From the Gas Pump to the Car Wash: Americans Practice Varying Degrees of Routine Car Care
Shell Survey Finds That Westerners Love to Wash Their Cars, But Southerners Know How to Treat 'Em Right From the Inside Out
HOUSTON, July 29 -- The image of car-loving Californians cruising the freeways in shiny vehicles may be more than a myth. According to a new Shell survey, Westerners are more likely than their East Coast counterparts to treat their cars with a wash and wax job. But while the car- loving Left Coasters are busy soaping up the exteriors of their cars, they may be neglecting what really counts: the engine.
The "Shell V-Power Consumer Car Care Survey" of 1,032 Americans, which was conducted to gauge consumers' behavior and attitudes toward routine car care, found that one in five Americans purchase the cheapest gasoline available, regardless of the type of gasoline recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer.
"Cheaper gasolines with low detergency -- often sold at discount gas stations, grocery stores and wholesale clubs -- can leave carbon deposits on an engine's intake valves and fuel injectors, which may cause incomplete combustion in some cycles, resulting in hesitation during the engine's warm-up period," said Mark Henry, manager of fuels for Shell Oil Products US. "To help prevent carbon deposit build-up in a car's engine, it's important for drivers to fill up with a quality gasoline, such as new Shell V-Power, which has more than five times the minimum amount of cleaning agents required by government standards."
Overall, the Shell survey found that the majority of Americans are generally interested in maintaining their cars to ensure they look and run their best, but it also identified some areas for improvement, from the car wash to the gas pump.
Buffing from Bumper to Bumper
Whether rinsing off the family SUV in the driveway or taking the convertible to a car wash for a special detailing, Americans spend a good deal of time keeping their prized possessions shiny and spot-free. But when it gets down to the "nitty-gritty" of keeping a car tidy, men seem to care more about how their vehicle looks on the outside than how it looks on the inside. In fact, according to the Shell survey, men (20 percent) are more likely than women (16 percent) to give their cars a special wash and wax treatment on the outside. On the other hand, women are slightly more likely (19 percent) than men (16 percent) to vacuum the interiors of their cars and add an air freshener.
The motivation behind keeping a clean car also differs by gender. Women want to avoid embarrassment by keeping their car clean for important business meetings -- according to the survey, nearly 60 percent of women said they would be embarrassed to drive their colleagues to a business lunch in an excessively dirty car, compared with about 35 percent of men. Men, on the other hand, are thinking more about pleasure than business when it comes to keeping a car clean. Almost half (48 percent) of the men surveyed said they'd be more embarrassed by a dirty car if they were taking a date to dinner, compared with just 18 percent of women.
Although many people enjoy washing their own car by hand, others wouldn't mind a little extra help when it comes to car-cleaning chores. Just as it's nice to have help with household cleaning duties, many Americans wouldn't mind tapping the resources of a famous housekeeper to assist with day-to-day car care. And if Alice is good enough for Mike and Carol Brady, she's obviously good enough for many Americans. When asked which famous housekeeper they'd hire to handle their car-cleaning duties, women indicated that they'd be most likely to hire Alice from "The Brady Bunch" (22 percent) or Tony, the handsome housekeeper from "Who's the Boss" (22 percent). Men were more likely to turn to Geoffrey, the butler from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" (23 percent), to keep their automobile tidy.
Energizing the Engine
Just as many Americans make routine manicures and pedicures a top priority, and never miss an appointment at their hair salon, men and women from coast to coast agree that the best way to treat a car right is to take it in for routine maintenance. When asked how they prefer to pamper their car, 54 percent of survey respondents said they would perform, or have someone else perform, routine maintenance on their vehicles, such as checking the tire pressure, oil and washer fluid, but some do it more frequently than others. Specifically, the survey found:
* Only 24 percent of Americans perform some type of routine maintenance
on their cars on a monthly basis, with 18 percent doing it more
frequently -- approximately every two weeks.
* The majority of those surveyed (40 percent) don't perform routine
maintenance until their car's regular oil change.
* One out of every 10 Americans never, or hardly ever, performs routine
maintenance to care for their car.
In the South, traditional Southern manners seem to rule, with nearly 50 percent of people living in this region attending to the needs of their cars at least once a month by performing routine maintenance. In addition, one out of every four Southerners always fills up with mid-grade or premium fuel, and an additional 14 percent use mid-grade or premium gasoline on occasion. In comparison, nearly a quarter of Western respondents (22 percent) surveyed said they purchase the cheapest gas regardless of the type of gasoline that is recommended by their car's manufacturer.
