Bad Driving Habits to Avoid

At Beachler’s Tire & Automotive we are fanatical advocates about vehicle maintenance and getting the most value out of your vehicle through preventative care.  In addition to preventative maintenance there are some bad driving habits that can cause unnecessary and accelerated wear on your vehicle.  Understanding how daily driving habits impact the health of your vehicle can be just as important as scheduled oil changes and tune-ups. 

Let’s explore the driving behaviors that could be shortening your vehicle’s life and costing you thousands in unnecessary repairs.

Riding the Brakes

That habit of keeping your foot lightly pressed on the brake pedal, especially when driving downhill, is more damaging than you might think. Constant brake pressure generates excessive heat, causing premature wear to brake pads and rotors. Over time, this can lead to warped rotors, reduced braking efficiency, and even complete brake failure.

Instead, practice engine braking by downshifting on declines and maintaining a safe distance from vehicles ahead so you won’t need to ride the brakes. Your brake system will last significantly longer, potentially saving hundreds in unnecessary replacements.

The one exception to this rule is for electric vehicles.  Braking allows for regenerative braking battery charging.  The wear is less of a concern due to the tendency for electric vehicles to have much longer brake service life due to the natural braking function of the electric motors. 

Ignoring Warning Lights

That check engine light isn’t just an annoying orange glow on your dashboard. It’s your vehicle’s built in notification of problems that need your attention Modern vehicles have sophisticated diagnostic systems designed to catch problems early, but they only work if you pay attention.

When drivers ignore warning indicators, minor issues can cascade into major ones. For example, a simple oxygen sensor failure (a $200 fix) can lead to catalytic converter damage (a $1,500+ repair) if left unaddressed. Make it a habit to address warning lights promptly, even if the vehicle seems to be running fine.

Shifting to Drive While Still Rolling Backward

The momentary convenience of shifting from reverse to drive while your car is still moving backward puts tremendous strain on your transmission. This habit forces transmission components to suddenly counteract the vehicle’s momentum, creating premature wear on the transmission bands, clutches, and other internal parts.

Always come to a complete stop before changing directions. This simple habit could mean the difference between a transmission that lasts the life of your vehicle and one that fails prematurely.

Resting Hand on Gear Shift

If you drive a manual transmission, keeping your hand on the gear shift might feel natural, but this habit applies constant pressure to shift forks inside the transmission. These components weren’t designed for continual force, and over time, this pressure can cause premature wear and misalignment.

Keep both hands on the steering wheel unless you’re actively changing gears. Your transmission will thank you with years of trouble-free operation.

Overloading the Vehicle

Regularly exceeding your vehicle’s weight capacity puts excessive stress on nearly every system. Your suspension, brakes, engine, transmission, and even frame can suffer when consistently pushed beyond their design limits.

Heavy loads force these components to work harder, generating more heat and accelerating wear. Additionally, an overloaded vehicle burns more fuel and handles poorly, creating safety concerns. Check your vehicle’s door jamb sticker for weight limitations and respect these guidelines to preserve your vehicle’s structural integrity and mechanical systems.

Outside of reliability concerns this is a huge safety hazard.  Exceeding the load capacity can result in significantly reduced braking distance leading to increased accident risk.  Keep in mind just because it fits in the bed of your truck doesn’t mean it should.

Aggressive Acceleration and Braking

Repeated drag race starts and last-minute braking might make driving feel more exciting, but these habits are brutal on your vehicle. Aggressive acceleration demands maximum output from your engine, transmission, and drivetrain, increasing wear on these expensive components.

Similarly, hard braking generates excessive heat and friction, leading to premature brake wear. According to studies by the U.S. Department of Energy aggressive driving can reduce fuel economy by up to 40% while dramatically shortening the lifespan of critical components. Adopting a smoother driving style preserves your vehicle while improving fuel economy.

Cold Weather Hard Driving

Firing up your engine and immediately driving off on cold mornings forces cold, thick oil to lubricate engine components before it has properly circulated. In freezing temperatures, this can increase engine wear by up to 10 times during those first critical minutes.

Allow your engine 30-60 seconds of idle time in cold weather (longer in extreme cold) before driving gently for the first few minutes. This gives the oil time to reach operating temperature and properly lubricate vital components, preventing accelerated wear during winter months.  Many modern cars have built-in RPM controls until the engine oil is sufficiently warmed up, but don’t rely on this.  Drive with care when cold for the best life out of your engine.

Driving on Empty

Using your fuel tank’s “reserve” capacity as a regular driving range is a costly habit. The fuel pump in most vehicles relies on gasoline for cooling and lubrication. When you frequently run near empty, the pump can draw in sediment from the bottom of the tank and operate without adequate cooling. Maintain your tank above a quarter full to maximize fuel pump life and avoid inconvenient breakdowns.  Following this guideline also gives you a larger margin of safety if you get stuck in a traffic jam or unexpected storm.

Conclusion

The way you drive matters just as much as regular maintenance when it comes to your vehicle’s longevity. By eliminating these harmful habits, you can significantly extend your car’s useful life while avoiding thousands in unnecessary repairs.

Think of these adjustments as an investment. The small effort required to change driving behaviors pays dividends through fewer repairs, better reliability, and a vehicle that retains more of its value over time. Your driving habits today determine your repair bills tomorrow.At Beachler’s Tire & Automotive we are here to help get you the most out of your vehicle.  Call us at (309) 688-2488 or Schedule Online for all of your vehicle needs.