Every driver wants their car to last—but many of us unknowingly develop habits that chip away at the health of our vehicle over time. Even if your car feels fine today, the way you drive day to day can impact its performance, fuel efficiency, and long-term reliability. The good news? Small adjustments to your habits can make a big difference.
Here are six common driving behaviors that quietly cause damage and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Riding the Brakes Downhill
Keeping your foot lightly on the brake pedal while driving downhill might seem like a good way to stay in control, but it generates excessive heat in your brake system. Over time, this can wear out your brake pads faster and even warp your rotors. Instead, shift into a lower gear to let engine braking help slow the car and tap the brakes periodically rather than continuously.
2. Accelerating Too Hard While the Engine Is Cold
Jumping into your car and hitting the gas right after starting it on a cold morning can lead to long-term engine wear. When the engine is cold, oil hasn’t fully circulated yet. Revving it up too soon can cause internal parts to wear down faster. Give your car a minute or two to idle before driving off, and take it easy for the first few minutes—especially in colder weather.
3. Ignoring Strange Noises or Warning Lights
If your car starts making odd sounds—like clunking, grinding, or whining—it’s trying to tell you something’s wrong. The same goes for dashboard warning lights. Waiting until a problem becomes severe will often cost more to fix and might leave you stranded. Listening to your car and addressing issues early helps preserve the rest of your vehicle.
4. Resting Your Hand on the Gear Shifter
This one surprises a lot of drivers. If you drive a manual transmission, keeping your hand on the gear shifter may feel natural—but it can put constant pressure on the shift fork inside the transmission. Over time, that pressure can lead to internal wear and shorten the life of your transmission components. Once you’re in gear, it’s best to keep both hands on the wheel.
5. Driving on Low Fuel
Running your gas tank near empty regularly doesn’t just risk leaving you stranded—it also wears out your fuel pump. The fuel in your tank acts as a coolant for the pump, so when levels get low, the pump runs hotter and works harder. Letting it run on fumes too often can shorten the life of this essential component. Try to refill when you reach a quarter tank instead of waiting for the warning light.
6. Slamming Over Potholes and Speed Bumps
Quickly rolling over potholes or bouncing over speed bumps doesn’t just jolt your suspension—it can damage your tires, misalign your wheels, and even bend undercarriage components. Always slow down for rough patches and take speed bumps at a reasonable pace. Your suspension, wheels, and passengers will thank you.
Complete Auto Repair – Protecting Your Car in Bremerton, WA
If your driving habits have caught up with your car, bring it to
Complete Auto Repair in Bremerton, WA. Whether it’s brake wear, alignment issues, or check engine lights, our team can assess the damage, offer smart solutions, and help you develop better driving habits to keep your vehicle running at its best.
