Many drivers and car owners drive all their lives without actually knowing how cars work. They usually rely on the advice of their mechanic to know what they should and should not do, and this can lead to many issues. Some things might seem small at first glance, but go on to cause serious damage to a vehicle over time. This is why you need to learn a thing or two about how to use a vehicle responsibly and care for it. Here are some of the worst things you could ever do to a vehicle.
Let Dirt and Grime Accumulate
One of the worst things that you can do to a vehicle is not clean it. You need to clean your vehicle at least every two weeks. This is essential if you want your vehicle to keep looking nice, but the advantages are not only esthetic.
Dirt can end up causing widespread damage to a vehicle, especially the bottom of the doors, side panels, and the floor of the car. This is why you need to have the bottom of your vehicle and even your motor washed from time to time too.
If you don’t have the time to clean the vehicle by hand, you can always go to a car wash instead. If you’re looking for a great car wash, this car wash company is a great option. Sundance Carwash uses water jets, which are gentler than the brushes you’ll find at your average car wash. They also offer a service to deep clean the interior, something else that is important for preserving your vehicle.
Ignoring the ‘Check Engine’ Light
The ‘check engine’ light is something that pretty much everyone who drives a car has seen before. We’ve all seen the light come on and assumed that it’s not an emergency and that the car still has a few miles in it. However, this way of thinking can be a huge mistake. You simply have no way of knowing what’s going on, and while the issue could indeed be minor, it could also signify a bigger problem and lead to certain parts of your motor wearing down at a much faster rate. What was a minor issue when the light first turned on could turn into a disaster and put you multiple thousand dollars in the hole.
If the ‘check engine’ light appears, you need to not only have the vehicle checked immediately, but read the owner’s manual as well. That’s another thing a lot of drivers neglect, but you could learn so many things from it. One of the most important things you’ll learn from your owner’s manual is how often you need to replace the oil, which brings us to our next point.
Using Dirty Oil
Using dirty oil is one of the worst things you can do to a car’s engine. Oil serves as a lubricant for the motor. When the oil is of poor quality, or is dirty, it can lead to residue forming which will affect performance. More importantly, it will lead to more friction which can result in overheating. So do yourself a favor and have the oil changed after the recommended number of miles. And by recommended, we don’t mean what your friends or mechanic tell you. This number will differ depending on the vehicle, which is why checking your owner’s manual is so important.
Not Having the Right Tire Pressure
Not having the correct tire pressure is another one of the things that so many people neglect, but could end up costing them dearly. Vehicles are made and tested with a precise tire pressure range in mind, and when you run with underinflated tires, you end up putting yourself at risk.
The vehicle will be less stable and difficult to maneuver. It will also be more likely to puncture. Not only that but underinflated tires cause more drag, which means that you’ll end up spending much more on fuel. Invest in a good tire gauge and make sure that your tires are properly inflated at all times.
Low tire pressure also means that your suspension will receive most of the impact if you run into speed bumps or potholes. That’s a lot of damage and money spent for something that could be fixed easily.
Ignoring Signs of Rust
Rust is a silent killer and once you see signs, it usually means that it’s started to spread to other areas of the car. This is one of the worst types of damage a car can sustain and can become irreversible after a certain point. Small nicks that become rusty are usually not that bad, but if you see the paint bubbling, then it will need to be stripped, the area refilled, and a fresh coat will need to be applied.
These are some of the worst things you can do to a car. Avoiding these is only the first step, however, so learn how to take care of a vehicle properly and don’t cut corners.
