What are the top daily driving tips that’ll keep you out of the shop?
We all want our cars to last as long as possible. No one wants to be at the mechanic shop every other month because your vehicle just can’t handle what you throw at it. And we can throw a lot at our cars.
The nice thing is, a few changes to your daily driving habits can actually make a big difference when it comes to keeping your car running as it should.
Top 5 Daily Driving Tips
1. Keep your driving smooth.
Your behaviour behind the wheel can save you a bunch on maintenance. When you take it slow and don’t put your car through the wringer, your car parts last longer. For example, if you’re constantly waiting until the very last minute to stop, your brakes are going to take a beating. Instead, start breaking earlier to give them a break (no pun intended). Not only is smooth driving better for your car long term, it’s also safer.
2. Stay away from potholes.
This is especially important now, with the snow all but gone. That spring thaw can really do a number on our roads, and those roads can do a number on your alignment and suspension. Repeatedly hitting those bumps can damage your tires and have you coming to see us about the way your car feels when you’re driving it way sooner than normal. The same goes for train tracks. As long as it’s safe to avoid them, keep your car on level ground.
3. Come to a full stop before reversing.
If you ever took Driver’s Ed, you probably heard this more than once. However, if you’ve developed the bad habit of not quite stopping before you shift from drive to reverse, you’re giving your transmission more than it can handle. This can lead to transmission failure over time, so try to come to a kpm of 0 before shifting those gears.
Make sure you’re also doing the same thing when you put your car in park. When you put your car in park without stopping completely, you are doing damage, little by little, day by day.
4. Take it easy.
Let your car warm up in cold weather and try not to run it for short trips only. Your car takes time to get with the program, so try to plan out everything and take it slow when you first start out.
5. Slow and steady wins the race.
Just as you want the car to warm up a bit and get the engine moving, you don’t want to just turn on the ignition and drive it like you’re on a Nascar track right out of the gate. Take those first few kms easy and give your car time to get to its normal operating temperature before you hit the ground running.
Most of us need our cars to get us from point A to point B without any problems, and that’s so much more realistic if we treat them right. These daily driving tips are a great way to keep you car in tip top shape and running like it should for much longer.
But, if you’ve denied your car the TLC it needs, or if you’re just concerned about a noise it’s making that you don’t think it should be, call us. We can help diagnose the issue and get you back on track. CSR Automotive is here for you!