While many Americans may not be able to put down Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" or the latest thriller by Stephen King, they have little interest in making their owner's manual a national bestseller. In fact, the majority of Americans (63 percent) have read only bits and pieces of their owner's manual, and 11 percent of Americans haven't even cracked the spine. Only 23 percent of people have read their owner's manual from cover to cover, according to the survey.
Focusing on Fuels
While running out of gas and ending up stranded on the side of the highway wouldn't be a pleasant experience for most people, the survey seems to indicate that more than a quarter of Americans don't mind taking their chances. In fact, about 19 percent of people surveyed said they wait until their car's fuel light comes on and about 7 percent wait until they know there's nothing but fumes left in the tank before they pull into a gas station to fill up. When Americans do fill up, the survey found that:
* 45 percent of motorists fill up with regular gasoline.
* One in 10 motorists always uses mid-grade, and another 13 percent
always use premium gasoline.
* 13 percent use mid-grade or premium fuel every now and then to treat
their cars.
* 17 percent of those surveyed don't care what kind of gasoline they put
in their car as long as it's the cheapest.
"The survey results indicate that not all people understand that there are differences in gasoline," said Henry. "When shopping for gasoline, you should consult your owner's manual and look for a high-quality gasoline with additional cleaning agents. Shell V-Power, is our most advanced fuel ever - it is specially formulated to clean your engine as you drive. Shell V-Power can clean carbon deposits left behind by low-detergent gasolines to help your engine draw air and fuel in more efficiently."
Driving to a Different Drumbeat
While Americans may increasingly be in a Kentucky Derby-style scramble to get from point A to point B, the survey found that some cars may be slow getting out of the starting gate. In fact, about 27 percent of drivers surveyed said they had experienced hesitancy when stepping on the gas pedal.
The survey also found that motorists had experienced the following situations when driving their vehicles:
* Knocking, pinging or other unusual engine noises (31 percent) * Engine stalling (22 percent) * Backfiring (11 percent)
Cost and maintenance aside, drivers get revved up at the thought of getting behind the wheel of a famous techno-savvy, sleek and sporty car. When asked which famous car they'd most like to drive, the majority of survey respondents said they'd take the wheel of David Hasselhoff's two-door sports car K.I.T.T. from "Knight Rider" or the Batmobile from the movie and television show "Batman." However, some other classic favorites made the list as well. Specifically, respondents said they'd like to drive:
* K.I.T.T. from the television show "Knight Rider" (27 percent)
* The Batmobile from the movie and television show "Batman" (21 percent)
* The General Lee from the television show "The Dukes of Hazzard"
(20 percent)
* Herbie the Love Bug from the movie "The Love Bug" (10 percent)
* Greased Lightning from the movie "Grease" (7 percent)
* The Ectomobile from the movie "Ghostbusters" (2 percent)
Forging a Freeway Friendship
Whether washing and waxing their car, taking it in for an oil change or filling up with a quality fuel, Americans generally feel good about the condition of their cars and hold them in high regard. When asked to compare their cars to a character from the popular sitcom "Friends," nearly half of those surveyed likened their car to the Ross Gellar character, stating that their four-wheeled "friend" is "steady and dependable," while others viewed their car in a slightly different light. Specifically, survey respondents thought their car reminded them of:
* Ross Gellar, because it's steady and dependable (46 percent)
* Rachel Green, because it's stylish and classic (12 percent)
* Monica Gellar Bing, because it's neat and in control (10 percent)
* Phoebe Buffay, because it's free-spirited and little out of the
ordinary (7 percent)
* Joey Tribbiani, because it has sex appeal (6 percent)
* Chandler Bing, because it always gets a good laugh (6 percent)
About the Survey
The "Shell V-Power Consumer Car Care Survey" was conducted in May 2004 by Focus Research, Inc., a full-service research company based in Covington, La. The survey was conducted by telephone with a random sampling of 1,032 Americans 18 years of age or older. The survey results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 points.
