Petrol and diesel drivers could damage their vehicle’s oil by making a simple mistake when sitting behind the wheel, according to an expert.

Leading mechanic Scotty Kilmer stressed motorists could reduce the lifespan of their car’s oil simply by leaving their car ticking over on idle.

He warned that leaving an engine on could leave water vapour with nowhere to escape.

This would then stay stuck inside the engine which could reduce the number of miles owners can travel before having to change their oil.

Scotty opened up on the extent of the potential damage when asked by a fan if idling an engine really did shorten oil life.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Scotty replied: “It certainly does because when you’re idling you get more of a build-up of water in it.

“Realise when you burn gasoline which is nothing but carbon and hydrogen, one of the by-products is water vapour.

“That’s why when you start your car in the morning you’ll often see some water dripping, that’s normal, that’s a product of burning gasoline in the earth’s atmosphere.

“When you’re just idling a lot of that water just stays inside the engine and oil.

“But when you’re going down a highway at 70mph, it gets hot, the wind is blowing and it vaporises all of that.

“Idling lowers the lifespan of your oil. Conversely, if you drive nothing but 70 mph on the highway you could change your oil every 10,000 miles if you wanted.

“It wouldn’t hurt anything because it’s not worn out and dirty like it would be in stop-and-go traffic when you idle a lot.”

In the UK, leaving an engine idling while parked on the street is technically against the rules meaning road users could be caught out.

Rule 123 of the Highway Code states road users must not “leave a vehicle engine running unnecessarily while that vehicle is stationary on a public road.”

Engine idling rules are also featured in the Road Traffic Act 1988 with road users likely to be slapped with a £20 fine for breaking the law.

Experts at Compare the Market have also warned of the possible risks associated with leaving an engine running.

They explained: “Leaving a vehicle running while it remains still isn’t efficient, because the fuel may not combust the way it’s supposed to.

“It can also leave behind a residue that causes damage, and after a longer period of time the battery may drain.”

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Post source: Express