Driving can be very interesting when done in the right way. Whereas there are drivers who have driven for a long time and driving now comes second to nature for them, most new driver are still struggling to perfect their skills and in the process of doing so, they commit certain mistakes that are not only dangerous to their safety, but also to the safety of their cars. Be careful not to be a victim of these mistakes.
Not Using the Parking Brake
Many people normally fail to use the parking brake when they park their cars on a slight incline. Doing this inserts a lot of pressure on the vehicles transmission because only the parking pawl in used. But when the parking brake is used, all the driving wheels and the non-drive wheels are locked and thus reliving pressure of the parking pawl. This increases the life of the car transmission while avoiding damage to the pawl.
Failing to change engine oil
Clean engine oil is essential for the car’s performances as well as the life of the engine. Many people wait until the car notifies them to change the oil. At this point, the oil is already used up and is charcoal black. This can cause serious damage to the engine and make you spend lots of money on maintenance. It is the recommendation of most manufacturers that you change your engine oil after covering a distance of 3000 miles.
Misusing Brakes
Riding the brakes downhill makes the brake pads wear out very fast. When driving downhill, you should not have the habit of stepping and then releasing the brake every now and then. A car travelling downhill has a lot of momentum and there are several ways to control speed than riding on the brakes each and every time.
Driving on an almost empty tank
It is recommended that you keep your tank as full as possible because this will save on the life of your fuel pump. Most people think that driving on low fuel is actually saving them some money. This is the opposite. Other than firing up the engine, the fuel is also used to cool the fuel pump. If there is not enough fuel in the tank, then the pump can get heated up and get damaged. You will then realize that it is cheaper to keep a reasonable amount of fuel in your tank than to drive below the E when you will be replacing your fuel tank.
As a driver, you also need to take the necessary precautions to ensure that you drive safely and without compromising on the conditions of your car.