55% of motorists delayed vehicle service work during pandemic

According to a recent nationwide survey commissioned by Castrol UK, more than half of motorists (55%) have delayed scheduled vehicle service work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The survey also found that more than a third (38%) are concerned their car might have become less reliable due to reduced mileage and missed workshop visits during recent lockdowns.

The reason cited most frequently for car owners not taking their vehicle to a workshop is a fear about potentially catching the Covid-19 virus during a visit (15% of all respondents), followed by inability to secure an appointment (14%).

Concern about catching the virus while at a workshop is significantly higher among younger car owners – cited as the reason for delaying a visit by 31% of all respondents aged 25 to 34, compared to just 9% of those aged 55 to 64.

The findings highlight the need for workshops to provide reassurance about sanitisation measures to consumers returning to workshops and the benefits of a regular maintenance schedule. Delaying regular servicing can increase the likelihood of sludge accumulating in the engine, which can clog vital oil passageways, reducing the power, efficiency, and overall engine life.

Even with normal patterns of use, a car’s engine oil can degrade at very high temperatures and over time this can manifest as a build-up of sludge. This process is exacerbated by frequent short journeys, low-quality fuel, late or missed oil changes, and by the stop-and-go journeys which are becoming increasingly common in congested cities.