Easterns Blog

Car maintenance generally includes the replacement and inspection of parts like brakes, spark plugs, wiper blades and motor oil. It may also include a tune-up and should be scheduled annually with your local dealer.

Some conditions that influence your car maintenance needs are directly related to your driving habits. The conditions you drive in and how you drive can affect how frequently your car needs to be repaired or serviced outside of regular routine maintenance. Conditions that warrant scheduling car maintenance include:

• Air filter changes
• Headlight replacement
• Tire rotations
• Transmission fluid adjustments
• Oil levels
• Coolant levels 
• Battery performance

If any of these conditions are left unchecked, they can take a toll on the performance of your vehicle and may eventually justify early replacement.

Driving Habits That Negatively Affect Car Performance

Bad driving habits can harm your vehicle, resulting in additional car maintenance trips and costly bills. Vehicles are made to be durable and last for long distances in sometimes tough conditions, but they’re not immune to accelerated wear or breakdowns due to being handled poorly by their owners.

Bad Braking Habits

Your braking habits can do a lot of damage to your vehicle if you’re not careful. Brakes are intended to stop your vehicle, but if used carelessly, they can wear early or damage components other than the brake pads. This may risk your safety on the road. This can mean costly car maintenance trips and a shortened lifespan for your brake pads, drums and vehicle.

Braking habits that take a toll on your vehicle include:

• Abrupt starting and stopping: These can wear out your brakes causing the need for early repair or replacement.
• Excessive braking downhill: If your vehicle is accelerating while going downhill, you may be tempted to apply the brakes to slow down. While this may be necessary for safety and to avoid speeding, the added friction from accelerating causes heat to build up in the brake pads, causing accelerated wear.
• Riding the brakes:  Excessive brake use can result in warping and wear down, along with generating additional heat that may cause brake fluid to boil. In the short term, this habit can damage your brakes, making them unreliable on the road. In the long term, riding the brakes can reduce the fuel economy of your vehicle.
• Not using parking brakes: Parking brakes can become brittle and snap if they are not used. Additionally, not using the parking brake puts stress on the transmission. While the transmission stops your vehicle when it’s in park, it is the parking brake that prevents the wheels from further motion.

Engaging the Clutch Too Much

The clutch can become worn down prematurely if left engaged consistently, such as when you make stops at a red light or pause before a turn. You may need premature servicing or car maintenance if your clutch is constantly under pressure.

Shifting Between Drive and Reverse Without Stopping

It’s necessary to come to a complete stop before going into reverse. Otherwise, your transmission may suffer. Braking effectively between shifting into reverse keeps your transmission from overworking to stop your vehicle. Transmission failure is a common car maintenance request for those who regularly shift into reverse without coming to a complete stop, as it can complicate your vehicle’s ability to transition between the two gears long term.

Warning Lights On

Illuminated warning lights in your vehicles should be addressed as soon as possible. They can indicate issues with the engine, coolant, battery or even airbag, all of which can become costly to repair if damage or malfunctions are allowed to escalate. Letting warning issues go for long periods can add additional stress to your vehicle, resulting in extra car maintenance down the road.

Gas Tank Staying Near Empty

Keeping your tank near empty can have an adverse effect on the lifespan of your vehicle. Gasoline functions as a coolant, preventing certain vehicle parts, like the fuel pump and converter, from overheating during use. If your tank stays near empty, it may overheat when you run out of fuel, resulting in damage.

Hitting the Curb

It may be tempting to use curbs to help you park in tight spaces, but you risk damaging your wheels in the process. In the short term, this could result in early tire changes, but long term, this can take a toll on the alignment of your vehicle.

Going Without Regular Car Maintenance

Regular car maintenance is the best way to maintain the longevity of your vehicle. Going without regular maintenance can cause preventable problems, like a weakened brake pad or punctured tire, to escalate and damage your vehicle. Whether this means attending to warning lights promptly or ensuring that your oil is changed regularly, it’s better to handle vehicle issues sooner rather than later.

Schedule Car Maintenance With Easterns Automotive

If you’re looking to simplify your car-buying experience, look no further than Easterns Automotive. We are discerning in our choice of vehicles, which is why you can rest assured the vehicles in our used car inventory are well maintained and in good working order. Call us at 877-867-0641 to see how we can help.