NEED TO KNOW
TIME: Variable
COST: See below
DIFFICULTY:
MODELS: All Land Rovers.
TOOLS: Basic workshop tools.
PARTS AND COSTS: Much of this work costs very little, but shop around for materials and professional help.
WORK SAFELY: See our safety tips on LRM Technical intro page.
WE’RE currently in a cost of living crisis affecting the majority of the UK and beyond. Land Rovers have never been a cheap car to run, but against a background of a financial squeeze, 10 per cent inflation and record fuel prices, it isn’t an easy time to own an example of Solihull’s finest.
Four factors affect our running costs and fuel bills: usage, maintenance, the vehicle’s rolling resistance and aerodynamics. Let’s work through what we can do about these and, as an example, we’ll keep in mind a typical modified Land Rover that we might see at a show, with roof rack, specific large off-road tyres, roof lights. A typical enthusiast’s truck.
Reducing fuel costs
First, look at how much you’re paying for the fuel you buy, and consider where is the cheapest in your local area. Saving just four pence per litre adds up; for instance, over a year and 10,000 miles you could save £70 or more. If your petrol-engined Land
