Three habits we have at the wheel that wear out our car

Day to day, we get behind the wheel of our car and pick up certain driving habits that are part of the learning we absorb through experience. But many of the things we do, without even being aware that we do them, can be problematic for our car and even lead to a significant breakdown in the mechanics.

These are small gestures that seem to matter little, and that we repeat every time we use the car, without thinking about the consequences they may have. Let’s review these acquired habits, to see whether you are one of those who does them without realising it, and so avoid putting the car under unnecessary strain and stress, preventing easily avoidable breakdowns from appearing. Shall we begin?

Resting your hand on the gear lever

This is surely one of the things we tend to do. When we drive, we sometimes leave our hand resting on the gear lever, and without noticing, we apply a slight downward pressure. This doesn’t matter much if it’s done once, or twice, or even ten times. But the presence of that extra stress on the gearbox can mean the components inside receive that extra load for a long time, and wear accelerates.

With this habit we are shortening the service life of those moving parts in the gearbox, which can eventually lead to having to replace them, causing considerable expense. Hands should always be on the steering wheel, not only to avoid that unhelpful gesture, but because driving safety depends on the control we have over the vehicle’s path. So there you have it: don’t let go of the wheel unless it’s necessary!

Driving over speed bumps at excessive speed

Speed bumps on the roads are a real problem. Often they are small strips of plastic or rubber reminding us that we should slow down, but in other cases they are genuine raised humps that make the car suffer more than necessary. Moreover, they may be poorly signposted, hard to see, and suddenly we find ourselves facing these mounds that cause the shock absorbers to take an impact we don’t expect.

The best approach, always, is to respect the speed limit, especially on urban roads. Driving at a reduced speed, the bump can be crossed without problems and without compromising the car’s suspension. It is even better to reduce speed considerably and cross these deterrents very slowly. Our car will appreciate it, and our wallet surely will too.

Keeping your foot on the clutch

In the pedal area there is an element we should use whenever we can. It is the footrest beside the clutch. It serves to keep the foot at rest, as its name suggests, and avoid resting it on the clutch pedal. As with the gear lever, keeping the foot on the clutch pedal means it receives constant tension. I stress that this doesn’t cause immediate damage, but doing it for a long time can wear this part of the mechanism and mean we have to visit the workshop much sooner than necessary.

Besides, it’s not only the car that suffers: the leg is kept under tension and can even cause an injury. The force exerted when keeping the foot on the clutch is not advisable, because it forces an unnatural position, and this can also take its toll on the driver.

Alongside these habits, which are not advisable at all, there are many others that you will surely be able to identify and correct to improve not only the integrity of your car but also your own, and even your health. It is important to maintain responsible, efficient and, above all, safe driving!

Photos | Flickr