Parking in Direct Sun Constantly
While you might enjoy the sun, chances are good that you neglected your car’s UV protection. You’d be surprised by how much it can damage a vehicle; it ages your interior prematurely, causes dashboards to crack and even fades your paintwork.
Neglecting Wheel Alignments
Does your car really need to have its wheels aligned? The short answer is “yes,” it’s not something garages add onto your bill to make a quick buck. An off alignment causes uneven wear on your tires and makes vehicle handling significantly worse.
Skipping Oil Changes
Changing oil is one of those things that doesn’t seem too important in the short term, but skipping on the process can cause issues in the long run. Dirty oil becomes sludge, and that will destroy your car if you leave it unchecked.
Short Trips Only
It may sound counter-intuitive, but if you limit your vehicle to quick trips, you’re actually causing more harm than good. Your ride needs exercise! Kind of. Basically, if your engine never warms up fully the oil remains thick which can damage internal mechanisms quicker.
Low Tire Pressure
Low pressure is sometimes a good thing, but not for tires! It causes uneven wear across them, which does a couple of things: it can stress out your car’s suspension and negatively affect your fuel economy (which in turn hurts your bank balance).
Overinflated Tires
Overinflation is also bad for your tires - you need that Goldilocks factor. Inflate them too much and your wheels will get worn in the middle, which has a knock-on effect with traction. You’ll be wobbling around more than jello on a bounce house.
Ignoring Dashboard Lights
Admittedly some cars can be oversensitive when it comes to alerts, but you should never ignore a dashboard light when it’s trying to get your attention. They exist for a reason, so there’s probably an issue that needs addressing - even if it’s just a simple fix.
Riding the Brakes
Even if you’re only exerting enough pressure to keep your brake on a tiny bit, you’re inflicting harm on your car. That’s because the system will retain heat, which damages internal parts - you have worn pads and warped rotors to look forward to.
Hard Stops and Starts
You’re not a getaway driver (presumably), so you don’t need to stamp on those pedals quite so hard! You’re damaging the transmission, but also the engine - and don’t even get us started on the brake! Despite its name, you don’t want it broken.
Leaving Bird Poop or Tree Sap
Some things are inevitable in life, and poop is one of them - though to be more specific, we’re talking about bird droppings. It might seem harmless (if a little icky), but it contains acids that will eat away at the paint on your car over time. Tree sap is similarly bad for it.
Not Washing Salt Off in Winter
Salting roads is a necessity when winter rolls round, especially when ice begins to make the roads dangerous. However, it infiltrates your car through the tires and flicks up into your undercarriage, causing rust if you leave it to linger - enough to make you salty.
Revving the Engine When Cold
Sure, it’s hard to start a car when the weather turns bitter, but whatever you do, don’t rev your engine like you’re in a racing flick! Your vehicle’s oil needs time to warm up; all you’re doing is screeching internal mechanisms together and making your car cry.
Using Cheap Fuel Instead of Premium
There’s a reason that certain vehicles need higher quality fuel types, and it’s not to drain you of your precious cash. If you opt for cheaper fuel alternatives when your vehicle needs premium, it causes engine knock, reducing performance and inflicting wear over time.
Ignoring Strange Noises
Your car should be a well-oiled machine, so you shouldn’t ignore that noise you’re hearing. It might not seem like a major issue in the short term, but damage can build up - and so can repair bills, until you’re left with a thousand-dollar parts repair.
Skipping Regular Maintenance
Vehicles don’t run forever (unless they’re Honda Civics), and even the most durable cars need some attention now and then. Regular maintenance can detect problems with fluids, belts and filters before they occur and save you money in the long run
Leaving Heavy Stuff in the Trunk
Ok, your car’s a big strong beast of a machine compared to us squishy humans, but it still doesn’t like piling on the pounds! We’re talking junk in the trunk. Leaving heavy objects in there causes added strain on your suspension and extra fuel burn you don’t need.
Resting Your Hand on the Gearshift (Manual)
This only applies if you’ve got a manual transmission, but do you leave your hand on the gearshift? Whether you realize it or not, you’re putting extra pressure on the shift fork which can actually cause more wear and tear on the transmission.
