3 Tips to keep your vehicle in perfect condition for the winter... Note: This article incorporates sponsored content. Keeping your car in perfect condition during winter can enhance your safety when driving in cold weather. While the repairs may seem simple, they can make the difference between getting stranded by the roadside and arriving at your destination on time. Here are some tips to … [Read more...]
The future for classic vehicles may not be as grim as some predict…
An industry report by Footman James suggests that modern technologies and innovations will help to keep the classic sector relevant, and older vehicles on the road... Footman James’ Indicator Report (dated July 2022) on the automotive sector suggests the key to securing the classic car industry’s future is making sustainable solutions and technologies accessible Data states that 47 per … [Read more...]
Classic car owners prefer their vehicles to be powered by synthetic fuels/e-fuels, rather than electricity
'No thanks' to electric power for our classics, say 76 per cent of owners asked... Synthetic fuel development is crucial for classic and collector car industry, as 76 per cent of owners favour e-fuels (synthetic fuels) over electric conversion in net-zero future... Specialist insurer Footman James polled classic car owners during recent Coffee & Chrome event to gain insight into what … [Read more...]
What happens to used lithium-ion battery packs from electric cars?
Electric cars necessarily rely on batteries, but how can these be recycled and what happens to them in the process? Note: This feature incorporates sponsored content. (Images from unsplash.com and pexels.com) Lithium-ion battery packs are an important component of many electronic devices. What happens to used lithium-ion battery packs from electric cars? Recycling them into new battery … [Read more...]
The British Motor Show (starting 18th August 2022) set to become the ‘greenest’ motor show ever?
Coryton fuels and the 2022 British Motor Show... They tell us: ANDREW WILLSON, CORYTON CEO, says: “As a company we’re committed to creating world-leading sustainable fuels, raising the profile of these options and helping people to understand the impact they could have on reducing carbon emissions in the immediate future. The British Motor Show is the perfect platform for this … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive ‘Hand Wash Only’ book competition… and the winners are…
Our competition, enabling two of our readers to win a copy of the new book ‘Hand Wash Only - A beginner's guide to Detailing and Car Care’ has now ended… Thanks to all of you who entered the competition, and to those who didn’t win, we’re sorry, but hope that you have better luck next time. We are very grateful to the publishers of the book (PD Publishing) for kindly donating the two copies. … [Read more...]
For Your Bookshelf – and a Competition Prize; you can win a copy – ‘Hand Wash Only – A Beginner’s Guide to Detailing and Car Care’
YOU could win one of two copies of this top class book; please see below for details of our Wheels-Alive competition… So what is the book all about? We review the book, but first the publishers of ‘Hand Wash Only’ tell us… Car enthusiasts all over the world know that washing their vehicle by hand is the best way to keep it looking its best. In recent times 'detailing' has become the … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive Competition, starting at 9am Tuesday 2nd August; you can win a copy – ‘Hand Wash Only – A Beginner’s Guide to Detailing and Car Care’
This comprehensive new book on vehicle 'detailing' will be reviewed at 9am tomorrow, Tuesday 2nd August 2022 on Wheels-Alive, with the chance to win a copy in a free to enter competition which closes at 8.59am on Friday, 12th August. … [Read more...]
Synthetic fuels evaluated in historic racing car
The Historic and Classic Vehicles Alliance (HCVA), CKL Developments and Sustain by Coryton team up to commence synthetic fuel testing for the historic sector... The HCVA tells us: Tuesday 21st June 2022 saw the achievement of a significant milestone in the progress towards future fuels for the Historic and Classic vehicles sector. CKL Developments, Jaguar racing specialists, a … [Read more...]
Reflections on a turning point in automotive history
Time for a (gear) change? Dave Moss discusses the possible/likely/inevitable (?) decline of the multi-ratio gearboxes that we have used since motoring began... Although cars have undergone remarkable changes in the 125 years they have been moving mankind around, continued use of internal combustion engines has ensured the survival of one particular heartache-inducing component. To the delight of … [Read more...]
