• ‘DON’T BE A DIPSTICK!’

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‘DON’T BE A DIPSTICK!’

With replacements for seized engines costing between £3,000 and £8,500, fleet management company Masterlease is urging Britain’s three million company car drivers to check their oil more regularly.

Masterlease which manages more than 60,000 vehicles in the UK has launched its driver education programme as it fears that too many drivers are waiting for the red light to illuminate on the dashboard before they put oil in their car.

The company argues that by the time the red light comes on, the lack of lubrication is likely to have caused some damage already.

Many drivers with new company cars with extended service intervals – up to 20,000 miles – believe their cars are immune from damage. But with high pressure and high mileage jobs, they too often clock up the kind of distances that require earlier driver intervention.

Some engines in popular fleet models are within their manufacturer tolerance levels if they use 10% of their oil in 1000 kilometres (667 miles), but many business drivers drive further than this in one week.

The education programme has been prompted by the fleet company having to replace expensive engines, but Masterlease is warning that drivers could be charged for the damage as part of the terms and conditions of their lease agreements.

“These are brand new cars and super reliable, but they cannot run for longer than the manufacturer’s recommended distance without lubrication, although some drivers don’t seem to have registered this point,” said Anthony Dowdall head of operations at Masterlease.

“All fleet companies will have similar terms and conditions so this is a wake up call to fleet managers to make sure that drivers maintain their cars properly (as engine failure will result in a costly repair for their businesses). And, as a warning, it is easy to identify engine damage caused through a lack of oil so topping it up after the red light comes on is not ‘a get out of jail free’ card either” he adds.

As a reminder to drivers:
• An average engine holds around 4.5 litres of oil
• The dipstick measures oil volumes between the levels of around 3.5-4.5 litres
• One litre less in the engine is often the difference between full and empty on the dipstick
• An average engine will probably be within its manufacturer tolerance limits if it uses half a litre of oil per 1000 kilometres (667 miles)
• If you damage your engine you could face a bill of between £3000 and £8,500  to have it replaced
• The employee’s company will be re-charged for damage, and employers frequently pass the costs on to their drivers
• Oil usage varies by engine size and age with consumption higher when it is new
• Make sure the correct oil grade is used – check the vehicle handbook for topping up instructions
• It is the driver’s responsibility to check the vehicle’s oil – ignorance is no excuse
• With service intervals set at 20,000 miles and or 12 months, you simply cannot leave oil checks until then
•  Once the oil light comes on – the engine may be damaged
• Make checking the oil part of your weekly routine – like putting your bins out
• Get to know your car – when you check the oil regularly, you will appreciate how much it uses
• Always check the oil when the engine is cold and the car is on a level surface

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