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Three-quarters of British drivers do not know how to check their car's oil, according to a leading oil firm.

Oil checks are a vital element of vehicle maintenance that, if neglected, can cause a lot of damage to the engine.

ExxonMobil surveyed over 1,000 motorists, also finding that half of road users do not why know oil is used and nearly all (94 per cent) drivers did not know that using the right oil can prolong the life of an engine.

British motorists are potentially driving their way to expensive engine problems in the future, while simultaneously being hit by fuel price hikes and other sky-high expenditures related to their vehicles.

"It's clear from this research that drivers are largely unaware of the benefits of using synthetic motor oil - and in some cases people don't even have a basic understanding of the fundamental role played by engine lubrication," said Dan McGoldrick, field marketing advisor UK for ExxonMobil Lubricants & Specialties.

He explained that using the right kind of oil and making sure enough of it is present can help improve fuel economy and reduce engine wear, which saves drivers vast sums in the long-term.