Fuel’s gold – but for how much longer?…
A detailed look at alternative synthetic ‘e-fuels’, what they are and how they may (or may not) fit into the future of transport, classic and otherwise. By Dave Moss. Kim says: “Here is Dave’s very comprehensive article, in its entirety and as written by him and representing his own views following his in-depth ‘free rein’ analysis of the subject. I should mention that this was written … [Read more...]
Fitting a front anti-roll bar to an Austin A30 or A35
Hylton Reid explains how he installed a front anti-roll bar to his Austin A30 (the same techniques can be applied to the structurally similar A35). (All text and photographs copyright Hylton Reid). When the Austin A30 was first introduced it was fitted with an anti-roll bar to the rear suspension. The considered opinion was to remove this to improve handling and to fit a front anti … [Read more...]
Wheels-Alive takes a look at… Crown Oil and their HVO fuel
Kim Henson reports on a low emissions alternative to mineral/fossil based diesel fuel... There is (almost) universal agreement that our planet is in trouble in terms of global warming and climate change, and that emissions resulting from the burning of fossil-derived fuels are unhelpful. Reducing ‘carbon footprints’ is therefore desirable and indeed necessary. The more widespread use of … [Read more...]
Mazda’s view of the road ahead… and their power units
There’s still joy to be had in petrol and diesel engines, says Mazda. This week, Mazda UK commissioned 20 electric charging points at its Dartford headquarters as more staff progressively returned to the office, writes Robin Roberts. However, the UK and Europe’s rush to turn on electric cars over the coming decade has not dimmed Mazda’s investment in the internal combustion engine. “Mazda … [Read more...]
Could ‘E-Fuels’ make sense amidst a headlong dash towards vehicle electrification?
What about 'E-Fuels'? Vehicle electrification is widely being pushed as 'the' answer to achieving carbon neutral transportation in the near future. Yet the seemingly sensible alternative/supplementary option of using environmmentally-kind liquid 'E-Fuels' could have much to offer, while still being able to use the existing supply network and infrastructure... Kim Henson reports on a recent … [Read more...]
Higher doses of ethanol arriving – the reasons (we are told…), and the potential dangers
E10 petrol is coming soon – to filling stations near you... by Dave Moss. Why E10, and why now? The British government's ambition to drive down carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050 involves ever-tightening targets, which last December stood at a 68% reduction by 2030 compared to 1990... However, in April, days before the US climate summit, rumours began circulating that yet another emissions … [Read more...]
Kim’s Tips – Renew those filters, to keep your car running at its best
Air, oil and fuel filters are often overlooked, but all play essential roles. Kim Henson advises checking when they were last renewed on your vehicle. Car manufacturers fit a variety of important filters on their vehicles, typically including air, engine oil, fuel and pollen filters. Recent diesel engines also have Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs). The function of each is to remove … [Read more...]
Increase in percentage of ethanol in standard grade UK petrol further threatens older vehicle fuel systems
Ethanol percentage hike means more bad news for owners of older cars... Kim Henson advises... As has been widely forecast during the last few years – including on Wheels-Alive – the imminent introduction (now confirmed by the U.K.'s Department of Transport) of 'standard grade' 95 octane fuel containing up to 10 per cent ethanol is very bad news indeed for the owners of older vehicles, and not … [Read more...]
Exhaust systems and their ailments
The Most Common Exhaust System Problems An exhaust system is a vital feature in any motor vehicle, ranging from the petrol dominated world of automobiles to the wide variety of diesel-powered vehicles. They have a major role in keeping the engine running without any issues and ensuring a smooth drive that we all expect. However, like most components of a vehicle, they are susceptible to wear … [Read more...]
Calls for MoT Test changes to incorporate aspects of electric, hybrid and high-tech. modern vehicles
Robin Roberts writes: The MoT test may need a radical shakeup to reflect the arrival of electric power and very sophisticated technology fitted to the latest vehicles. That’s the view of KwikFit, which tests about a million vehicles annually, and head of their service Eric Smith. He points out that currently hybrid models and battery electric vehicles are not tested for emissions and these and … [Read more...]