Motorists in the dark over motor oil

Thousands of motorists in the UK risk incurring additional repair bills and increased running costs by not checking their oil regularly or using the wrong type, according to research by CCB FastMAP on behalf of Chevron Products Company for its Texaco Havoline brand.

According to the survey, only 34% of motorists in the UK regularly check their engine oil level, and of those, 83% found that their vehicles had insufficient oil. Insufficient oil and the resulting lack of lubrication is the main reason for premature engine component wear and tear. The survey also found that 11% of motorists had no idea which grade of engine oil they should use or where to find the correct information.

“Our survey shows that there is clearly a lack of understanding by the motoring public about the vital role that lubricants play in ensuring that their vehicle is properly maintained between services,” said Brian Hayes, marketing manager of Chevron Products Company’s lubricants division in the UK. “Money is clearly being spent up and down the country on repairs and additional running costs which could be avoided if owners better understood the significance of regularly topping up their engine with the correct oil.

“Engine oil is the lifeblood of the engine but our survey backups up the old statement “out of sight out of mind”. It plays a crucial role in the performance of modern vehicles, the quantity of oil effects the oil’s ability to properly lubricate, cool and clean the engine, while the performance specification of the oil can effect wear, service intervals, vehicle emissions, Diesel Particulate Filters, fuel economy and even vehicle warranty,” continued Hayes.

Below are important tips to help you reduce your risk and motoring costs.

Always keep 1 litre of the correct oil in the boot to top up your car (many service garages and dealers can supply a Top Up Kit specifically for this purpose)

If you are in doubt about which quality of oil you should be using ask your servicing garage or dealer

Do not wait for the oil warning light to appear

Make checking oil levels, windscreen fluid, lights and tyres part of your car cleaning routine.

When choosing and oil look for either a specific vehicle manufacturer’s specification on the bottle label or ensure that either the ACEA or API specification on the bottle label matches that found in your vehicle handbook.