring up this slightly cynical point -
How long/how many miles are you planning to keep this car for? It seems as if you would be making your daily life a fair bit more complicated by using your car 'properly', and i doubt that any problems such as exhaust/cat failure would occur in just a couple of years from new. If you would be looking to sell it on at this point it hardly seems worth the effort to look after it so well, apart from the conscience point of view that is.
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Thanks, Hawesy.
Answer: As long as I possibly can...preferably ten years minimum...get a good one and stick to it is my policy (quality is remembered long after price is forgotten). It is no effort to 'look after it so well'....it is a pleasure and has always paid off in reliability. When I was using company cars there was always a waiting list of people who wanted to purchase 'my' car when bi-annual change came round. Habit of a lifetime!!
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OAP
I have found a soul mate! I spit teeth when I see or hear of people abusing company cars. I've used them and have managed people who use them; the employee's attitude to the company car was always consistent with their attitude to the job in general, so it was easy to see who was not going to make the grade.
I'm proud that one company mechanic back in the 1970s said my Cortina was in better nick when I handed it in than when I started using it.
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I too look after my company car, for very good reasons.
1/ It costs me money in taxes
2/ I run them in and dont abuse them so later in its time with me it does not use oil (which i have to pay for) uses less fuel (which I pay for on personal miles) and performs better and hence more fun.
3/ It cost me money so I keep it clean in and out to try and preserve that "newish car feel"
4/ If its not serviced on schedule my company fines me.
5/ If its returned in carp state at the end of its lease my company fine me.
As the delivery driver who took away my 4 year old 48k mile Scenic said, "Blimey this is a good un mate, I might bid for it meself"
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...In which case OAP, i hope you have many happy years with it!
It was just a suggestion, anyway, as im sure that thats what 90% of the UK population do without even thinking about it!
If you were in any doubt, i'm yet to buy a brand new (or even younger that 8 years old) car, but i too always try to treat my cars with mechanical sympathy whenever possible
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You are not alone. I often think I am the only one who checks fluid levels (topping up where necessary) on hire cars. I also keep them so clean that I have had a hire company clerk ask if I actually drove the car after getting it home.
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A couple of years ago I checked the oil and coolant on a hire car, just be on the safe side I thought; and they were fine. However not long into the journey the front wheel came off while on the motorway! So the next time I hire a car I'm definitely checking the wheel bolts are done up properly!
Just because you may not own the car you are driving a bit of care and attention to it might save you an annoying breakdown or something even worse.
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