Drive Smarter, Save Bigger: Avoid These 7 Car-Killing Habits
Are you just starting to drive or have you already been driving for several years? This activity can be both exciting and exhausting. Of course, first, it depends on road conditions. However, there’s another important thing you should pay attention to while driving: your car’s behavior.
The longer you have a car, the more driving habits you’ll learn. Unfortunately, not all of those habits are good ones; moreover, the more experienced you become, the harder it is to break them, and very often those habits can affect the condition of your car.
I decided to compile examples of unwise driving behavior. Hopefully, this blog will help you avoid dangerous situations and unnecessary expenses.
1. Rest in Your Hand on the Gear Stick
Many people have the habit of resting their hands on the gear stick while driving. This shouldn’t be done for several reasons. The most obvious is that you need both hands on the steering wheel. Another harmful effect is that such small yet constant pressure on the gearbox can displace the synchronizer and gears. This may result in problems with gear shifting.
Whether you own an automatic or manual car, a transmission that is not working correctly can cause serious problems on the road. Furthermore, transmissions are very complex; they have many moving parts. So this bad habit can easily bring you huge expenses for transmission repairs.
So next time you decide to rest your hand on the gear stick remember the consequences.
2. Refuel Only When The Tank is Almost Empty
When your car is not in use, mechanical impurities accumulate in the fuel tank, and sediment forms at the bottom. Dirt gets into the filters and the pump, causing damage. The purpose of the latter is to get fuel from the fuel tank and deliver it according to the demands of the engine.
During the winter months, be sure to always leave the tank at least half filled with fuel to avoid the formation of large amounts of condensate.
In freezing conditions, the presence of water in the fuel tank can lead to its deformation and other problems.
3. Frequent Breaking
Keep your distance and merge with the traffic. This is what they teach you in driving schools; however, if you keep breaking unnecessarily, you better set aside a hefty sum for regular brake pads and disc replacements to avoid unpleasant accidents.
Remember to promptly change the brake hoses and keep your eye on the brake fluid level. Keep in mind that braking is another skill to be mastered. It takes a certain skill level to do it correctly, and appropriate braking will make the driving process less stressful for both the driver and the passengers. Here are some instructions for proper braking techniques.
Place the heel of the right foot on the floor; it should be close enough to the pedal, and the ball of the foot should touch the center of the brake pedal. Remember that most of the weight of the foot should be on the floor while giving the pedal light pressure. Carefully increase pressure until the car almost comes to a complete stop; Slightly loosen the brake pedal before coming to a complete stop; This will help prevent the vehicle from rolling back too forcefully.
4. Ignoring Suspicious Sounds
As your car started to make suspicious sounds, have you already taken it to the service garage? If not, then you should do it right away. Slight cracking sounds and other unusual noises can indicate a malfunction. Many drivers tend to ignore these signs, as a result, their cars often break down in the middle of the road. Moreover, it might be dangerous as well.
Avoid possible danger, please use the following steps to safely move your vehicle away from the highway. First, pull over to a safe spot. Don’t hesitate to ask for any possible assistance, because the process might not be as easy as it seems. Also, remember to switch on the hazard lights. If the car is completely broken down and you cannot start it, just push it into a safe place after trying to diagnose the issue.
If you are not able to figure out the problem, call the police or roadside assistance services to get proper help. Therefore, if your car starts emitting unnatural sounds, be sure to run proper diagnostics to identify the problem and deal with it in time.
5. Neglecting to Use the Handbrake
When you park your car with an automatic transmission on a slope, the entire burden falls on the lock gear of the output shaft of the gearbox. To successfully Park on an incline, hold the foot brake, shift into park, then pull the handbrake, and only then slowly release the brake. It doesn’t really matter if your car has a manual or an automatic transmission.
Car manufacturers recommend the use of the parking brake to immobilize any parked vehicle.
6. Running Cold Engine at High RPM
Most modern engines don’t need warming up; however, it is worth remembering that until the gauge indicates operating temperature, one shouldn’t start the engine at more than 2,000 RPM. In freezing conditions, it is advisable to keep the engine running for one to two minutes before pulling away.
All you need to do is start the car and let it idle for a couple of minutes to keep the engine working. During this time, you can clean your windows, adjust the mirrors, and adjust your driver’s seat.
7. Using Brakes Continuously when Going Downhill
Many drivers keep their foot on the brake while driving on a slope so that they can apply the brakes to stop at any time. This leads to brake system overheating and the wear of brake pads and discs.
The proper thing to do is to shift to a lower gear and initiate engine braking, which helps reduce the use of normal brakes. It reduces the speed of the engine, which means that the speed of the vehicle decreases. Also, the aim is to prevent the vehicle from gaining too much speed, especially while going downhill.
Don’t get scared of the noise that you will hear when you use this method of engine braking; that is pretty normal. By the way, car racers often use this trick of downshifting to slow down the car before another turn. Remember to drive carefully and patiently.
If you think you are calm and comfortable behind the wheel, don’t think you are a good driver.
Do you have any other bad driving habits? Share them in the comment section below.