A top mechanic has urged drivers to leave one job to the professionals to avoid creating an even bigger repair job with a hefty bill to match. Whilst it is often encouraged that drivers take a hands-on approach to car maintenance, which can help them reduce their motoring bills, Scrap Car Comparison highlighted that some jobs should only ever be done by a trained professional. Collaborating with the price comparison service, expert mechanic Tim Singer urged all drivers to never attempt to change their engine’s glow plugs, warning that it will likely cause even more issues.
He said: “People who try to change them themselves, without any knowledge of engineering, tend to end up ‘mushrooming’ them from the inside, creating an even bigger problem. That or they won’t have the right equipment, make a mess, and end up with the tip of the glow plug dropping inside the engine itself, which will result in not just new glow plugs being required, but a whole engine in need of repair.”
A vital component found in all diesel engines, glow plugs are small heating elements that raise the temperature of fuel and air to boost the vehicle’s efficiency – resulting in more power and better fuel economy.
Whilst replacement glow plugs typically cost around a hefty £200 to source and fit, Scrap Car Comparison noted that the task requires specialist tools and knowledge to do correctly.
As a result, drivers who attempt to change the component themself risk creating a succession of other faults under the bonnet, which Tim warned could cost thousands of pounds to put right.
To help avoid creating serious issues when working under the bonnet, Tim recommended that drivers take plenty of photos and videos during the process, which can be a vital resource when putting parts back in the right place.
He said: “When carrying out any work, you don’t want to get yourself confused, and modern technology can be a life-saver with that. Your phone will double up as a camera, so take photos of what it looks like every step of the way and when you’re taking things apart, because at least if it all goes wrong, you can play the images in reverse and put it back together.
“This is how I teach my employees and it’s one of the best methods to avoid something going wrong, as you can just go through picture by picture and reverse what you’ve done!”
