Bad driving habits are damaging to your car. As you are here, I am assuming you have already done some damage. When your dad yells at you for hitting the brakes too fast, he is right you know. He’s also right when he says you are spending too much using Spectrum Internet on your phone! This and lots of other stuff you do could damage your tires.
This checklist reveals common habits that hurt your car and tires:
#1: Being Heavy Footed On the Brakes
We all drive in tense situations. This often results in making emergency stops. That means you apply sudden and heavy brakes. For some, being hard is usual. If that’s you, you are bringing unnecessary damage to your car.
Hard braking strains the discs and pads. You will have to replace them earlier and even more frequently than you had imagined. To avoid this, drive smoother. It’s good to anticipate the road ahead of you to slow down when you have to.
#2: Driving On Low Fuel
While no one does so deliberately but if you are driving on low fuel too often, it’s hurting your car!
Low fuel means that what’s left at the bottom of the tank is being burnt for creating mechanical energy. And at the bottom, most containments are settled. They could block the filter and cause damage to the engine as well as the car.
It’s wise to have your tank filled. This will also save you from the trouble of dragging your car because you ran out of fuel.
#3: Resting Hand on the Gearstick
When your driving instructor says to keep both hands on the wheel, make sure you do that. Many drivers develop the habit of resting their hand on the gearstick.
This is bad for the transmission. The gearstick is connected to a selector fork. It’s designed for making contact with a rotating collar for some time. When your hand is rested on the gear, you risk applying pressure to the selector fork. This could result in premature wear.
#4: Hitting the Speed Bumps and Potholes
A third of vehicle damages are caused by potholes. Avoid them at all costs.
A sudden impact can cause lumps in the tires, crack the alloys and buckle wheels. It could also upset the tracking and ruin the balance of the wheels. Agreed, sometimes it’s hard to spot them but where possible, avoid them.
Similarly, driving over a speed bump without slowing down can damage the front as well as the rear of the vehicle.
#5: Riding the Clutch
It’s always a bad idea to ride the clutch. Wondering when this happens? When you take the foot off the pedal after changing gear. Poor clutch control results in early wear and tear. It also shortens the life of the plate.
Ideally, when you are going downhill, leave the car in neutral by pulling the handbrake until you are ready to move.
#6: Reviving the Engine in Cold
People will tell you short journeys take a toll on your car because the engine oil doesn’t fully warm up. The reality is all vehicles start from cold. So, don’t attempt to revive your engine until it’s warmed up.
When stop reviving, the oil warms up and starts circulating around the engine. This would minimize the wear and tear.
#7: Not Keeping up With Oil Changes
Changing your oil is not directly related to the driving style but it has a significant role to play in increasing the lifespan of your car. You should never drive your car longer than the distance between lube services.
The more you drive, the oil starts collecting metal shavings created by friction between the moving engine parts. Oil breaks down over time and its performance reduces. If you don’t keep up with oil change regularly, your gas mileage will become worse. You will feel the car’s performance deteriorating and eventually some serious issues might arise.
To figure out the right time for an oil change, consult the owner’s manual of your car. You can also talk to your mechanic about it.
#8: Turning Too Quickly
It’s another common mistake drivers make. But fortunately, it’s the easiest to fix. When you are driving through a corner too fast, you are putting extra strain on so many elements – the tires, brakes, steering, suspension, and some other parts.
In other words, you are shortening the life of the ball joints, struts, steering rack, bearings and more. You can improve the life span of your vehicle and keep it safe by turning slowly and carefully.
#9: Ignoring the Warning Lights
If you have a car with a modern dashboard, you would agree it features more lights than a Blackpool at Christmas.
In the midst of it, sometimes we end up ignoring the warning lights or a light turned off. We don’t notice until we stop and glance. Instead of waiting for your car to break down, always check the lights on the dashboard.
For some of us, these habits are not that easier to just let go of. for my mom, it wasn’t easy to switch from paying her cable bill via check to Spectrum bill pay online facility. But eventually, she made this transition. You will too. So go easy on your car. You can thank me later!
