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Your driving style could have huge benefits, or disadvantages to your vehicle, and you might not even be aware of it.
There are plenty of driving habits that can affect your vehicle's reliability over time, and without even realising it, your driving could be damaging your car and causing unnecessary wear and tear.
"There are no such things a perfect driver, and we can all improve at least some aspects of our driving," says Barend Smit, Marketing Director of MotorHappy, a supplier of motor management solutions and car insurance options.
"However, if you love your car and you're trying to minimise the amount you spend on car maintenance, a few small changes to your driving habits could make all the difference."
Smit lists a few of these habits here:
1. Accelerating hard in a high gear
Driving in 5th or 6th gear and flooring the accelerator pedal causes a lot of strain on the engine and gearbox. Engine and gearbox mountings can break or loosen over time. To prevent this from happening, gear down a gear or two to bring the RPMs higher, which takes the hard strain off the vehicle.
2. Lightly braking for long periods
This is a common driving habit when motorists are decreasing their speed downhill. The vehicle requires extra braking force to stop; however, many motorists will slowly reduce their speed by resting their foot on the brake pedal all the way down the hill. This puts tremendous amounts of heat on the brakes, which causes them to wear a lot faster. To avoid this, you should brake slightly harder near the bottom of the hill.
3. Overloading your vehicle's weight capacity
All vehicles have a recommended weight capacity. When you're going on a long road trip or using the car for work purposes, be careful not to exceed the weight limit of the vehicle. The brakes, suspension, engine and gearbox suffer when you overload your vehicle.
Image: iStock
4. Shifting from Drive to Reverse when the vehicle has not come to a complete stop (automatics only)
An automatic vehicle requires a full stop before shifting between Reverse and Drive. Shifting gears before coming to a complete stop can cause wear and tear on the transmission band, clutch, and gearbox mountings. This means the vehicle could start having problems when trying to select the correct gear ratio resulting in an unpleasant gear change.
5. Hitting speed bumps and potholes at a high speed
If you don't slow down while driving over speed bumps and through potholes, you could cause damage to your vehicle's suspension units and rims. Instead, try to drive around them.
6. Riding the clutch
"Riding the clutch" means a person doesn't entirely remove their foot from the clutch pedal. This causes unnecessary friction which results in wear and tear. Always fully engage the clutch by lifting your foot entirely off the clutch pedal after changing gears or pulling off from a standstill.
"Keep your car in top condition with a maintenance plan," advises Smit. "A maintenance plan covers all aspects of your car's servicing and maintenance, keeping your vehicle on the road longer."
