What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
We aren't using our diesel car enough during lockdown. Can we do anything to prolong the time before problems start?
We have a BMW X3 diesel, which we have had for five years. It's a 2012 model with 65,000 miles on the clock. Understandably, we have only done 3000 miles this year, mostly short trips and are quite obviously not using it enough. Are there measures we can take to prolong the time before serious problems occur? The car is pristine and we really don't want to sell until hybrids or electric cars come into our price range.
Asked on 13 April 2021 by
Answered by
Andrew Brady
Take it for a good motorway run (with 20-30 minutes of prolonged high revs) every few hundred miles (every time you fill up with fuel, for example). Using a treatment like Redex DPF cleaner is probably a good idea, too. If your car's DPF warning light illuminates, the filter is blocked and will require attention from a mechanic.
Similar questions
I have a 2014 Mercedes SLK diesel roadster. Will making multiple short journeys of 5-10 miles cause a problem with the exhaust system? If so, would some longer or faster journeys prevent the problem? If...
I own a diesel 2015 BMW 5 Series estate with 51,000 miles - which I love. However, since retiring, my mileage is very low. A pre-owned 5 Series PHEV is frankly too expensive for me now. What would you...
I have a 2015 Vauxhall Insignia. I’ve only had the car just over a year, but a couple of weeks ago it broke down with white smoke belting out the back of the exhaust. The car is now at Arnold Clark. I...
Related models
Handling is impressive for an SUV, large boot capacity and lots of rear-seat space, top engine choices deliver serious performance.