About Shell V-Power
The "Shell V-Power Consumer Car Care Survey" was conducted in conjunction with the recent introduction of Shell V-Power, the most advanced Shell fuel ever developed. With more than five times the minimum amount of cleaning agents required by government standards, Shell V-Power actively cleans your engine as you drive, specifically intake valves and fuel injectors. It is designed to remove carbon deposits that gasolines with minimum detergency can leave behind. These deposits can cause an engine to work less efficiently, which may cause a vehicle to experience hesitation during its warm-up period.
New Shell V-Power gasoline replaces the company's existing premium-grade offering and is currently available at any of the 13,000 Shell stations nationwide. For more information on Shell gasolines, please log onto http://www.shellus.com/ or http://www.localshell.com/ .
Shell Oil Products US, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Company, is a leader in the refining, transportation and marketing of fuels, and has a network of nearly 7,200 branded gasoline stations in the Western United States. Shell Oil Company is a 50 percent owner of Motiva Enterprises LLC, along with Saudi Refining, Inc., which refines and markets branded products through 11,000 stations in the Eastern and Southern United States. Shell Oil Company is an affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies . For more information, please visit http://www.shell.com/ .
SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US
KEY FINDINGS FROM THE 'SHELL V-POWER CONSUMER CAR CARE SURVEY'
CAR CARE HABITS
The majority of Americans believe in the importance of taking care of their cars by performing general maintenance, such as checking the tire pressure, oil and windshield wiper fluid.
Americans perform or have someone else perform general car maintenance: * With a regular oil change 40 percent * Approximately every month 24 percent * Approximately every two weeks 18 percent * Hardly ever 7 percent * Only before long road trips 5 percent * Never 3 percent
Southerners are more likely than people in other parts of the country to perform or have someone else perform general maintenance on their vehicle at least once every month or more to help protect their automotive investment.
Americans living in different regions who perform general maintenance on their car at least once a month: * South 49 percent * Northeast 39 percent * North Central 38 percent * West 37 percent
When Americans want to treat their cars right, they are more likely to perform general maintenance on their vehicles than wash and wax them.
When American men and women want to treat their cars right, they:
Total Men Women
* Perform routine maintenance 54 percent 55 percent 53 percent
* Wash and wax it 18 percent 20 percent 16 percent
* Vacuum and clean the interior 15 percent 14 percent 16 percent
* Fill it with premium fuel 8 percent 5 percent 11 percent
* Use a car deodorizer
or air freshener 3 percent 2 percent 3 percent
Americans living in the Western United States are more likely to treat their cars to a wash and wax job than people living in other regions of the country.
Americans living in different regions of the country describe what they
do to treat their cars right:
Northeast North South West
Central
* Perform routine
maintenance 53 percent 53 percent 57 percent 50 percent
* Wash and wax it 17 percent 16 percent 16 percent 23 percent
* Vacuum and clean
the interior 14 percent 17 percent 15 percent 14 percent
* Fill it with premium
fuel 10 percent 7 percent 9 percent 7 percent
* Use a car deodorizer
or air freshener 3 percent 4 percent 2 percent 2 percent
Nearly one in four Americans read their car's owner's manual cover to cover, but the majority of drivers consult it on a case-by-case basis.
Americans explain how much of their car's owner's manual they have read: * Read specific sections when needed 63 percent * Read it cover to cover 23 percent * Never read it 11 percent * Started to, but found it boring, so stopped 2 percent
When it comes to being embarrassed by a dirty car, women care more about what their work colleagues think, while men care more about impressing their dates.
American men and women explain when they would be most embarrassed if
their car was excessively dirty:
Men Women
* Driving a colleague to a business lunch 35 percent 57 percent
* Driving a date to dinner 48 percent 18 percent
* Driving family or friends to the airport 6 percent 10 percent
* Dropping the car off for routine maintenance 5 percent 8 percent
If women had their way, Alice from "The Brady Bunch" or Tony from "Who's the Boss," would handle their car cleaning duties, but men prefer the orderly approach of Geoffrey, the butler from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," to keep their automobile tidy.
If money were no object, Americans would hire the following famous
housekeeper to keep their cars nice and tidy:
Men Women
* Tony from "Who's the Boss?" 16 percent 22 percent
* Geoffrey, the butler from
"The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" 23 percent 14 percent
* Mr. Belvedere from the sitcom "Mr. Belvedere" 17 percent 10 percent
* Alice from "The Brady Bunch" 12 percent 22 percent
* Florence from "The Jeffersons" 6 percent 8 percent
* Rosario from "Will & Grace" 6 percent 5 percent
FUELING PRACTICES
The majority of Americans tend to play it safe when it comes to ensuring their vehicles don't run out of gas, while more than a quarter of people wait until the car's fuel indicator light comes on or until they have nothing but fumes left in the tank before pulling into a gas station.
