Good to be here again, car enthusiasts.
This week, we are digressing from our series of mainstream discourse to discuss simple but very important “unholy” acts car owners regularly practices which affects their cars negatively in one way or the other. We have compiled for you in a bid to let car owners/users educate themselves on better car care. Read, comment and share;
1. Accelerating aggressively hard on a cold engine.
During cold weather or when the engine temperature is still at the cold mark range, the oil is heavier and flow would not be effective. Aggressive driving in this situation starves the major components of the engine especially the engine top, causing serious wear and tear. Avoid revving when the engine is cold.
2. Incorrect tyre pressure.
This is very common. When you over inflate your tyres, it causes additional stress on the suspension and heat build up in the tyres due to extra-flexing. The engine works harder, reducing fuel economy and thus, engine wear is imminent if this becomes a regular practice. Stick to vehicle pressure specifications.
3. Oil changes and servicing.
The engine oil is the live wire of your car. Oil degrades and the reduction in oil level is due to the thinner high quality oil getting burned or just seeping out of the engine; the sludge, grime and metal particles build up in the residue. Topping up is not the same as changing the oil. The oil level is dangerously low in so many cars on the road today. Daily, check your oil levels.
4. Embarking on short journeys.
Driving within short distances affect the performance of the engine negatively. With this, the operating temperature does not reach it’s designed capacity, hence carbon build up, sludge and reduction in fuel economy with damages to the catalytic converter imminent. Always ensure car warms up before driving.
5. Not washing your car when dirty.
This is a little contentious but the aspect of corrosion cannot be over emphasized. Corrosion takes effect more easily on a car which is covered with a layer of dirt, especially during the raining season. Periodic washing of your vehicle is necessary at this time of the year.
Share your views below on what other acts that can damage a car in the long run.
Cheers.
Written by Adeniyi Balogun
Thank you for this. Learnt a lot.
You are welcome. We are glad it was informative.
This is an insightful piece. Revving our vehicles in the morning is one terrible habit that many of us learnt from our parents while growing up.
Meanwhile, how often should I change my engine oil considering the quality of engine oil that is being sold around us?
Adeniyi Balogun responds: Revving is actually a bad practice when engine is cold. Doing so in modern vehicles in modern vehicles is akin to killing that engine before its time.
On engine oil, lots of good lubricants are sold out there. Look out for your vehicle specifications and fill in. However, when to change your oil depends mainly on:
Driving pattern ( mileage covered daily ) and;
Engine condition
While i agree that over-inflating your tyres can put pressure on the vehicle’s suspension, i dont think it puts more stress on the engine thereby increasing fuel consumption. Pls look at no 2 again ‘cos i feel it is under-inflated tyres that require more engine work to propel the car.
Adeniyi Balogun responds: Both does. Too much air and less air causes load. So it does in this scenario : Imagine your tyre pressure specifies 30psi and presently reads 40psi due to over inflation. That extra 10psi is a load on its own. It affects the areodynamics and more fuel is demanded. Any extra load on the engine will definitely cause the engine to work above capacity. Asides increased fuel consumption, over inflation also leads to tyre burst especially on a hot afternoon.