GEM offers tips for a 'fluid February'

GEM Motoring Assist is encouraging a more indulgent approach to treating your car this coming month with its ‘fluid February’ advice. GEM, established in 1932, is an independent driver-based road safety association and breakdown cover company recommended by Which?. They have recently posted some key tips to help make sure your car gets the care it needs to stay in top condition after what they say was a ‘dry January’ detox period.

To maintain a more reliable vehicle, GEM are reminding us that proper attention to our engine oil, fuel pumps, anti-freeze and screen wash levels all contribute to a clean engine.

Here are the vehicle care tips from GEM's latest press release:

GEM’s tips for a fluid February

• Prior to making a cold start in sub-zero temperatures, allow fuel pumps time to pressurise by leaving the ignition on for approximately five seconds before activating the starter motor


• Engine oil has to be at an optimum temperature to offer the fullest protection. Therefore, increase engine revs and load progressively as the engine warms


• The dirt on your paint can abrade the surface if anything brushes past it. Wash your car regularly and direct a hose beneath the wheel arches and under the floor to help remove any corrosive salty deposits


• Ensure that the engine coolant contains anti-freeze strength of between 30% and 50%. If the concentration is too low the engine could freeze. If too high the effectiveness of the solution to disperse heat is minimised


• Keep the screen wash bottle topped up and use the right concentration of solution. Driving with an empty bottle is illegal

David Williams MBE, CEO of GEM Motoring Assist, comments: “It’s never too late to start taking proper care of your car and, the more attention you give it, the longer it will last if you look after it correctly. We hope that these tips encourage motorists to carry on maintaining their vehicle long after New Year resolutions and good intentions fade, as they often do after January.”

If you'd like to research more driving advice and tips from GEM's Motoring Assist website, please click here.