Many of us are guilty of at least a few of these top car-killing habits. Armed with a little knowledge, though, you can stop any ‘homicidal’ behavior you may be engaging in. Both your car and your wallet will thank you.

The list below is not in any particular order, just off the ‘top of my head’ from almost 12 years of observation and experience in the auto repair business.

1) Reactive maintenance, or only fixing something when it breaks, is a fast way to a short life for your vehicle. Remember that your vehicle is only a machine, and therefore must have regular preventative maintenance to avoid trouble, and this does not mean just oil changes. Listed below are several important items to look at frequently, which are included in our free 27 point inspection.

 

•  Tire Pressures and condition, most overlooked issues in the business.
• Proper fluid levels as well as condition, engine oil, transmission fluid, transfer case fluid, differential fluid, engine coolant, washer fluid.
• Belts and hoses, starting to crack or harden spells potential disaster in the form of breakdowns.
• Battery, alternator, cables, connections, the complete charging system should be monitored for proper operation.
• All exterior lighting including headlamps, signals, tail and stop lamps, these are safety issues.
• Brake condition, fluid, antilock operation, very sophisticated systems that must be properly maintained for safety.
• Tune-up components including spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor cap and rotor if equipped.

2) Starting the car – Everyone knows that holding the key too long in the “Start” position can cause unneccessary wear on a starter, but just starting your car causes wear on vital parts. So avoiding excessive starting can help prolong the life of your car. For instance, try to avoid parking in a place or position that will require you to have to restart and move your car; avoid short, frequent trips – like for chips and salsa, or pizza pickup. Try to exercise a little foresight for the sake of your car.

3) Stop and go traffic – It is widely known that stop and go ‘city’ driving is rough on a car, but few of us seem to do much to counteract the effects. You can slow the rate of wear on the engine, fuel system, brakes and suspesion by simply using less aggressive driving techniques. Gentler starts and stops from traffic lights, coasting on exit ramps – just being kinder and gentler on your vehicle will help. When doing a lot of city driving, these small changes can really add up to extending vehicle life and savings on repairs.

4) Improper warmup – Years ago it was recommended to let your engine warm to the proper temperature before driving. These days that isn’t quite true. Yes, your car’s engine (and many other parts) will perform better when warmed to optimal operating temperature. However, because more damage is done to the car during this warmup phase, it is now recommended that you drive your car within seconds of starting it up, but with a caveat: be gentle, especially during that first startup in the morning. Gently ‘waking’ your 2-ton metal baby will keep it in better condition longer.

5) Allowing your fuel tank to run too low – Many of us, for a variety of reasons, run the fuel tank almost completely empty. You’ve probably heard this is bad for your fuel pump, and it is. Very low fuel causes the fuel pump to work harder and overheat. (It uses the fuel as coolant.) Very low fuel in the tank also increases the likelihood of moisture, deposits and oxygen making their way into your fuel line, which then clogs your fuel filter.

6) Using the wrong soap to wash your car – Surprised? Think about it:  the paint job on your car is the most expensive step in the manufacturing process, and a quality finish can add up to 20% in value at resale time. Yet many people still use dishwashing soap to wash their cars. This is bad because not only does the dishwashing soap remove dirt and grime, it also removes a little of the clear coat each time you use it. Because a vehicle’s finish is such a valuable part of the overall car, it is worth the few extra dollars it costs to use a detergent specifically formulated for auto finishes. If you wax, and you should, it is recommended that you use the same brand as the detergent. It’s likely that the two were designed to work optimally together and provide better protection for your car’s finish.

7) Improper clutch action – In a car equipped with a manual transmission, releasing the clutch improperly places sudden pressure on the clutch disc, pressure plate, motor mounts, and other parts of the drive train. Pushing the clutch too far, not far enough, or riding the clutch at the point of engagement can cause these problems. Ideally, you should find a spot in the clutch travel that is just far enough for easy gear changes. Gauge your progress by how seamless your shifts are. If rear seat passengers cannot tell that that they are riding in a manual transmission car then you are changing gears properly.

8) Roll shifting – If you have an automatic transmission, a problem that commonly occurs (and works to shorten the life of the transmission), is not coming to a complete stop before shifting from reverse into drive or vice versa. Because you are reversing the flow of fluid while still under pressure, strain is placed on the valves. Simply coming to a complete stop before changing gears is a very small measure you can take to help prevent a costly transmission rebuild or even more costly replacement.

9) Using your parking brake – In a car with an automatic transmission, when the shift lever is moved into ‘Park’, a small pin is pushed into little teeth in the transmission output, locking it into place. When this pin is stuck in these teeth, the shaft cannot spin. The inertial mass of the car is now resting on that pin. If the car is parked on a completely level surface, very little pressure is being applied. What about an incline, though? Or what if you parallel park on a city street where your car is prone to bumps from other cars? That pin is the only thing keeping your car from running off with itself. By simply applying the parking brake when the car is at rest, the car has some backup support in the event that pressure is placed on the transmission, buying it valuable life. Your transmission, and probably your insurance company, will thank you.

10 ) Oil and fuel additives – Modern engine oils already contain extensive additive compositions that are within perfect harmony to offer maximum protection. To add additional formulas is to affect the chemical balance of your oil. They can strip away the very protection provided by your oil. Also, additives can convert into gaseous entities that harbor in the exhaust system and can eat away at it. You want to replace that awfully expensive catalytic converter?  Also, in many states, current fuels are comprised of at least 10% ethanol, which helps your gas burner cleaner, and prevent petroleum buildup throughout the fuel system. Extra additives can significantly alter the ability of your fuel system to burn the fuel efficiently and effectively, causing more problems than they solve.

 

As always, if you have any questions or concerns about your automotive maintenance or repairs just call or come by. We’re here to help you get the most out of your car or truck or RV.

– Jud and the Absolute Automotive Crew

Tags: auto repair eugene, car care tips

This entry was posted on August 17, 2011 at 8:09 pm. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Posted in Auto Repair Eugene Car Care Tips by Jud Garlock & crew Comments Off