In this article we look at how certain driving habits impact your vehicle’s health and what you can do to reduce stress on its key components.
Are your driving habits causing avoidable wear and tear?
Keeping your car reliable shouldn’t feel like an uphill battle. But sometimes, it’s the small things, like how you drive each day, that can add up and cause unnecessary wear and tear on your vehicle.
Making a few adjustments to your driving style could be all it takes to avoid unexpected repair bills and keep your car on the road for longer.
Driving habits that can damage your car
Rapid acceleration and sudden braking
It can be tempting to accelerate quickly, especially when you’re in a rush or merging onto busy roads. But aggressive acceleration puts immense strain on your engine and transmission, increasing wear on crucial parts like pistons, cylinders, and the clutch.
Sudden braking does similar damage, wearing down your brake pads and discs prematurely and putting stress on the braking system.
Driving habit upgrade: Ease into your acceleration and braking. Gradual pressure on the accelerator and brake pedal keeps your engine and brake components under less strain, saving you from early replacements and costly repairs.
Ignoring speed bumps and potholes
The suspension system in your car is designed to handle some rough terrain, but hitting speed bumps and potholes at high speeds can cause unnecessary damage. Repeated jolts like these can lead to worn-out shocks, struts, and even wheel misalignment, all of which are costly to repair.
Driving habit upgrade: Slow down when approaching speed bumps and avoid potholes wherever possible. This helps protect your suspension and tyres from avoidable damage and keeps your alignment intact.
Driving with low fuel levels
Running your car on low fuel regularly does more harm than you might think. When the fuel tank is nearly empty, sediment that’s settled at the bottom can get drawn into your engine, clogging fuel filters and potentially damaging the fuel pump. Repeated strain on these parts can mean an early replacement is on the cards.
Driving habit upgrade: Keep your fuel level above a quarter tank as a rule. Doing so keeps your fuel system cleaner and prevents clogging, helping your engine run smoother for longer.
Short journeys in cold weather
If you’re just hopping in your car for a short drive, especially on a cold day, your engine may not have time to reach its ideal operating temperature. This increases wear on the engine as it has to work harder and consume more fuel to function efficiently. Over time, this habit can impact your car’s overall lifespan.
Driving habit upgrade: Where possible, combine short trips to allow your engine a proper warm-up and reach its optimal temperature. If you frequently drive short distances, consider an occasional longer journey to keep your engine in good shape.
Ignoring warning lights
You might think some warning lights are just minor alerts, but ignoring them can lead to major issues down the line. Whether it’s the check engine light or oil pressure warning, these indicators are there for a reason and often signal the start of a bigger problem.
Driving habit upgrade: Don’t ignore warning lights. A quick diagnostic check can help catch issues early before they escalate. At VFR Motor Services, we offer thorough diagnostics to get to the root of any warning light, saving you from surprise repairs.
Heavy loads and overloading
Constantly carrying heavy loads in your vehicle or overloading it can cause extra strain on the suspension, brakes, and even the tyres. This added weight wears these components faster, reducing their lifespan and increasing the likelihood of breakdowns.
Driving habit upgrade: Pack only what you need and avoid overloading your car. Doing so will keep your suspension and brake components in better condition, which means fewer trips to the garage.
Hard cornering and sharp turns
Taking corners at high speeds or making sharp turns adds stress to your tyres and suspension. This can cause premature wear on the tread and increase the chances of suspension-related issues, which are not cheap to fix.
Driving habit upgrade: Approach turns and corners more gradually. Not only does this help extend the life of your tyres and suspension, but it also enhances your safety, especially in wet or icy conditions.
Keep your car reliably reliable with VFR Motor Services
When it comes to car maintenance, simple changes in your driving habits can go a long way in protecting your vehicle from unnecessary wear and tear. But even the most cautious driver needs a reliable garage to ensure their car is in peak condition.
At VFR Motor Services, we specialise in comprehensive car servicing and diagnostics, tailored to help you keep your vehicle running smoothly, year after year. Book your service with us today and experience the difference that professional care and expert advice can make for your car’s reliability.
Call us on 0116 3190 118 or mobile 07850 881 911, or drop in for a chat at our friendly garage at on Shaftsbury Road, Leicester, LE3 0QN.
