Swinton reveals majority of drivers do not check oil

- 9th February 2010

Seven out of ten motorists have never checked the oil levels of their current vehicles, according to a new poll.

The research from car insurance retailer Swinton revealed that women were the worst offenders for not keeping an eye on the issue, with 85 per cent admitting to not considering their oil.
In comparison, 52 per cent of men stated they do not carry out the basic car maintenance check.
The top reasons for not doing so included not knowing how to, getting someone else to do it and not knowing what type of oil to use.
Steve Chelton, insurer development manager for Swinton, said: “We’d advise all motorists to have a thorough understanding of car maintenance and be able to carry out simple procedures such as checking oil and topping up with water.
“The older a car gets the faster it consumes oil, so we’d advise people to check their oil level at least every two weeks and carry a spare canister in the car at all times.”
James Powell, a road safety advisor for Lancashire County Council, recently called on drivers to keep their cars maintained.