Nearly two thirds of UK motorists do not check their vehicle’s oil level and are unaware that oil loses its effectiveness over time, new research has shown.
The research, conducted by Kwik Fit, shows that a huge 21.8 million of the country’s 34 million drivers leave it too late to change their oil. Consequently they risk causing damage to their vehicle and paying higher repair bills. It also impacts negatively upon fuel economy.
To avoid any of the above, your car’s engine oil should be replaced at least every 12 months, or at recommended service intervals; however 3.7 million drivers think that it is acceptable to wait more than three years to do so, while a further one million never bother to check or change it at all.
Another quite significant statistic, highlighted by the study, was that female drivers are nearly three times more likely to be unaware of how often engine oil should be changed. 24% were in the dark about the matter compared with 9% of male drivers.
Moreover, the research showed a clear positive trend towards oil changing with increasing age; older drivers, namely those over the age of 65, are more careful with 68% of them changing their vehicle’s oil at least every 12 months. Younger drivers on the other hand were not so good with less than half (49%) of 18- to 24-year-olds changing their oil annually.
Roger Griggs, director of communications at Kwik Fit, said: “These results are alarming, with many motorists admitting they pay very little attention to what is happening under their car’s bonnet. There seems to be a serious lack of knowledge when it comes to oil and this appears to be more common among younger motorists. These findings only confirm that more needs to be done to ensure people are aware of the problems and expense that neglecting regular oil changes can lead to.”
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