Six million confused motorists

More than six million motorists are confused over basic motor maintenance checks, according to a research by car care people Comma.

The research tested how familiar drivers were with a modern car engine. Respondents were shown an image of an engine and asked to point out where they could find the screenwash reservoir (A), oil cap (B), coolant reserve (C) and dipstick (D).

While 79% of respondents identified all elements correctly, one in five motorists failed miserably.

Over half of those who answered incorrectly confused the screenwash reservoir with the coolant reserve. Alarmingly, three percent of motorists would make an expensive and potentially dangerous mistake of filling their screenwash reservoir with motor oil. Another two percent made a fatal error of putting coolant in their oil; an action likely to cost them a new engine.

Even when drivers do check their oil correctly, Comma found they are simply not doing it regularly enough. Every year, oil starved engines cost British motorists £300m, yet only 60% take the time to check their dipstick before embarking on a long journey of 100 miles or more. And even if they did need to top-up, only 2 in 5 admit to carrying oil in the car. Conversely, for those journeying abroad, and expecting to travel over 2000 miles, this figure doubles.

"Checking oil is still relatively simple." said Mike Bewsey of Comma, "But it's important for people to realise that it's not just before long journeys that these checks need to be made, it should be part of a driver's weekly routine."