Drivers who have driven the same car for ‘three or four years’ urged to check one part

A top motoring mechanic has warned petrol and diesel drivers who have owned the same car for the past "three or four years” could be at risk of one simple failure. Leading mechanic Scotty Kilmer suggested those jumping in older vehicles should watch out for damage to their rubber parts under the bonnet.

Over time, extreme temperatures, chemicals, and general wear and tear will damage the rubber inside the vehicle. This could lead to serious damage to key components such as the car’s fuel line, which could pose major problems for combustion owners. Scotty stressed that road users who have held onto their cars for up to three or four years without checking the simple part may be among the most at risk.

Scotty explained: “Realise your car has a lot of rubber parts under the hood and eventually some of them will rot and need replacing.

“So squeeze the rubber, see if there’s any cracks and wiggle the smaller ones. If they're all brittle, replace them before they go bad.

“Of course, realise you understand what kind of car you own, this is a 94 Toyota. Most of the rubber is synthetic rubber. Most of the rubber on this car is still original and has no problems. But if you own an American vehicle it behoves you every three or four years at least.

"Check all the rubber parts. If they are cracked go to a discount auto parts store and change them now. Because if your fuel line is cracked and leaks your fuel can be burned onto the ground and then you’ll be walking.”

A new fuel line can be costly with the part ranging up to £150 depending on the make and model of the vehicle.

According to historic vehicle experts at Hagerty, "the ubiquitous O-ring is a near-perfect example of how a few cents worth of rubber can cause thousands of dollars worth of mechanical mayhem”.

They stress that a problem with the O-ring can lead to coolant loss, overheating, and even cracked cylinder heads.

The damaged O-ring could also lead to unwanted fuel pressure variations and a possible fuel leak.

MotorEasy said: “Often it depends on where the rubber is. If it is not exposed to sunlight then parts such as the hoses on the radiator under the bonnet, fuel lines and other connections could last a decade.

“They will, however, eventually dry out and crack, which is when they will need replacing.”