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Warning by mechanical expert in the Black Country over car servicing

A mechanical engineer and garage manager in the Black Country has warned drivers of skipping scheduled car services amid Covid-19.

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General manager Valentin Talmaciu made the warning

General manager Valentin Talmaciu from Diesel Automotive in Oldbury said the independent company had seen a fall in appointments.

And the 32-year-old warned people cutting corners by ignoring the need for a check-up could have serious implications in the future for them.

The 32-year-old said: "Things have changed radically this year. I don’t know whether it’s down to growing financial difficulties, to the travel restrictions of lockdown or to general concern over Covid-19 – but while we’re usually busy with car inspections and scheduled services every day, we’re down to just two or three services per week.

“That’s likely to have major implications for people further down the line, not just in terms of reliability but also in terms of remedial cost and even safety. After all, if you take the same ‘take-it-or-leave-it’ approach to your tyres and your brakes, then when the winter weather sets in, a simple roadside breakdown could be the least of your troubles.”

He added: “If there’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my career as a mechanical engineer, it’s that repair bills are always higher than maintenance costs. Mechanical systems aren’t like people - they never heal. They require attention to perform. If left unmaintained, they deteriorate and they can easily give up when you need them most. ”

It comes after industry publication Fleetpoint showed more than half of the UK's motorists took advantage of the Government's MOT exemption to delay their MOT by six months.

And figures from online car maintenance hub BookMyGarage suggested almost a third of UK motorists also delayed their regular servicing schedule as a result of the pandemic.

Mr Talmaciu said it was no coincidence the start new trend has coincided with an increase in the number of people coming in for repairs and engine rebuilds.

He added: "You can encounter all sorts of problems if you don’t keep your servicing up to date – and we’re seeing evidence of that in the number of people who are having to come to us for extensive engine repairs. I’m talking from camshaft rectifications to full engine rebuilds. Of course, we’re happy to do the work but, as I said, it tends to come at far greater cost than any savings they might have made by skipping a simple service."

The company, a diesel specialist engineering workshop, operates out of a 6,000 square foot premises based on the Imex Industrial Estate on Union Road.

For more information, visit www.dieselautomotive.co.uk

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