Bad driving habits can increase your car’s gas mileage, cause extensive damage to components, and cost you a pretty penny on extra maintenance and unnecessary repairs. Avoid the following six driving habits on the roads in and around Lanham, MD, and keep your car in good running condition for longer.
1. Revving a Cold Engine
Avoid revving your car’s engine when the engine is cold. Revving a cold engine causes wear and tear on engine components that are not yet adequately lubricated. When an engine is cold, it’s best to start the car and allow it to idle for a few minutes before driving off. The engine will warm up, and the oil will circulate and lubricate the moving components, reducing friction and wear.
2. Switching From Reverse To Drive without Stopping
Always wait until your car comes to a complete stop before you shift from reverse to drive or from drive to reverse. If you switch your car from reverse to drive or vice versa while your vehicle is still in motion, it will damage your car’s transmission system and lead to high repair costs. Your vehicle must be stationary for the transmission to switch from reverse to drive smoothly or the other way around.
3. Excessive Brake Use
A heavy foot on the brake pedal can do more damage than you think. Slamming on the brakes or leaving your foot on the brake pedal for an extended period will increase brake wear and cause the brakes to overheat and lose their stopping power, something you want to avoid.
To prevent wear and damage to your brake system while driving in heavy traffic or down a hill, lighten the pressure on the brake pedal by switching to a lower gear. You also reduce brake wear if you anticipate intersections by taking your foot off the accelerator to slow your car down long before you have to come to a complete stop.
4. Speeding Over Bumps
Hitting a speed bump too fast could damage your car’s bumpers or undercarriage components and affect the wheel alignment. If you notice a speed bump, slow down and drive gently over it, especially if your vehicle is low.
5. Hitting Potholes
Thudding through a pothole can cause extensive damage to your vehicle’s suspension, alignment, and steering. If you are driving on a road riddled with potholes, keep your eyes peeled and go slower to give yourself enough time to react by switching lanes when you spot a hole. Sometimes you can’t avoid hitting the pothole head-on. Brake before you thud through the hole to minimize the impact and damage to your car.
6. Driving on Empty
If you drive your car around on fumes, it draws the last drop of gas from the bottom of the tank where the sediments in the gas settle. The dirt in the gas will block the fuel filter and could reach the engine, damaging components. Try to avoid driving around on the last drop of gas by keeping the tank as full as possible.
Take a little extra care behind the wheel and save money on gas and unnecessary repairs. Contact DARCARS Ford of Lanham today for an appointment. Our qualified Ford technicians offer expert maintenance and repair services you can rely on.
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