Driving Tips to Minimize Wear and Tear
Keeping a car healthy involves more than just regular maintenance. Did you know, your driving that your driving habits a big of a role on the health of key systems in your car as well? If you plan on keeping your car for years to come, it’s a good idea to pay attention to your driving habits, and to have a trusted mechanic for when you have any car maintenance or auto repair needs.
Use Consistent Speeds
The more you rev, the more you burn. If you often find yourself fluctuating speeds by quickly accelerating and braking, you’re causing extra wear on parts like your engine and transmission. Whenever your engine revs, it’s putting strain on your transmission, which can lead to costly car repairs in the long run. While it won’t cause an immediate breakdown, it does speed up wear and tear on essential systems. Driving at more consistent speeds will also help with your brakes.
Avoid Using the Brakes too Much
The more you brake, the quicker they wear. This is accelerated when you frequently slam on the breaks. Be gentle with your brake pedal and start slowing your car further back from a stoplight or stop sign to minimize wear on your brake pads and rotors. This is easier to do if you maintain steady, reasonable speeds instead of frequently accelerating and braking.
Steer Clear of Bumps and Potholes
If you felt that bump in the road, so did your car. As uncomfortable as that pothole may have been for you and your passengers, it’s also causing extra wear on parts of your car like your tires and exhaust system. When you’re driving, keep an eye out for potholes and be sure to slow down before you drive over speed bumps to minimize any wear or damage to your car.
Tires and the Underside of Your Car Can Take a Beating
Two key parts that will take a beating when you hit bumps in the road are your tires and exhaust system. Your front tires will take the brunt of the hit, so if you’ve hit a few more potholes than you’d care to admit, you may want to bump up a tire alignment on your car maintenance list. Since your exhaust system is exposed on the underside of your car it is susceptible to wear and damage when you fly over speed bumps.
Don’t Run Your Gas Tank Down to Empty
There are a number of reasons why you don’t want to push it with your gas tank. Waiting too long to fill up can leave you stranded if you can’t find a gas station before running out of fuel. It can also cause extra wear on your car’s fuel system that you can avoid by not letting your gas tank get below a quarter full. You’ll notice a difference in how your car runs and it’ll help avoid extra wear.
Running on Low Gas Can Cause Fuel Pump Clogs
When you drive on a low tank of gas, contaminants sitting at the bottom of your gas tank can get cycled through your fuel system. This can cause clogs in your car’s fuel pump that could lead to failure over time. Bump up your gas stop frequency and your car will thank you.
Drive Your Car on a Regular Basis
You may think that driving your car less will help minimize wear and tear. However, that’s not necessarily true. In fact, it’s harder on your car if you leave it parked for weeks than if you drive it a few times a week. Generally speaking, it’s a good idea to make sure you drive your car at least once a week so that your car’s battery can charge and fluids can cycle through your car’s systems.
Sitting Stationary Can Wear Down Your Alternator and Battery
More specifically, letting your car sit for too long can be hard on your alternator and can keep your battery from maintaining a charge. Your alternator is responsible for transferring power from your battery to the engine, so you may have trouble getting your car started if it sits stationary for too long.
Need Help with Your Car? Come to the Mechanics at AAMCO
From car maintenance to transmission repairs, our expert mechanics are ready to help with any of your auto repair needs. Schedule your appointment online or give us a call and we’re happy to help answer any questions you have about your car and our services.
The post Driving Tips to Minimize Wear and Tear first appeared on AAMCO Utah Transmission Repair and General Car Repair.
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