The Garage 325

NEWSBLOG
THERMOSTAT PROBLEMS AND
SOLUTIONS – FORD TRANSIT
Industry Insights celebrates the 50th Anniversary of
the first fully synthetic motor oil: Motul 300V
For details of the wide range of Motul workshop oils and
other garage products, check out: www.motul.com
assess the impact of MOT volumes during the months of March
and September, traditionally the two busiest periods for MOTs,
mirroring when the plate changes happen for new cars.
The survey of around 600 service and repair businesses
conducted at the end of February, involving independent garages,
revealed that the jury’s still out as to exactly what they think will
happen regarding MOT volumes, with 39% predicting a similar
level to March and September 2020, whilst 34% estimated
that their workload will be comparatively quieter. The months
in between are also looking like they could pose challenges,
with April and May being particular examples, as MOT volumes
dipped significantly in 2020 compared to what was witnessed the
previous year.
Garages are also predicting a higher rate of MOT failures in 2021
versus 2020, on the assumption that consumers may have been
more hesitant to take their cars to a garage for routine or ad hoc
maintenance since the start of the pandemic. Similarly, average
annual mileages driven by consumers since their last MOT, are
also expected to fall to between three and five thousand, from an
annual average of 7,200 for private vehicles in 2019.
Other challenges still lie ahead for garages in 2021
Potentially lower MOT throughput is of course not the sole
hurdle that service and repair outlets will have to clear as they
go through the year. When questioned in our research about
what they deemed to be the three biggest challenges facing
their organisation during 2021, 55% of individuals explained that
a drop in overall footfall would be their biggest worry, with 51%
of respondents stating that more costly overheads and higher
operating costs may also pose a significant threat. In addition,
just over a third of those polled (39%), said that a difficulty in
obtaining parts could equally disrupt their work during the coming
months, with over a quarter (29%) citing cash flow and financial
issues as being a possible cause for concern.
There is however, light at the end of the tunnel…
With the vaccine rollout looking so positive, and with a timeline
out of lockdown, there is much-needed light at the end of the
tunnel. While the full impact of Brexit is still not clear, I feel that
we can look forward to an improved economic and business
outlook for 2021, and some respite from what we have all had to
endure during the past twelve months.
Despite the obvious popularity of the Mercedes Sprinter,
VW Transporter and Vauxhall Vivaro, the Ford Transit is
far and away the most common panel van in the UK, with
around a million examples traveling the length and breadth of the
country.
Although generally very reliable, it’s not uncommon for some
versions to appear to go into limp mode, without displaying any
problems through the warning lights on the dash board.
Common symptoms of this phenomenon include lumpy running
when at idle, power loss and difficulty when faced with hills, as
well as sometimes giving fluctuating readings of the temperature
gauge.
These issues can often by misdiagnosed as a blocked air intake,
turbo fault or EGR valve malfunction, when in fact it’s a faulty
thermostat. Due to the complex makeup of the modern engine,
this relatively simple component is often overlooked, but in
reality, should be one of the first things to consider as thermal
management is now crucial to the correct operation of the
engine, not to mention its exhaust emissions.
Although the thermostat in the Transit example mentioned is
contained in a housing, it’s the thermostat valve that is usually the
problem and Dayco offer this part DT1016V in its comprehensive
thermostat range, which makes up part of its thermal
management programme.
Effective thermal control in all areas
of the engine from initial start-up
until reaching its designed operating
temperature, whether in hot spots
such as around the cylinder head or
cooler zones elsewhere, is vital in order
to maintain the vehicle manufacturers’
claimed emissions figures. In order
to operate within these strict
performance parameters and their expected service life, original
equipment (OE) quality replacements must be the benchmark.
Dayco’s extensive technological know-how and drive to ensure
its products deliver to the highest levels of performance means
that a combination of precision couplings and quality materials
has enabled the company to supply a comprehensive range
of thermostats that are of OE standard in their quality, safety,
efficiency and durability.
For more information regarding the OE quality
power transmission products in the Dayco range,
please email: info.uk@dayco.com
or visit: www.daycoaftermarket.com
THE GARAGE 7