Each person has a particular driving style. In general, most drivers acquire peculiar habits when they first get behind the wheel as soon as they get their license and they never abandon them. Leaving your hand resting on the gear shift knob or waiting until the last moment to fill the fuel tank are some actions that many drivers often repeat constantly without realizing that they could be affecting the operation of their vehicle.
This is warned by the Spanish Association of Collaborating Entities of the Administration in the Technical Inspection of Vehicles (AECA-ITV), which points out that certain habits can be very expensive in the long run because they could harm the performance and useful life of various components. of the automobile. With the help of AECA-ITV we are going to review some of the most common bad habits to try to avoid them and extend the useful life of the car.
There are various habits related to the gearbox that are harmful and could damage the car. For example, driving with your hand resting on the gear lever. No matter how small the contact is, we are exerting certain pressure on an element that is connected to the gearbox and in the long run it can create some wear on gears and bearings.
Likewise, keeping a gear engaged while the vehicle is stopped - at a traffic light, for example - can accelerate clutch wear. What you have to do is leave the car in neutral. It is also a bad habit to keep the clutch pedal depressed, as it disengages the gearbox and disconnects the transmission from the engine. Therefore, you only have to press the pedal when you are going to change a gear.
Another bad habit that has to do with this element is putting the vehicle in reverse gear without the vehicle being completely stopped. This bad habit can damage the gearbox.
Continuous use of the brakes or heavy braking leads to overheating. When this occurs, the brakes' braking capacity is reduced and wear increases. It is advisable in this sense, whenever possible, to use the engine brake and maintain, even more, concentration on the traffic, anticipating possible unforeseen events that involve sudden braking.
For the oil to circulate fluidly through the lubrication circuit, it is necessary for the engine to reach an adequate temperature. A very common habit among drivers is to rev the engine as soon as it starts. This is an error that can cause greater wear and tear because the engine needs time to reach the appropriate temperature.
The tires are the only point of contact of the car with the asphalt and therefore are an element that must be paid attention to for safety reasons. Beyond this very important reason, we must not neglect the tire pressure. Driving with tire pressures outside those stipulated by the vehicle manufacturer causes uneven wear and can increase braking distance.
It is also important to avoid hitting the tire on curbs, as well as rubbing the sidewall when parking. Deformations can cause internal damage - cracks or 'bumps' - which can lead to a burst.
All vehicles have a maximum load level that we must under no circumstances exceed for safety reasons. If we go with the car loaded, even if the weight of the load is within the established limits, we must take into account that the behavior of the vehicle is more unstable in the event of any incident. The same thing happens when the load is incorrectly placed. In addition, the brakes, suspension or transmission will have to work harder.
Exhausting the available kilometers of autonomy to the maximum is not a good idea. If, on the one hand, it can put an end to the unpleasant surprise of running out of gas, on the other hand, it is not good for the car's mechanics either. The fuel pump has to work harder to absorb fuel from the tank, increasing the chances of premature failure.
Some drivers like to experience the sensation of going over bumps on the surface. However, it is advisable to avoid them as much as possible since they are responsible for at least a third of the damage suffered by vehicles, mainly to the suspension, transmission and tire systems.
As with potholes, you have to be careful to overcome the bumps and speed bumps located mainly at pedestrian crossings. Going over these obstacles at an inappropriate speed leads to wear on the suspension elements and causes the underside of the car to hit the ground.
