9 bad habits that make your car wear out faster.

Like many other machines and items, our cars also have the characteristic of "durability depends on the owner." This means that if the car is operated correctly, maintained, and cared for regularly, it will always look new and last a long time. Conversely, careless use and lack of knowledge will cause the car to wear out and break down quickly.

According to some automotive experts, many people, even those who have been driving for decades, still have driving habits that are harmful to their vehicles and can even cause serious safety hazards. Therefore, if you are engaging in any of the following habits, you need to adjust them immediately.

Let the fuel tank get too empty.

Many drivers nowadays have a habit of waiting until the fuel gauge reaches the "red line" before refueling. However, according to experts, letting the fuel level get too low can damage the fuel pump system.

The reason is that most modern cars have a fuel pump located inside the fuel tank, cooled by the fuel itself. Continuously low fuel levels will cause the pump to overheat and operate less efficiently.

This can lead to serious problems, such as a sudden fuel pump failure, leaving the vehicle stranded and incurring significant towing and repair costs. Experts advise that drivers should find a gas station to refuel as soon as the fuel tank is about 1/4 full.

Regularly driving with a nearly empty fuel tank is also not good because the fuel at the bottom of the tank often contains sediment. Prolonging this situation for several days can cause these impurities to clog the fuel filter and lines, leading to costly repairs.

To keep your fuel pump in good condition, you should always keep the tank at least a quarter full. If your car is used infrequently, you should fill it at least halfway to minimize rust.

Start the engine, shift into gear, and drive off immediately.

Many people, perhaps due to haste or habit, often get in their car, start the engine, shift into gear, and drive off immediately. However, this is a very bad habit that will harm the engine.

Automotive engineers explain that after a period of "rest," the engine oil settles to the bottom. If you shift gears and drive immediately after starting the engine, this oil doesn't reach all the parts evenly, while the engine has to work at high RPMs, leading to overheating and wear on internal components.

Experts recommend starting the engine and letting it idle for about 30 seconds to 1 minute to allow the oil to circulate evenly throughout the engine before engaging gear and driving.

Rest your arm on the gear shift while driving.

Some drivers habitually rest their hand on the gear lever to shift gears faster, especially with manual transmissions. However, this habit can damage the components of the gearbox because the weight of the driver's hand pressing on the gear lever is transmitted to the gears inside the gearbox, causing them to wear out and be damaged quickly.

This is also a completely bad habit because in unexpected situations, drivers won't have time to reach the steering wheel to steer; and in their panic, they might accidentally shift to a different gear, which is very dangerous.

Drivers can break this bad habit by regularly keeping both hands on the steering wheel. This will reduce damage to the gearbox and help them handle situations more quickly and safely.

Unexpectedly shifting into forward gear while the car is reversing.

Many drivers, to save time when reversing, often shift into forward gear (gear 1 for manual transmissions and D for automatic transmissions) even before the car has come to a complete stop. Such sudden gear changes are a major cause of damage to the car's transmission.

According to automotive engineers, suddenly forcing the transmission system to change direction while it's still in reverse will cause the gears and shafts to degrade rapidly, potentially leading to transmission failure. Therefore, only shift from reverse to forward gear and vice versa when the vehicle has come to a complete stop.

Ignore the warning symbols on the dashboard.

We need to understand that a car is a modern machine, and the warning lights on the dashboard don't just light up randomly; they only illuminate when your car is experiencing some kind of problem. There are many types of warning lights, such as: check engine, parking brake warning, airbag warning, power steering warning, temperature warning, oil pressure warning, etc.

While some warnings may not be urgent or pose an immediate danger to driving, ignoring them over a long period could very well cost you a significant amount of money in repair costs.

Therefore, when you notice any warning light on the dashboard, you should address it immediately or take it to a reputable garage for diagnosis and timely repair.

Apply the brakes gently when descending a hill.

Brakes are a component that helps reduce speed in sudden situations and should be used as little as possible. When brakes are used continuously at high speeds, the high inertia and friction can cause the brake discs and pads to burn, leading to brake failure. Additionally, due to working under high pressure, the hydraulic system may become ineffective.

Therefore, when descending a mountain pass, absolutely avoid continuous braking; instead, slow down by using the appropriate gear. For manual transmissions, follow the principle of "use the same gear going down as going up," while for automatic transmissions, you can shift to a lower gear (L, L1, L2,... depending on the vehicle).

Do not slow down when going over potholes.

Driving over potholes or speed bumps at high speed not only damages tires, shock absorbers, and the chassis, but also makes things uncomfortable for those in the vehicle.

Many expensive SUVs suffer tire blowouts due to potholes, causing danger, wasted time, and financial losses. Therefore, when driving on rough roads, drive very slowly. Drivers should also observe and proactively swerve or reduce speed when encountering potholes or other obstacles.

Turn the steering wheel all the way, turn the steering wheel completely.

"Lock steering" refers to turning the steering wheel while the vehicle is stationary, with the wheels not rotating but still moving to the right or left. Frequent lock steering can damage the steering system because it forces the power steering pump, steering rack, ball joints, etc., to operate at a high level due to the large friction force.

Furthermore, sudden steering maneuvers cause rapid tire wear because the front tires create sliding friction with the road surface instead of rolling friction. If you accidentally steer over rocks or sharp objects, you could even puncture a tire. Therefore, you should practice steering accurately, especially when reversing; develop the habit of stopping steering when the car comes to a complete stop, and avoid steering while the car is still moving.

Additionally, when turning or making a U-turn, avoid turning the steering wheel all the way, as this can cause a drop in pressure in the power steering pump and damage it if done frequently. Therefore, if you are using a hydraulic power steering vehicle, instead of turning the steering wheel all the way, release the steering wheel slightly to prolong the lifespan of the power steering pump.

Neglecting to use the parking brake when parking.

According to automotive experts, for automatic cars, even when parking on a flat surface and in P mode, it is still advisable to use the parking brake.

In principle, when parking, the entire weight of the car is concentrated on a very small, finger-sized part called the parking pawl. This part is very prone to wear and breakage, so engaging the parking brake helps to assist and extend the lifespan of this pawl.

Experts recommend the following steps when parking an automatic car: Press the brake pedal to bring the car to a complete stop, engage the parking brake, then shift the gear lever from D to P, and only then turn off the engine.

In addition to the habits mentioned above that should be abandoned immediately, experts also advise taking your car for regular maintenance and using fluids such as engine oil, power steering fluid, brake fluid, coolant, etc., according to the manufacturer's recommendations. At the same time, always keep your car clean both inside and out.