The age of a car does not necessarily determine the condition that a car would be but rather the maintenance habit of the user/driver. Some old vehicles would still look new while same new model is falling apart, only because good maintenance was practiced by the driver while driving.
Here are some daily driving tips to help you
maintain and keep your car in good shape while saving money.
Drive Smoothly
Smoothness in your actions at the wheel is very
important, not only for the stability of the car while moving, but also for the
durability of the vehicle’s components. For example, start braking slowly and a
bit earlier than you normally would do, so you don’t have to make panic stops
all the time. The same applies to lane changes or merging into traffic. By
going smoothly the various mechanical parts of the car will not take a hit but
actually be able to work as intended, and thus last longer… Plus your
passengers will enjoy the ride rather than being tossed around.
Take it easy at first
Your car engine is made to run and move your car
swiftly, but is designed to do so when at operating temperatures. There is no
need to idle the car for long, but take it easy for the first few kilometres
while the engine goes up to its normal operating temperature. This will save
you wear and tear as well as save some fuel; many engines are not as
fuel-efficient when cold
Always look ahead
It may seem to be another obvious point, but it is
important to look ahead not only to see where you are going, but also to spot
what is on the road itself. You will want to avoid weird looking items on the
road that may damage your tires or bounce against the underside of the car. It
will also allow you to spot bumps or dips in the road, or at least slow down
for them so the impact is not as harsh.
Avoid potholes
This may seem like a no-brainer, but it is still
surprising the number of people that drive right through potholes even though
there is plenty of space to go around them. These, when deep, can not only
damage the tire and the wheel, but the impact can also have adverse effects on
the suspension and steering components. The whole car will benefit from
avoiding or slowing down for potholes, as these repetitive impacts tend to
loosen various items in the car, creating rattles and squeaks.
Do not follow trucks up close
You may not have the choice… Getting stuck behind
a truck is unavoidable. But as the driver of your vehicle, you can choose how
close you are following said truck. Not only is it safer to leave a greater
distance, you will be saving your car from flying rocks and other debris which,
over time, damage the paint, damage your headlights and windshield. As a bonus,
when following a badly maintained older truck, staying far means less black
fumes get into the filter of your ventilation system.
Slow down for train tracks
Slow down for railroad tracks when coming up to a
crossing, or when coming up to a bridge. These are always uneven with the
pavement and create impacts for the wheels, tires and overall car that can be
damaging over time.
Floor it sometimes!
It may sound opposite to the previous advice, but
your engine does need to be wound up and pushed at times. Wait until it is at
proper operating temperatures and once in a while, when merging onto highways
for example, step on the gas for a swift acceleration. Getting the engine up in
revolution will allow it to work hard and burn some of the carbon deposit that
tends to accumulate around the valve train. Doing this occasionally will help
prevent having an engine head all gummed up or covered with carbon deposits.
Steer while rolling
Whenever possible, try to steer only when the car
is in movement. Even when doing a parallel parking maneuver, get the car
rolling slightly before turning the steering wheel. This will prevent too much
effort being exerted on the steering rack and components, the major cause for
steering rack failure. Turning the wheels while standing still puts tremendous
stress on the whole steering system as it then has to fight with the tire and
asphalt friction while the whole weight of the vehicle is on them.
Plan errands in one round
As much as possible, try to plan all your errands
of the day in one outing. There is nothing more damageable for an engine but to
be run for only very short trips while being cold. In doing all errands at
once, you reduce the time the engine is running cold and have more chances of
having it stay to operating temperatures.
A little bit of caution and understanding of your vehicle
by following these daily driving tips will help contribute to keeping your car
in good shape.
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