Americans pull into their local gas station to fill up:
* When the tank is between a quarter full
and half full 49 percent
* As soon as the fuel light comes on 19 percent
* When the tank is half empty 15 percent
* When there's nothing but fumes
left in the tank 7 percent
* On a specific day of the week
like clockwork 5 percent
* When the tank is three-quarters full 4 percent
Approximately one out of four Americans fills up with mid-grade or premium gasoline on a regular basis, and another 13 percent use mid-grade or premium on occasion.
Americans describe their gasoline purchasing habits:
* Always use regular gasoline because
that's what their car takes 45 percent
* Don't care what kind of gas they
use as long as it's the cheapest 17 percent
* Occasionally use mid-grade or premium
to treat their car 13 percent
* Always use premium gasoline 13 percent
* Always use mid-grade gasoline because
it's better than regular but not as
expensive as premium 10 percent
* Always use diesel 1 percent
Americans living in the Western United States are more likely to purchase the cheapest gasoline, compared with people living in other regions of the country.
Americans living in different regions of the country describe their
gasoline purchasing habits:
Northeast North South West
Central
* Always use regular
gasoline because that's
what their car takes 49 percent 45 percent 45 percent 42 percent
* Don't care what kind
of gas they use as
long as it's the
cheapest 16 percent 18 percent 13 percent 22 percent
* Occasionally use
mid-grade or premium
to treat their car 12 percent 14 percent 14 percent 12 percent
* Always use premium
gasoline 16 percent 8 percent 14 percent 13 percent
* Always use mid-grade
gasoline because it's
better than regular
but not as expensive
as premium 5 percent 12 percent 11 percent 9 percent
* Always use diesel 0 percent 2 percent 0 percent 2 percent
Nearly 50 percent of Americans have experienced hesitancy when stepping on the gas pedal or engine stalling while driving.
Americans have experienced the following situations while driving their car: * Knocking, pinging or other unusual engine noise 31 percent * Hesitancy when stepping on the gas pedal 27 percent * Engine stalling 22 percent * Backfiring 11 percent CELEBRITIES, CARS AND CELEBRITY CARS
Of all of the core characters from the hit sitcom "Friends," Ross Gellar was most like the majority of Americans' cars because their vehicle is "steady and dependable," like the popular paleontologist.
When asked to compare their cars to a "Friends" character, Americans said
their vehicles were most like:
* Ross Gellar, because it's dependable and steady 46 percent
* Rachel Green, because it's stylish and classic 12 percent
* Monica Gellar Bing, because it's neat and in control 10 percent
* Phoebe Buffay, because it's free-spirited and little
out of the ordinary 7 percent
* Joey Tribbiani, because it has sex appeal 6 percent
* Chandler Bing, because it always gets a good laugh 6 percent
* None of the characters matched my car's personality 13 percent
While the majority of Americans said they drive a "dependable and steady" car, many of them would like to get behind the wheel of a popular techno- savvy, sleek and sporty car.
If given the chance, most Americans would like to get behind the wheel of:
* K.I.T.T. from the television show "Knight Rider" 27 percent
* The Batmobile from the movie and television show "Batman" 21 percent
* The General Lee from the television show "The Dukes
of Hazzard" 20 percent
* Herbie the Love Bug from the movie "The Love Bug" 10 percent
* Greased Lightning from the movie "Grease" 7 percent
* The Ectomobile from the movie "Ghostbusters" 2 percent
ABOUT THE SURVEY
The "Shell V-Power Consumer Car Care Survey" was conducted in conjunction with the recent introduction of Shell V-Power, the most advanced Shell fuel ever developed. With more than five times the minimum amount of cleaning agents require by government standards, Shell V-Power actively cleans your engine as you drive, specifically intake valves and fuel injectors.
The "Shell V-Power Consumer Car Care Survey" was conducted in May 2004 by Focus Research, Inc., a full service research company based in Covington, La. The survey was conducted by telephone with a random sampling of 1,032 Americans 18 years of age or older. The survey results have a margin of error of +/- 3.1 points. Survey results may not add up to 100 percent as respondents were given the option of "none of the above" as a response.