'I'm a mechanic - do this with your car to avoid automotive black death'

A top mechanic has urged drivers to do one thing to help their car avoid a surprisingly common issue referred to as 'black death'. Whilst a modern car can cover tens of thousands of miles each year, many drivers only use their vehicle for short-distance trips within their area.

However, mechanics at the car repair finance service Bumper warned that only using a vehicle for low-speed or short-distance trips can actually be particularly harmful. They explained: "Modern engines are designed to run efficiently at a wide range of speeds. If you’re only ever pottering around town at 30mph or less, you could actually be encouraging harmful carbon deposits to form in the engine’s internal components. When you drive on the motorway or dual carriageway at higher revs, the fuel moves through the system more forcefully. Petrol acts as a mild solvent at these speeds, helping to clean the inside of your engine while keeping it properly lubricated."

While many motorists think that travelling at slower speeds or shorter distances puts less strain on their vehicle's engine, doing so could lead to an increase in carbon deposits from fuel residue.

These deposits can clog up vital components under the bonnet, including the valves and piston rings, often resulting in a drop in performance and worsened fuel economy.

However, if the issue goes unaddressed, the buildup of carbon deposits could cause the engine to fail, seizing in place and requiring the driver to shell out thousands on a replacement.

Bumper advised drivers who make short-distance trips to look under their oil cap for signs of a white residue, which is a common sign of moisture mixing with the oil.

They advised: "If you spot a white, frothy residue under your oil cap, that’s likely a sign of water condensation mixing with oil, which can happen if the engine doesn’t reach high enough temperatures to evaporate moisture.

"A longer drive at higher speeds – around an hour on the motorway – is often enough to raise the engine temperature and burn off excess water, restoring proper oil consistency and preventing corrosion."

Similarly, Bumper recommended that drivers who typically use their car for short-distance trips go for a high-speed run up a local motorway or dual carriageway.

Doing so will allow the engine to quickly get up to its optimal temperature, burning off any moisture in the system, and helping to maintain a good oil consistency.

In addition to avoiding the risk of high repair bills, the journey could also result in better fuel economy and acceleration.