CORNERS: Two-thirds prioritise price
Two-thirds of UK drivers purchase engine oil on price alone, a study has found.
The research, by Mobil 1, also revealed 64.9% do not change their engine oil for more than a year, with just 45% aware of their car’s manufacturer-recommended oil service intervals.
And, worryingly, 15% of respondents said they are trying to cut back on car maintenance and servicing in order to save money.
Dan McGoldrick, Field Marketing UK of Nordic and Benelux for ExxonMobil Fuels and Lubricants, said: “It is vital that drivers don’t just buy on price alone, as doing so could lead to major repair bills in the future.
“Choosing the right oil for your engine means that both the lubricant and the engine itself will last longer, so you’re saving in the long run.”
Tim Shallcross, Head of Technical Policy at the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM), added: “Apart from lubricating the engine, oil has the important job of absorbing harmful by-products given off by the burning fuel.
“Changing the oil gets rid of these waste products, but if an oil change is missed, the oil gets saturated and cannot absorb any more, so the by-products start to damage the engine, forming sludge to block the oil passageways and increasing engine wear by eating away at the metal.
“Oil change intervals can be anything up to 20,000miles, the equivalent of driving from London to Sydney and back.
“Neglecting an oil change after such huge distances might save a few pounds in the short term, but the increased wear and lack of protection from worn out oil will knock mile after mile off the engine’s life and pound after pound off the car’s value.”
