COMMON HABITS BEHIND THE WHEEL THAT COULD BE CAUSING DAMAGE TO YOUR VEHICLE
Driving a vehicle is one of the most important aspects of everyday life. It allows us to get from point A to point B, no matter where those points may be. However, with this responsibility comes many responsibilities that are often overlooked by drivers: such as proper tire pressure and regular oil changes. If you’ve been neglecting these or other necessary repairs because you don’t know where to start or what they involve, then take heart! We’re going to explain everything you need to know about car maintenance so that your vehicle can run smoothly for years and years (if not decades).
HARD BRAKING
Braking is one of the most common things you do while driving, so it’s important that you understand how hard braking can damage your vehicle. If you frequently apply heavy pressure to your brake pedal and don’t allow time for the brakes to cool down between uses, you could cause them to overheat. Overheated brakes can lead to warped rotors and other parts of the braking system failing. You should also avoid using heavy pressure when braking on surfaces like ice or snow because doing so can decrease traction and make it harder for your car or truck to stop quickly.
DRIVING WITH LOW TIRE PRESSURE
Tires are the only contact your car has with the road. A car’s tires support its weight and provide traction. If you have low tire pressure, it can result in poor handling and braking performance, which can be dangerous for you and others on the road
Your tires have a maximum pressure rating stamped on the sidewall of each tire (usually expressed as psi or bar). Check them regularly for wear and damage. Too much air pressure increases rolling resistance, contributing to greater fuel consumption while reducing fuel economy by up to 3%. Under-inflated tires also wear out more quickly than properly inflated ones because they flex more when cornering or turning—increasing their tread wear by up to 20%
NOT REGULARLY CHECKING OIL LEVELS
How often should you check your oil levels?
It’s generally recommended that you check them every time you fill up with gas, but if you go for longer periods of time between fills (like I do), it’s probably a good idea to check them once a month or so. If your car is giving any kind of warning signs that there may be an issue, then by all means go ahead and check earlier than that!
How do I know how much to add?
The best option is to get an oil dipstick; they are inexpensive and easy to use. Simply lower the stick into an opening on your engine until it reaches bottom—this is where the oil pan is located—and pull back out again (don’t forget to wipe off the tip before reinserting). If there’s too much oil in there, add new one until it reaches at least halfway up the tube (you can always top off later if needed).
LONG IDLING
Long idling is a bad habit that you may think you don’t do, but it’s more common than you think. If your car has been running for 30 seconds to a minute or three minutes without moving, it’s considered long idling.
Long idling can damage your engine and wear down the spark plugs, so they’re not working as well anymore. This can also cause problems with emissions control systems in newer cars because they’re designed to work well within certain parameters of temperature and other factors that are controlled by how long your vehicle has been on at any given time.
Long idle times also waste fuel because there’s no actual movement happening during this time period—only heat being produced by your engine burning gas exactly where it sits parked or sitting still at stop lights. You’re essentially burning money each time you do this!
Air pollution isn’t good for anyone (or anything), including our environment: It contributes directly towards global warming which affects everyone living on Earth today–including future generations worth protecting too!
NOT REPLACING AIR FILTERS
You may be wondering how often you should replace your air filter. The answer depends on the make and model of your vehicle, but most manufacturers recommend changing them every 12,000 miles or once per year. If you don’t regularly check—or even know where—your air filter is located, it can become clogged with dust and debris that can cause damage to other parts of your engine.
To find out if a clogged air filter is causing problems, check for signs like:
- A loss of power while driving at highway speeds
- Rough idling
- Engine light coming on (indicating an issue with emissions)
IGNORING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT
Ignoring the check engine light is a bad idea. The light is warning you that there’s a problem with your car, and it could be a major issue or something very minor. Maybe you just need to replace your air filter, or maybe you have an oil leak that needs to be taken care of immediately. Ignoring the check engine light can result in serious damage to your vehicle, especially if the problem isn’t addressed in time.
Conclusion
These are just a few ways you can avoid paying unnecessarily high car repair bills. If you find yourself in need of major work or new tires, contact us today! We will help you make an appointment with one of our skilled mechanics who will give your vehicle the TLC it needs and deserves.