Some repairs are normal as your car ages. But if your car frequently has problems despite regular and up-to-date maintenance, you may have driving habits that are damaging your vehicle, and you may not even be aware of it.

To help you fix the problem, we’ve rounded up some bad driving habits that you need to stop doing today:

Avoid These Bad Driving Habits That Damage Your Car

Are you making these bad driving habits? Here are some small changes you can start making today to prolong the life of your car and prevent costly and untimely repairs and replacements.

You often run your fuel tank low.

Your vehicle’s fuel pump should always be filled with fuel to work efficiently. Fuel serves as a coolant and lubricant to the fuel pump, and letting the fuel run dry is damaging your vehicle’s fuel pump. It causes excessive wear and tears to the pump, which can then lead to failure and, later on, a costly replacement.

To keep your fuel tank running smoothly, make it a habit to refill the tank before it reaches a critically low level.

Keeping your hand on the gearstick.

Placing one hand on the steering and the other hand on the gearstick seems like a natural and convenient thing to do when you’re driving. It has become an unconscious habit for most of us, and perhaps you’re thinking, it can’t be that bad for my car, can it?

The truth is, resting your hand on the gearstick places extra pressure on the gearbox and increases the wear on your transmission’s bushings and synchronizers. To avoid this problem from happening, make sure to keep both hands on the stering wheel at all times and shift only when it is needed.

Revving Up A Cold Engine.

If you have the habit of revving up a cold engine to get it warm faster,  you should stop this immediately.

Revving the engine when cold puts a lot of extra stress on the engine components, causing additional wear and tear and significantly reducing the life of your engine.

To avoid potential damage and excessive wear and tear to your engine components, don’t rev your engine too high when the components and fluids haven’t warmed up yet. After starting your engine, give it time to warm up first while idling, and then drive gently until it is warmed up.

Resting your foot on the clutch pedal for long periods.

During a traffic jam, it seems only natural to rest your foot on the clutch while waiting for the traffic to move. It seems like a harmless habit, but in truth, resting your foot on the clutch and keeping it engaged for too long can lead to excessive wear to the clutch plates.

After changing gears, we recommend taking your foot off the pedal and using the dedicated off-clutch footrest if your car has one.

Frequently slamming your brakes. 

Frequent sudden stops can put a strain on your brake components and causes severe wear and tear. It can also cause uneven wear and a flat spot on your tires and significantly reduce your fuel economy. More importantly, hard braking can cause accidents and injuries, not only to you and your passengers but also to other people and vehicles around you.

Avoid slamming on your brakes too fast or too hard unless it’s necessary. Instead, gradually accelerate and decelerate your car slowly using engine braking.

Looking for an auto repair shop in Evanston, Wilmette, or Northbrook? HEART Auto Care is a local auto repair shop that cares about you and your vehicle. Contact us today to learn more about our auto repair services and how we can help you save on costly repairs.