Everyone wants reliable cars that will stand the test of time. However, drivers do several things that can hurt even the best new cars. Of course, many of these habits come from drivers’ focus on where they’re going instead of paying attention to certain driving habits. Luckily, it is fairly easy to break from these behaviors that harm cars. These behaviors include things like engine braking.
Engine braking can hurt reliable cars
According to the Universal Technical Institute, engine braking is a way to slow down without using the brake pedal. Essentially, this involves downshifting and taking your foot off the accelerator. This can hurt even the most reliable cars because it causes damage to the transmission. Naturally, this way of slowing down can also cause damage to the engine. Engine braking is especially bad when driving at high speeds and shifting into low gears.
Overloading your vehicle
Many drivers don’t think twice about overloading their vehicles. However, this common action can severely damage reliable cars. Overloading a car hurts its reliability because all vehicles have weight limits, and exceeding them can damage several parts of your car. In particular, it puts more stress on the suspension system, the brakes, and the drivetrain.
Over time, you can even see the impact of overloading your vehicle. This is why many cars and SUVs are lower in the back than in the front. Overall, this is easily avoidable.
Improper shifting can hurt even the best new cars
Shifting gears the wrong way can also damage even the most reliable cars. In particular, going from drive to park while the car is moving is a terrible idea. This is especially the case for people who drive cars with automatic transmissions. As you can probably guess, this isn’t very good for the transmission. Luckily, most modern vehicles don’t allow this action.
Potholes can damage your car
Avoiding potholes isn’t always possible. However, it is best to attempt when you can. While a shallow hole won’t cause too much damage, potholes, in general, can be detrimental to the reliability of your car. Naturally, they can harm your tires, wheels, and hubcaps. However, not avoiding them can also cause damage to your suspension system.
There are many things drivers do that cause reliable cars to meet an early grave or need the help of auto mechanics frequently. However, changing driving habits can do wonders for keeping your vehicle on the road for as long as it’s supposed to last.
