9 Driving Habits which are Damaging Your Vehicle
Poor driving habits can damage your vehicle. These habits can lead to expensive repairs or replacements, and in some cases totally destroy your car.
Here are some habits you should stop immediately and you may save some money in the long run.
- Revving the Engine While the Car Is Still Cold
In the winter season, the temperature falls down. Cars are also affected as the temperature reduces. It can be dangerous to rev the engine until it has reached the best temperature as it can lead to engine wear.
Start your car and leave it running for a while. Leave it in in the idling situations for a minute or two. Give it proper time to warm and let the fuel circulate around the engine.
- Don't Brake Going Downhill
Dragging is not great for your car. It is not easy to drive down a steep road but it can be dangerous pressing the breaks heavily when driving down the slope. It will lead to wear on the pads and discs leading to you needing to replace them more often.
It is advice to shift the car in lower gears and apply the brakes gently before fully releasing the pedal.
- Resting Your Hand on the Gear Stick
Probably many drivers are guilty of putting their one hand on the gearstick while driving. However, this habit can cause damage to both automatic and manual transmission components.
The gearstick is connected to a selector fork, designed to make contact with a rotating collar for a short time. Putting your hands on the gearstick may apply pressure to the selector fork, causing premature wear.
In addition, putting both of your hands on the steering wheel is good from a safety point of view.
- Keeping the Tank Almost Empty
You may be feeling at ease by keeping the fuel level low in the tank, but it can damage the fuel system of your car. The fuel keeps the fuel pump cool when it is merged into the fuel in the tank. Keeping a low fuel level exposes you to a greater risk of fuel pump overheating and damage.
In addition, dirt, impurities, and residuals can gather at the bottom of the fuel tank and then can be absorbed by the fuel pump when fuel is low than a certain level. It can lead to the reduced lifespan for the pump and filters.
- Overloading Your Car
Cars are useful for the transportation of people and stuff. Still, a too much unnecessary load is not recommended. Overloading will put a strain on your car brakes and suspension. Additionally, increased weights negatively impact the fuel economy of a car.
You can read the car manual to know about the load your car can carry.
- Delaying Regular Maintenance
Regular maintenance of a car is necessary for its proper functioning. Ignoring the maintenance now can lead to heavy wear and tear later. In other words, you will have to spend a lot of money to fix things. It is better to keep yourself acquainted with the necessary knowledge about the car parts and their functioning.
- Ignoring Warning Lights
Some warning lights can be ignored for a while but many require proper investigation at the earliest opportunity. Do not ignore car warning lights as they are there for a reason. Check what the warning light means in your owner’s manual and call an expert.
Ignoring these warning signs can lead to hefty repair costs.
- Hitting Potholes and Speed Bumps
Hitting potholes can be detrimental for some car parts. Hitting a pothole can crack alloys and buckle wheels, which is expensive to fix. It can be difficult to spot a speed bump especially in the conditions where visibility is reduced.
In the same way, if you do not slow down for a speed bump, you get exposed to the risk of damage to the front and back of the vehicle.
- Braking Hard Too Often
This habit can lead to hefty repair costs down the road and can also make other unsafe on the road. You should maintain a safe distance with the other vehicles, instead of applying brakes frequently.
The continuation of this habit will lead you to spend a fortune on the car repairs or replacements. By driving dangerously, you also expose yourself to the risk of collision.
