Oil light ignorance with £200m

Motorists are being warned about the risks of being part of an annual £200 million statistic by failing to check their oil on a regular basis.

Research commissioned by Comma Oil found that damagingly low levels accounted for 168,000 (2.26%) of the estimated 7.2m mechanical breakdowns in 2005, leaving the motorist with an average repair bill of £1,229.

According to the analysis by independent vehicle warranty specialist, Warranty Direct, the average cost of replacing an engine stands at £3,722, but could be as high as £10,000 for some models.

Many of the breakdowns have been blamed on the rising number of vehicles that have service intervals of up to 20,000 miles, and with more than a third of motorists not checking their oil on a regular basis, it is feared the number of engine replacements required will soon rise.

“Whilst the increased service intervals may be good for the motorist, relying on the oil being checked during a service could be fatal for the health of your car – and your wallet,” says Mike Bewsey of Comma Oil.

“If you rely on the oil light as a warning, or wait for the vehicle to be serviced, you are taking a real risk! The cost of that risk is far too high.”

Duncan McClure Fisher of Warranty Direct added: “The number of bills we pay as a result of owner negligence is rising at an alarming rate.”

However, with a bit of common sense the cost of prevention could be less than a tenner.

Comma oil has 2-litre refill packs at just £8.99 – a small price for peace of mind and a saving on the massive repair bill motorists can be faced with when they fail to check their oil.

If motorists are unsure how to check the oil level, they can refer to the owner’s manual or ask their mechanic when the vehicle next visits a garage for a service or MOT.