Using the Wrong Oil or Fluids
Just like you wouldn’t put any old blood type into a transfusion patient, the lifesblood of your car isn’t interchangeable! Applying incompatible fluid and oil can cause bad lubrication in your vehicle’s works, overheat parts and leave your vehicle metaphorically gasping.
Overloading the Car
Even if it’s just for a short trip, you shouldn’t overfill your car. The more you do it, the more stress you’re putting on the suspension, and the last thing you need is your brakes giving up the ghost in the middle of a busy road.
Using Mismatched Tires
There’s a reason they make tires for certain models - they’re not interchangeable! And while you might feel it looks cool to have a car that’s got different wheels to match your odd pair of socks, having them even slightly different sizes can cause all kinds of problems.
Skipping Timing Belt Replacement
Timing belts are perishable components, and you don’t want yours perishing at an inconvenient (or dangerous) moment. Make sure they’re replaced in a timely fashion - if they snap, your engine will scatter pistons like tears, and you’ll be the guest of honor at the pity party.
Hitting Potholes and Curbs
Poorly maintained highways and blacktops aren’t your responsibility - unless it’s your job - but you will pay the price if you hit a pothole or get overly enthusiastic with curb proximity while parking. Tires get damaged, alignment shifts and your suspension won’t forgive the abuse.
Letting Wipers Wear Out
Do you enjoy letting a cat scratch you? If you do, that’s not the best example, but the point remains that a worn windshield wiper is torturous on your car’s protective glass. Replace them before that happens, or it’s gonna leave a mark!
Ignoring Fluid Leaks
If there’s a mysterious puddle forming around your car, don’t pretend you can’t see it. Your vehicle’s crying for a reason! It could be tears of coolant or even brake fluid, but either way you’ll share the misery when the real problem floods in.
Neglecting Air Filters
Who needs air, right? Well, most living things, and surprisingly your car does, too! It needs the filters, anyway. Letting them get caked in dirt will impact your vehicle’s performance, making it move like a snail and giving you less miles per gallon.
Driving on Low Fuel Constantly
When your car’s running on fumes, it needs a top up quickly - bad things can happen if it's gasping for too long. Sediment collects at the bottom of your gas tank, which infiltrates your fuel system like a nasty ninja and blocks up your fuel system.
Idling Excessively
If you’re in a rush to get somewhere, you probably leave the engine idling, right? Don’t do it! You’re putting undue stress on your car. It wastes gas and the ensuing carbon deposits will build up, potentially clogging your engine.
Using Windshield Wiper Fluid as Coolant
Although it’s not something we should have to state, there have been instances when people substitute coolant for windshield wiper fluid. Just in case you were considering it, just… don’t. It will ruin your car. Vehicle fluids are not interchangeable.
Slamming Doors
Car doors don’t actually need that much pressure to close, so slamming them really isn’t necessary. What it actually does is ruins causes internal damage to your vehicle, shunting wires around, dislodging sensors and loosening the trim. Let go of your anger!
Letting Battery Terminals Corrode
If you see some nasty fuzz appearing on your battery terminals? That’s corrosion, and it’s bad. Get them looked at as soon as possible, because it can impact your vehicle’s connection to its power supply, and when that goes, you don’t go anywhere.
Driving With the Fuel Cap Loose/Missing
There’s a reason that your fuel inlet has a cap on, and it’s not for aesthetics. If your check engine light is on, it could mean your fuel cap is loose or even gone, which causes gas evaporation and hits your emissions system hard.
Ignoring Faded or Cracked Belts
When your car screams at you, there’s usually a reason for it, and a tortured belt is a likely reason why. When one becomes faded or cracked, you need to get it replaced ASAP or risk breaking down at the side of the road.
Driving With Bad Suspension
Your vehicle’s suspension plays a key role in supporting your vehicle, and if something knocks it out of whack, it needs to be addressed. Potential problems include bad alignment and damaged tires, but it can also harm you too - suspension absorbs shock, including any that might affect your spine.
Using Water Instead of Coolant
It might be a cool liquid, but water doesn’t make a good coolant! It rusts the internal systems of your car, and we don’t need to tell you that’s bad.
Neglecting the Undercarriage
When it comes to car cleaning, don’t forget the underside of your vehicle! Sure, people can’t see under it, but it needs maintenance just the same. Rust can form here unnoticed, and then you’ve got a problem.
