This month’s best YouTube videos
The Haynes YouTube channel is full of step-by-step videos that'll help you carry out popular maintenance jobs on various models. Take a look and subscribe here, and hit the notification bell to be informed when we upload new content.
The Car Edition
Urgent Wet Belt Replacement, 2019 Ford Transit
We’ve talked about wet belts – aka timing belts that run through the engine oil – a bit recently. They're not fitted to vast numbers of vehicle models, but those that have them have sold in pretty big quantities (the Ford Fiesta and Transit Connect, for example).
It's the latter that's the focus of this video. This Transit has covered 66,000 miles, which is almost 40,000 less than Ford's replacement interval (which, incidentally, was changed last year from 150,000 miles to 100,000 miles), yet the wet belt has already started to disintegrate, with bits of it clogging the filters. Hence the urgent need to change the belt.
This gives you a great idea of what the job entails, and, naturally, your Haynes manual shows you how to do it, step by step.
Kingston Home Maintenance
I tried Mannol’s DPF cleaner
We love YouTubers who set to work on their vehicles with a camera in one hand and a spanner in the other. It doesn't always make for very slick videos but they're authentic.
Mike here has a van with a clogged diesel particulate filter, as he explains: “My Nissan NV200 has been broken down for a while and this was caused by a blocked DPF. After hearing stories of the cost of a new DPF or a [professional] clean, I thought there must be an alternative."
And Mannol’s is just one of many DIY products out there – but does it work? Watch the vid to find out.
RocketMan
Group Riding Top Tips
Do you ride solo or enjoy the company of others for day trips? There are pros and cons to both, but if you haven't tried riding with others, it's worth thinking about, as this informative video from RocketMan – complete with stunning Portuguese scenery – proves.
Points covered include organising and getting the most out of a group ride, suggesting a date and meeting point, riding etiquette, the second man drop-off system, coffee and lunch stops, and general tips and tricks for a successful day trip with your friends. Excellent stuff!
Tap on the image below to view the video.