Every driver wants to do what they can to keep their car in good condition and avoid frequent trips to the mechanic. Even if you think you’re taking great care of your vehicle, you may be doing things that are bad for your car without even knowing it. Keep these 10 don’ts in mind while your driving to keep your car in better shape for longer.
- Push the off button while driving
If your car has a push start, always put the car in park before turning the switch on and off. It’s bad for your engine, and not the way the push start was intended to be used.
- Put the car in reverse while driving
Putting the car in reverse while driving could potentially damage your car. According to autoblog.com, “Transmissions are not meant to engage reverse while traveling forward. Sure, you can jam it in at the bottom of your driveway apron while you’re still rolling a little, but even that’s not the best of practices.”
- Have a really heavy keychain
This isn’t an obvious one, but having a keychain with a lot of keys could way down the key you use for the ignition, and may cause you problems if done repeatedly.
- Put just any oil in your car
Changing your oil regularly is an important part of keeping your car working, but the kind of oil you use is also important. Your user guide will have oil specifications from the manufacturer, so follow those guidelines to make sure you purchase the right oil for your vehicle.
- Overfill the engine oil
Overfilling the oil can be disastrous for your vehicle and cause problems like bent rods in the engine or collapsed valve pipes. Vehicles usually have an indicator line when you’re changing your own oil, but if you have any concerns, take the vehicle to a professional.
- Wait until the fuel tank is empty
Obviously, you should never drive with an empty tank because you may end up running out of gas completely in the middle of nowhere, but that’s not the only reason why it’s bad for your vehicle. Your fuel filter could become clogged, and sediment from gasoline could settle at the bottom of your fuel tank.
- Ignore warning signs
Drivers have a habit of ignoring warning lights when there isn’t an obvious problem. Remember that not all significant engine problems are obvious, so if one of your warning lights is on, don’t ignore it.
- Ignore deflated tires
If it looks like your tires are a little bit flat, don’t ignore it. Driving with deflated tires could throw off the suspension on your entire vehicle and cost you a pretty penny to repair.
Following these tips will help your car stay in good condition for longer, which is good for your wallet. What you may not know is it’s also good for your insurance premium. Repairs can affect your rate, so taking steps to stay out of the mechanics garage is a good move. If your insurance policy doesn’t cover repairs, compare it to other policies on the market. You may find that you get even more coverage for a lower cost.