6 Common Driving Habits That Can Harm Your Car

These are the worst driving habits that can harm your car. Do you have them too? 

Everybody develops driving habits over time that are so comfortable for us and most probably unusual for others who see us driving. The unfortunate part of this is that if we develop certain bad habits which are hard to break it can lead to damaging our vehicle. These damages can result in costly repairs, long-term issues, and even safety hazards.

Paying attention to your driving now can help you avoid future problems. Our purpose isn’t to scare you, but instead to give you some useful advice regarding this matter. In this article, we will look at some of the worst driving habits that can harm your car.

Ignoring warning lights

In most cases, a warning light comes at the most inappropriate time, usually when we’re in a hurry to get somewhere or before we hit the road for a very well-planned trip. But ignoring these lights is one of the worst driving habits that can harm your car and put you and other passengers in danger.

Knowing the signals on the dashboard can help you recognize when to pull over and take action because certain lights are more critical than others. Any indicator that suggests a malfunctioning engine, airbag, power steering, cooling system, brake system, oil pressure, or tire pressure has to be fixed right away.

If you notice one of these signs on the dashboard, you must stop and call a breakdown provider for assistance as soon as possible.

Hands resting on the gearstick

If you are a beginner driver, then you’re probably keeping both hands on the wheel. But with time, you will start noticing that your right hand will start resting on the gearstick. Please don’t do that, or if you know you’re “guilty” already doing it, stop it right now! Why?

It might be harmful to the transmission since the gearstick is attached to a selection fork, which is intended to briefly come into contact with a spinning collar. Resting your hand on the gearstick while you’re stopping for the traffic lights, for example, increases the chance of putting pressure on the selector fork, which might lead to early wear.

It’s important to examine your owner’s handbook to determine whether it expressly states that you should not place your hand on the gearstick.

Riding the clutch

When it comes to driving habits that can harm your car, riding the clutch is one of them. This is considered a wear-and-tear item from the vehicle, and it’s not covered by warranty. Riding the clutch usually occurs when the driver tries to do a hill start or changes gears but fails to remove their foot from the pedal.

Excessive wear from poor clutch control will reduce plate life. If the off-clutch footrest is installed, make sure your foot is off the clutch pedal. Most people tend to do this because they think that coasting will save some fuel. Sorry to disappoint, but in fact, it might consume even more fuel in the long run, ending up paying twice as much.

Do you enjoy driving a lot, and do you rely solely on your vehicle to go on vacation? Then you might need some extra cushion for your back because, no matter how comfortable your seats are, driving for more than 3 hours straight is a lot. 

This Car Seat Cushion with Comfort Memory Foam Car Cushions for Driving has an ergonomic design made for those who suffer from sciatica or lower back pain, which encourages support for the tail area. The cover of the cushion is made of premium leather that won’t wear off very easily. It’s available on Amazon for $34.95. 

Revving a cold engine

Let’s imagine this: you have to defrost your vehicle on a chilly, gloomy, and snowy day, and on top of that you’re running late for work. This is so bad to even think about it. What do you do? Quickly thinking that accelerating is a good idea, you know to speed things up and reach to the destination faster. This is one of the worst driving habits that can harm your car! This is because it puts unnecessary strain on the engine before the oil circulates correctly, leading to more wear and tear.

Revving the engine after starting the automobile is not a good idea, even on a summer day. Even if the inside of the car needs time to warm up, even though the steering wheel may feel warm.

Accelerating in a high gear

The gearshift indicator light, which indicates when to shift up or down a gear, is a standard feature on many modern cars. Since they’re usually optimized for fuel economy, you’ll probably be short-shifting to get the most out of them.

But you have to watch out for the downshift symbol or be ready to adjust down as needed. When you accelerate in a gear that is too high or at low RPM, the engine has to work harder, which puts extra pressure on the motor. Additionally, accelerating quickly when the engine is cold may cause increased wear and tear, since the oil may not have reached its ideal working temperature.

Stuffing the trunk with a ton of luggage

Yep, you’re finally leaving for that road trip you’ve been planning since last winter. And because you will be traveling in your own vehicle and not by plane, you might be tempted to bring with you a lot of luggage, but please don’t! Most modern cars are indeed built to carry heavy loads; it’s better if you don’t stuff them.

The weight increases with the amount of load on the engine, suspension, and brakes. It’s also important to keep in mind that, although packing more weight in the trunk of your car, such as golf clubs or exercise equipment, won’t put more strain on its components, it will reduce its fuel efficiency and perhaps its emissions.

Try to travel as lightly as possible!

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