Typical Driving Habits Doing Hidden Damage To Your Car
Published May 29th, 2017
Without realising it, some of your driving habits may be adding unnecessary wear and tear to your car. With motorists in Australia experiencing three-year petrol price highs, there is a good reason to try and reduce driving expenses. Did you know, for example, that driving with your windows down can add to your fuel costs?
Not all driving expenses are immediately obvious. Some are fairly subtle and fall into the category of ‘wear and tear’. On top of that, most car insurances won’t cover wear and tear depreciation.
Riding the clutch and the brakes
If you drive a manual car, remember that the clutch pedal isn’t a foot rest. Even when it’s slightly engaged, the pedal will heat up and eventually burn out. For hill starts, use your handbrake until you’re ready to move. Trailing your brakes also wears down your pads and discs. If you’re one of those people who sit on other driver’s tails, you are probably constantly jumping on the brakes in panic. Keep your distance.
Flooring the accelerator and lugging around
Even if you give in to speed, remember to gear down when you do. Accelerating in a high gear makes the engine work harder. On the other hand, lugging around at a low speed in high gear is also bad for your engine. Choose the right gear at the right time.
Revving a cold engine
All vehicles start from a cold engine. Give the oil in your car time to warm up and circulate before you rev it. Don’t overdo it at any time. The aim of the first gear is not to stretch it to breaking point.
Dragging downhill
Travel downhill in a low gear and don’t drag the brakes. Lightly touch the brakes and then release, allowing them to cool. Repeat this as you need to until you reach the bottom.
Let go of that knob – and your baggage
Cruising with your hand on the gearstick is actually bad for your car. It’s connected to a selector fork that feels the slightest pressure, causing premature wear. Overloading your car with lots of stuff also puts strain on the brakes and suspension. Don’t leave items in the boot unless they are absolutely necessary.
Don’t ignore the dashboard
Waiting for your car to reach close to empty before you fill up is not good for anything in your car, because your fuel also acts as a lubricant. For that matter, don’t neglect any warning lights on your dashboard and remember to keep regular maintenance visits to your mechanic.
How many of these do you regularly do? Just think about the positive effects on your car – and your hip pocket – if you eliminate as many of them as possible.
If you’ve got a problem because of any of these points above, be sure to book a service with your nearest ABS Service Centre today!