Do you consider yourself an automotive man? How good are your driving skills?
Do you know that there are seven things that most drivers do that are damaging to their cars?
There is an art and science to driving. The glorious rush that it brings when the engine starts is something that only passionate drivers will understand. But sometimes, drivers can be so in the moment that there are some aspects that they tend to ignore and overlook.
Per our research, there are the top seven things that drivers tend to not notice and be aware of when driving. These seven things are so ignored and overlooked that drivers fail to recognize how damaging they can be for their vehicles. Bad driving habits invite damage both in your car and in your pockets. You wouldn’t want that!
Read on and learn if you’re one of the many drivers who unknowingly damage their vehicles. The earlier you know, the better!
1. Brake Handling
This unnoticed habit appears whenever you drive downhill. Do you touch the brake and leave your foot on the pedal? If you do, please stop.
Such a habit can damage your pads and discs. It can also cause overheating.
But what to do the next time you’re going downhill? Your low gear. Engage it and brake lightly!
This is very related to the general driving rule that everyone knows which is the absolute avoidance of screeching to a halt or late braking. It damages pads and discs and creates unyielding and unreliable brakes. Know that leaving your foot on the brake is very damaging as well.
2. Foot Awareness
If you accelerate at low RPM when you move from the brakes to the accelerator, you are damaging your car. Such a habit produces unnecessary engine strain.
To avoid this damaging habit, you should shift through your gears. You should also give revs ample time to actually rev up. This is a particular applicable should you tow or climb.
3. Weight Concerns
Since we already mentioned towing, do you know how much weight your car can carry?
It’s important for you to know this because your car’s capacity should never be overloaded.
Most cars can only carry as much as 165 pounds. Such capacity can vary depending on the manufacturer and model of your car. It’s best to always have your car manual at hand so that you won’t have to memorize unique car details like this one. Every car is different so it’s best that you always know what exactly suits your car.
You should never overload. This is a nasty habit of most drivers as they think it doesn’t affect their vehicles at all but we’re here to tell you that it does in more ways you can imagine! Overloading not just affects brakes, but also your car’s engine and suspension.
4. Be Careful With Your Gears
Do you know to properly use your gears? Most drivers damage their car through their bad gear habits without even knowing. There’s even a guy I know who changed his gear not just once, twice, or thrice, but 26 times while exiting a car park. You read it right, 26 times. The ignorance as to the damage it causes is unbelievable.
Your gear deserves optimum care and handling. In the case of automatic cars, drivers often change from reverse or the other way around even before the car actually stops. If you’re one of the many people who do this, you should endeavor to change such a habit immediately. It strains your transmission and invites unwanted repairs and even replacements.
In the case of manual cars, drivers tend to “crunch” their gears. This habit equally invites damages to both your car and your wallet.
And lastly, do your hands rest on your gear stick while driving? If it does, please stop such a habit immediately. You should not be used to having your hand always resting on the gearstick as you drive. It is damaging as it induces unnecessary strain.
5. Cold Management
Winter is challenging for all drivers and one thing that almost all tend to forget is the proper time for revving. You should never rev your car while it is still cold and still in the process of warming up. When warming up your car, you should duly give it an extra time as it takes quite a while for the oil to warm up and lubricate your engine. You should always be extra patient as impatience can cause unwanted car damage.
6. Know Your Warnings
This one is not something that drivers do but something that most drivers still don’t do.
Most drivers still don’t go out of their way to be familiar with their car’s warning lights. Each car has particular warning lights that flash about when urgent attention is necessary on any part of your vehicle. How can you possibly avoid unnecessary damage if you’re not even aware of what a certain flashing light is warning you about? Be a good driver and have a faithful habit of familiarizing yourself with your car’s warning lights. It will boost your driving confidence, save you so much time, and prevent you from having unnecessary expenses.
7. Clutch Riding
Last but not the least, please don’t wear out your clutch plate by always keeping your foot placed on the clutch. Never forget to always remove your foot from the clutch.
So, how many habits are you guilty of doing? This is to hoping that you’re guilty of none. Always remember that driving is a serious responsibility and privilege that requires optimum care, focus, and attention. Never overlook minor details that can end up damaging your vehicle. Drive well!
Nick is a content writer and very much interested in new findings in the automobile industry.
