3 Tips For Operating Your Vehicle More Gently
Because purchasing a car is likely one of the biggest investments you’re going to make in your life, it only makes sense that you would want to take the best care of it that you possibly could. However, many people don’t realize that their daily driving habits are often causing a lot of stress and damage to their vehicle. Luckily, by just changing a few simple habits, you can be much more gentle on your car and have its life prolonged. To show you how, here are three tips for operating your vehicle more gently.
The Right Way To Warm Up Your Engine
If you live in a climate that gets cold during certain seasons, you’ve likely been in a situation where you get into your car in the cold and have wanted to wait for it to warm up. And while many people think that it’s best to let the car warm up completely before driving it, Patrick E. George, a contributor to How Stuff Works, shares that this isn’t the best way to warm up your engine. Rather than letting your car sit and waste energy and emit more toxic gases, you should really only let your car sit idle for about a minute or two before you begin driving it. Until it’s fully warmed, drive gently without working the engine too hard, which will be about five minutes or so of driving.
Go Easy On Your Brakes
Another part of your car that you should consider going easy on is your brakes. According to CarTalk.com, although braking gently won’t actually cause your brake pads to last any longer than normal, it will cause less stress and damage on almost all other parts of your car. When your tires stop quickly, the rest of your vehicle wants to keep moving forward. This can cause a lot of stress on other car parts, especially those in your suspension system. So if you don’t have to jump on your brakes, do what you can to come to a slower stop on a more regular basis.
Keep An Eye On Your Tire Pressure
One area of a vehicle that people often overlook is their tire pressure. While many people notice if they get a flat tire or their tires become bald, checking the actual pressure of your tires isn’t something that’s done as often as it should be. According to Peter Valdes-Dapena, a contributor to CNN Money, you should check the pressure before you’ve been driving in the morning. This will give you a reading when your tire is at its coldest, which can cause your tires to lose pressure. So especially if you live in an area with big temperature fluctuations, make sure you’re checking your tire pressure regularly.
If you’re interested in knowing how to prolong the life of your car, use the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.
Author: Anna Johansson