During a random spot check of hundreds of vehicles, one-in-three were found to need at least one litre of oil, with one-in-four at risk of costly engine damage.

The detailed study by nationwide business vehicle management specialist Fleet Support Group (FSG) spanned all popular modern cars. Of 154 cars checked 38 needed up to one litre of oil and 10 were seriously short of oil, requiring up to four litres.

One engine dipstick showed no trace of any oil.

Projected nationwide the company said this means that almost 30% of company cars are low on oil and a quarter of those are dangerously low.

FSG is offering a vehicle healthcheck to employers as ‘a safety net between services required by vehicle manufacturers to maintain warranty and goodwill entitlements, that can now span the working life of a company car’.

The study also revealed coolant top-up was needed in one in 11 cars and vans, windscreen washer levels were down in more than one in four, wiper blades were worn out and differential oil low in nearly one in eight, brakes required attention in one in six, tyre faults were serious in one in 20 and tread depths were questionable in more than 90% of cases.