Help!

GENERAL

Imported vehicle

Q I hope you can throw some light regards the registration of a Volkswagen camper van which my son bought from the Midlands two years ago. It was imported from South America and has an Italian logbook.

He bought it as a project but now realises it is beyond him and wishes to sell it. But he has nothing to say he owns it. As is often the case, the people he bought it from do not reply to his phone calls.

Norman Cubbon

A The import rules are quite strict and when the vehicle was imported HMRC should have been informed. The rules depending on whether it was imported from inside or outside the EU are different but in either case there would be duty to pay.

I can only suspect that as the VW has an Italian logbook, that it was perhaps on its travels when it was then diverted from South America to the UK.

Purchasing the vehicle without receiving any documentation was not a good move, but as this was two years ago the best action would be for your son to contact the specialist team at HMRC who deal with vehicle imports. They may be able to suggest a course of action that will allow the vehicle to become registered and then once fully documented the VW can be sold.

The normal course of actions would be that the imported vehicle needs to be notified to the HMRC who will specify the VAT and duty based on the purchase price.

Once the NOVA (Notification of Vehicle Arrivals) certificate has been gained the vehicle can then be tested to get its IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) and then can be taxed.

The one good point is that the vehicle does have a logbook from Italy and this should be a basis to start from.

The email address for the HMRC team who deal with this area is ecsm.nchcars@ hmrc.gov.uk – there is a phone number of 0300 322 7071 but I believe a full written explanation of the problem via an email may be the best option.

GENERAL

Oil pump

Q My question is about engine oil removal using the dipstick hole. I wish to do this on my 2012 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 petrol. Would you favour a combined pump with container that the old oil empties into (self-contained) or the hand pump type which you need to keep pumping to suck the oil out and then empty into an old oil container?

Also do you know the maximum tube diameter size for the pipe which needs to go into the dipstick tube?

Also is it true that some vehicles don’t have drain plugs or dipsticks anymore?

J Mitchell

A I would first say that I am strong believer that the best method of changing the oil is to drain it down when warm ensuring that all the oil is removed. One of the problems with using a syphon type device is that not all sumps are flat and there will possibly be a small amount of oil which gets left in the system. Having said that it is a fact that many modern engines are designed to have the oil removed from the top as opposed to drained out. The only engine I know that comes without a sump plug is the smart fortwo.

Whilst many vehicles do not have a physical dipstick, they now use an electronic sensor to determine the engine oil level. And many now incorporate a tube for quick connection to allow the old oil to be syphoned up, shortening the time needed on a service. Whilst these vehicles do still have a sump plug, the access to it – which requires the removal of undershields – makes syphoning from the top a natural choice based on a time basis.

Whilst VW do not give the specifications of the dipstick tube, the VAG 1782 oil extractor unit designated by VW as the required tool has a tube diameter of 4mm, and so this should be considered to be capable of placing into the dipstick tube.

From the two units you have mentioned I would certainly say the self-contained unit would be my first choice as this will eliminate some of the mess that could otherwise possible be made transferring the old oil from one container to the other.

GENERAL

GENERAL

Fuel quality

Q In your opinion is it best to use a branded diesel fuel, ie. Shell or BP in a modern diesel vehicle instead of a supermarket brand?

Craig Christie

A All fuel sold in the UK must meet a legal standard, and so whilst there are differences, the supermarket fuel will be of a good quality. It is a fact that the branded fuel and the supermarket fuel will probably have come from the same refinery and so the base product will be the same.

The difference will be that different additives are mixed with the more expensive fuels to help increase performance and economy. It is a case of then working out if the increased cost of the fuel will in the long-term save money through reduced usage and better mpg.

There is also the placebo factor at play where, because the fuel is supposed to increase performance, you feel that it is.

I believe that supermarket fuel has improved over time as the reputation of the supermarket needs to be maintained not only for the food products but also for the fuel products. Ten years ago I would never use supermarket fuel, but I will admit that I regularly fill-up at the cheaper superstore filling stations now.

The compromise