Things you never think about that damage your car
For all the expense, worry, and inconvenience of car maintenance and repairs, you would think we would know better. But time and again, we ignore or do certain things to our cars that will almost always drive repair bills into the stratosphere.
Below are a few everyday things people do that ruin their cars.
Not using the parking brake or hand brake
It’s a little pedal near your left leg, or a lever on your right. Yes, that mysterious device that you sometimes never use is actually valuable. When you park on an incline, or even on fairly steady ground, without using the parking brake, you are putting all of the stress of the car on your transmission.
The only thing inside that transmission holding your car steady is a little pin called a parking pawl in case it is automatic. By using the parking brake, you lock up the non-drive wheels as well as the drive wheels and take the stress off of the transmission.
It will add years of life to your car’s transmission. Just remember to disengage it before you start driving again.
Not coming to a complete stop before shifting gears
So you are in a rush, and you pull out of a parking space and shift into drive while the car is still moving backwards. You have just added months of wear to your transmission in seconds.
Inside your transmission is a complex set of gears. When you shift without stopping like that, you are asking those gears to work as your brakes, which puts an amazing amount of stress on such a small area. You can also damage your drive shafts, the things that send power to the wheels, by shifting that way.
After a while, it will lead a totally worn out transmission. For a manual transmission, this habit might not spell doom.
Over riding the brake
If you are driving on a slope that goes on for a while, you will want to avoid riding the brake the whole time. Alternate between braking and letting off the brake so you don’t heat up and wear out your brake pads.
It’s a common mistake, because it naturally feels like the safest way to manoeuvre down a hill, but if the hill is sufficiently long, you can end up almost totally wearing out your pads, since as they heat up, they wear out faster.
Your car is one of your most costly possessions, and it is certainly one on which you heavily depend. So, you want it to last as long as possible. It’s important you have the proper car preventive maintenance measures in place to have trouble free driving.
Other factors
A dirty engine that runs right is better than a clean engine that doesn’t run at all. And if you spray a high-powered jet of water around rubber seals and hoses and electrical bits, you are bound to dislodge something important or simply cause an electrical fault. A modern engine is a complex thing, all sensors, wiring harnesses and components are no place for a jet of high-pressure water. A regular hose or hand wash is ok if you want to wash it down, just avoid water getting into the alternator.
Incorrect tyre pressure
Tyre pressure that is too low is also dangerous. Not enough tyre pressure causes too much of the tyre to touch the road surface. This can cause tyres to wear out prematurely and to possibly even overheat. Tyres filled to the right pressure can make your car more fuel efficient, saving you money at the pump.
