If you are the sort of person who wants to take a proactive stand against the maintenance problems that plague your car, then this may be the article for you. Everyday things that we unknowingly do to our cars are sending them to an early grave and only you can help to prevent it.
You may recognize yourself in some of the issues below. That is all right, though, everyone does one or more of these. Each threat that I have included is one that I have witnessed or experienced, and all are easily correctable or preventable. So, consider the following suggestions. Even picking up one or two can pay great dividends in extending the life of your automobile:
1. Oil 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.
2. Use your parking brake – 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? 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 will thank you.
3. Roll shifting – In an automatic transmission equipped vehicle, the 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 transmission rebuild.
4. 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 driveline. 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 successfully.
5. Allowing your fuel tank to run dry - How many of you try to run the fuel level to the minimum so as not to mix old and new fuel? Many do not realize just how much damage can occur from allowing a tank to run low or dry. To begin with, when fuel is pumped from a relatively dry tank, the possibility of more oxygen, moisture, and deposits making their way into the fuel line increases. This can also shorten the life of your fuel filter. Running the tank low runs the risk of overheating the tank’s fuel pump, which uses the fuel as a coolant. My advice is to never allow the tank to be less than one third full at any given time.
6. Using the wrong soap to clean your car – Does this shock you? It should not. Many people view a car’s paint job as nothing more than a pretty, finishing touch. The reality of the matter is paint is commonly the most expensive single step in the automotive assembly process and at resale time, a top-notch finish can add up to 20% in value. Despite this, many people still use dishwashing detergent to clean their car. In addition to stripping away dirt and grime, dish washing detergents taking a tiny bit of your clearcoat with it. Continuous exposure to abrasive detergents can leave your finish dull and vulnerable to paint chips. So spend an extra buck or two and purchase a cleaner designed to protect clearcoats. If you wax your car, and you should, choose a cleaner that is manufactured by the same company that produces your wax of choice. It is likely that the two substances have been tested together and will perform better.
7. Stop and go traffic – Everybody knows that stop and go is bad for your car, but few people seem to take any steps to counteract the effects. Heavy stop and go action causes accelerated wear on the engine, fuel system, brakes, and suspension. You cannot prevent this wear, but you may be able to slow its degradation on your car simply with less aggressive driving. Launch/dive action kills your suspension so go easy from light to light. If an off ramp is approaching and the lane is clear behind you, take your foot off the gas and coast. It might be a little slow going, but it will extend the life of your brakes. Cheerfully allow other drivers to merge before you. Why harm your throttle linkage with exaggerated changes in speed? In addition, you may find, that by adopting a mellower attitude with your car, you may arrive to work with a more positive outlook, yourself.
8. Improper warm-up – Thirty years ago, the average American family had to consider watching television four or five minutes before their favorite show was to air to allow proper warm up time for the TV set. Television sets no longer need the same consideration and neither do cars. Many people let their car idle for five or ten minutes before use to prevent improper wear. The ideology is correct, but the practice is flawed. Indeed, damage occurs in the first few moments that an engine is running. This is why it is extremely important to start the car and get moving immediately. With modern cars, the faster you can get the engine up to its proper operating temperature, the better. The way to get that temperature up quickly is to drive the car. Therein lies the tricky part, though. Until the car is up to that ideal temperature, it is important to drive with extreme care. That means gentle acceleration, restrained steering maneuvers, and careful braking. Let the car shift nice and early. If you have a car equipped with a manual transmission, it is a good idea to allow five to ten seconds of warm-up with the car in neutral, just to ensure that proper lubrication gets into the gears. With the exception of this, I say start her up and get going – but with care.
9. Starting the car – Starting the car provides the means for damage to occur to vital parts. So, try to exercise a bit of foresight by avoiding unnecessary movement and starting/restarting. If you go to a party, try not to block anyone in so that you will not have to move to let them out. Try to get the car straight in a parking space the first time so that secondary repositioning is not necessary. You have to start your car; there is no way around it if you want to get your money’s worth on the road. Just try to think to yourself when shutting it off, will I be moving it again in an hour when Larry makes a run to the store for chips and salsa?
10. Reactive maintenance – With cars, that old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” saying can be costly. By the time the driver realizes that something is functioning improperly, the malfunction may have already caused other damage that can, in time, create new problems. My advice is to make a preventive maintenance schedule and stick with it. I would suggest regularly checking tire pressure, changing the oil and all the filters (air and fuel included). Check all of the fluids, keep battery terminals clean, and monitor the corrosion on your spark plugs at least once a year (clean and replace them as necessary). Finally, check your engine thermostat periodically. They can break or become clogged, which will cause improper cooling and leave you on the side of the road. A few moments of your time here and there may add up to a very trouble free relationship with your car.
