Drivers failing to check oil

SEAT drivers are the least likely to carry out the most basic of car maintenance tasks – checking their oil – according to new research ahead of National Oil Check Week 2009 (June 15-19).

Despite the threat of a £1,413 repair bill (average)* more than 5 million motorists never check their oil level, and a further 56 per cent  fail to undertake the recommended “once a month” test.

Car care and oil company, Comma, set up the national oil check campaign to reverse this trend. Visit www.checkyouroil.co.uk for more details.

In the survey of 3,800 motorists, SEAT owners were revealed as being the worst culprits with a shocking 71.4 per cent failing to check their oil as often as is recommended. Jaguar and Volkswagen drivers are almost as bad, with 68 per cent  and 67 per cent respectively admitting they only check once every six months or even less often.

It’s a torrid tale of excuses too.

More than a quarter (26.2 per cent) of Alfa Romeo drivers said they didn’t know how to check their oil; 2 in 5 Audi owners now rely so heavily on their car’s technology that they wrongly believe it isn’t necessary to check between services, and VW drivers proved to be the most forgetful of the lot – a staggering 43.5 per cent say they simply keep forgetting.

At the other end of the scale, the Lexus badge provided the most conscientious owners, with more than 2 in 5 claiming to check their oil every week.

And, Alfa Romeo scored the highest in monthly checks, boasting an impressive 74 per cent claiming to check their oil at the prescribed monthly intervals or more.

National Oil Check Week 2009 is also supported by Mobil, which conducted the research and acts as technology partner to Lewis Hamilton’s Vodafone McLaren Mercedes F1 team and by Halfords, the UK’s leading car parts and accessories store.

The campaign will be spearheaded by a roadshow around the UK, at which motorists can get free oil checks and top-ups. The roadshow will visit Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol and Europe’s largest shopping centre, Bluewater in Kent, during the week commencing June 15. For more details, visit www.checkyouroil.co.uk.

Author: Faye Sunderland, June 10th, 2009
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