Millennials ‘Least Prepared For Basic Car Maintenance’

Those aged under 35 are least likely to be able to deal with basic car maintenance issues, a new survey has found.

A poll by TV programme Flipping Bangers found that only 27 per cent of those aged 18 to 23 are confident they could change a tyre. By contrast, nearly half of those over the age of 36 felt the same.

Over one-third of millennials also admitted that they would struggle to open a car bonnet, with a similar percentage also revealing that they don’t know what power steering does.

What’s more, the show found that 63 per cent of millennials have never tried to repair, fix or modify a car they’ve owned because of a lack of basic knowledge of how they work.

That means they’re likely to need guidance from a specialist if they have to purchase a new dpf filter, for example, or even to find a more basic part for their vehicle.

Gus Gregory, host of the show, commented: “We think it’s a good idea for everyone, no matter what age, to learn the basic and normally most vital principles of car maintenance.”

He added that having even “some of the simplest mechanical knowledge” can give someone the chance to “turn an old and rusty banger back into a beautiful car”.

While having basic mechanical knowledge can mean that you are able to fix some issues by yourself, there are others that will need attention at a garage. However, having this understanding of how cars work can at least help you determine where the problem is likely to be.

Following the cold weather we’ve had recently, the RAC warned that more diesel drivers than usual are experiencing what’s known as fuel waxing – an issue that’s caused by cold weather and clogs up diesel filters.