6 DRIVING HABITS THAT WRECK YOUR CAR AND DRAIN YOUR WALLET

The longer you own a car, the more driving habits you acquire. Unfortunately, not all of those habits are good ones. Moreover, the more experienced you become the harder it is to break them. Hopefully, this article will help you avoid dangerous situations and unnecessary expenses.

1. RESTING YOUR HAND ON THE MANUAL GEAR STICK
Many people have the habit of resting their hand on the gear stick while driving. This shouldn’t be done for several reasons, the most obvious being that you need both hands to steer. Another harmful effect is that such small, yet constant, pressure on the gearbox turns it into a kind of cocktail shaker, displacing synchronizers and gears. This, in turn, leads to problems with shifting gears.

2. REFUELING ONLY WHEN THE TANK IS ALMOST EMPTY
When your car is not in use, mechanical impurities accumulate in the fuel tank and sediment forms at the bottom. The dirt gets into the fuel pump and the filters, causing damage. During winter months, be sure to always leave the tank at least half-filled with fuel to avoid the formation of large amounts of condensate. In freezing conditions, the presence of water in the fuel tank can lead to its deformation and other problems.

3. FREQUENT BRAKING
If you keep braking unnecessarily, you’d better set aside a hefty sum for regular brake pad and disc replacements. To avoid unpleasant accidents, remember to promptly change the brake hoses and keep your eye on the brake fluid level.

4. IGNORING SUSPICIOUS SOUNDS
Slight creaking sounds and other unusual noises can indicate a malfunction. Many drivers tend to ignore these signs, and, as a result, their cars often break down in the middle of the road. If your car starts emitting unnatural sounds, be sure to run proper diagnostics to identify the problem and deal with it in time.

5. NEGLECTING TO USE THE HAND BRAKE
When you park a car with automatic transmission on a slope, the entire burden falls on the lock gear of the output shaft of the gearbox. To successfully park on an incline, hold the foot brake and shift into "park." Then pull the hand brake, and only then slowly release the brake.

6. RUNNING A COLD ENGINE AT HIGH REVS
Most modern engines don’t need warming up. But it is worth remembering that until the temperature gauge indicates operating temperature one shouldn’t run the engine at more than 2,000 revs.

Credit: autoblog