You’ve finally saved enough and bought your dream car – a Porche 911 or anything that catches your fancy – and you want to make sure your car remains in good condition. Now, you're probably wondering what exactly are things you must do (and also not do) because without knowing, most drivers have seriously damaged their beloved cars and wallets, just because they lack basic understanding of how things work.
Of course, we all know that there’s no such thing as the perfect driver. We've all got driving habits that are damaging our precious cars faster than we know like tailgating or neglecting to use the turn signal, which could be dangerous to other motorists. All these bad driving habits can affect your car’s condition and general efficiency.
We're going to take a look at 15 bad driving habits that when corrected will increase your car’s life and save you a whole lot of cash, time, and energy to give you peace of mind. They are simple things that will do you and your ride a great deal of good.
15. Running The Tank On Low Fuel
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Fuel is the main source of energy required by your car to function. The risk of running on a low tank is wear and tear, overheating, and blocking critical parts of your vehicle, getting stranded or even in an accident when the car suddenly stops running. Don't kill your car, avoid this issue, and maintain at least ¼ tank gauge.
14. Resting Your Hands On The Gear Shifter
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We're often guilty of this. You should have both your hands on the steering wheel instead. It is always easier to maneuver with two hands on the steering wheel than one. Besides, when you rest your hand on the gear shifter you risk damaging your transmission and causing premature wear to your gear selector and costing you good cash.
13. Resting Your Foot On The Clutch Pedal
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This is one habit that kills your car quickly. Many drivers may get the need to keep their legs permanently on the clutch for quick access. But this can cause excessive wear, and even shorten the life of the plate, thus reducing the life of your car. Instead, always use the lower gear, handbrakes to assist yourself.
12. Revving The Engine Before It’s Warm
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A cold vehicle is a vulnerable one. It's best to avoid putting any stress on the engine until it has reached the best temperature to avoid engine wear. We use a Block heater to do this. Block heaters use an electrical element to preheat your engine's fluids and ensures it's in top condition.
11. Delaying Regular Maintenance
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Don’t make the mistake of looking down on the maintenance of your vehicle. If you don’t commit to regular maintenance, it can get you into a bigger problem later, then you might really spend a lot of money for that service. Also, engage professionals for the go-over of your vehicle to keep it always in good condition.
10. Ignoring Dash Warning Signs
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So ignoring your dashboard lights is a mistake worth avoiding. You've got to pay more attention to the battery, brakes, airbag, and check engine signals. If one of these lights comes on, then it’s a sign that something needs to be examined so don’t neglect them for your safety and that of your vehicle.
9. Ignoring Hand Brakes
motoringresearch.com
Did you know this? You’re supposed to hand break every time you park. Even if your car is automatic or manual and the terrain is hilly or flat, make sure you've activated your parking brakes every time you park. This is to prevent parking failure and repair from damages incurred as a result.
8. Being In Too High Of A Gear
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When you accelerate at lower revs or in higher gears, you force your engine to work harder, placing it under unnecessary pressure. Most recent cars feature a gearshift indicator light, giving you an idea when to change gear because changing gears at the wrong time will affect the overall efficiency of the car.
7. Not Letting Your Turbo Cool Down
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You've likely spotted the turbos under the hood of your car. That's great. You should know that they require quite a deal of maintenance to give your car longevity. You will have to regularly oil, warm-up, and conduct other turbo functions in order to properly maintain them for the long run.
6. Stamping On The Hand Brakes
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Now, when you drive with the parking brake even partially on for several miles, it's possible to ruin a lot of your braking system such as the drum. Overheating can result from this, as well as the lining's adhesive failure and more. Plus, this could greatly affect the life of your vehicle and your wallet.
5. Abrupt Braking And Accelerating
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Acceleration works like fire; a cruel master but also a good servant. These are common mistakes among the learning drivers. When you press the brake and accelerator together, the torque converter allows slippage to a certain extent and doesn't let the engine rev higher than a certain RPM. So it reduces the efficiency of your car.
4. Shifting From Reverse To Drive – Or Drive To Reverse – Before A Complete Stop
maguirehondaofithaca.com
Ensure that when you are driving your new car, you do not Shift from reverse to drive and vice versa. This is because shifting from “Drive” or “Reverse” can cause a sudden, jarring movement on the transmission, which can increase the pressure on the transmission bands and clutch plates. In time, this can lead to wear and tear of the part.
3. Filling Up With Wrong Fuel
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Remember to avoid using the wrong fuel in your car. Putting the bad fuel into your vehicle can ruin your journey and potentially cause serious damage to your car engine. Starting your engine will circulate the mixed fuel around your engine, which can cause more havoc to it. So try to ensure you use only good quality fuel.
2. Not Maintaining Fluid Levels Or Other Car Maintenance Issues
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Just like humans, your car needs fluids to function. Maintaining adequate fluid levels is an important and easy task. This routine is particularly important if you're planning a long road trip and want to travel safely and without trouble. You must check and top off all the important fluids of your car.
1. Overloading Your Vehicle
motoringresearch.com
Avoid excessive loading of your vehicle usually towards the back of your car. It causes the front wheels to barely touch the road surface, with the resulting loss of traction, the steering control will be more difficult. The tires can wear out quickly, as well as overheating that increases fuel consumption, which in turn will costs you more money unnecessarily.
