Mechanic Reveals Mistakes We Are All Making With Our Cars

1. Neglecting routine maintenance

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There’s loads of things we can get wrong with our dependable cars, and we ought to be sure we’re taking good care of them to avoid faults down the line. Failure to do normal maintenance activities such as changing the oil, inspecting the brakes, and rotating the tires might result in more expensive issues in the future.

2. Ignoring warning lights

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As revealed by mechanics themselves, a common mistake made by drivers is to disregard the warning lights that appear on their dashboard. These lights can really signify major problems that demand quick attention to avoid further damage. No; they’re not just to make you spend money.

3. Failing to regularly check tire pressure

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Tires are one of the most neglected aspects of cars worldwide. The wrong tire pressure can effect both fuel economy and handling, and it will definitely speed up the aging process of the tire itself. Always make sure the tire pressure is correct and check it often.

4. Forgetting to check your oil

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If you forget to check your oil levels often, you might be making a big mistake! Mechanics have revealed that neglecting to maintain the engine's oil level can cause harm to the engine or possibly cause it to break down completely, which isn’t ideal.

5. Using the wrong type of oil

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Some people just assume that oils tend to be versatile, and can be used in pretty much all cars, but mechanics would heavily suggest avoiding that. Using the incorrect kind or grade of engine oil may have a detrimental influence on the performance of the engine as well as its durability of the engine.

6. Forgetting to check fluid levels

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Mechanics can’t stress enough how much you should keep an eye on the various fluid levels of your vehicle. If you forget to check the levels of the coolant, transmission fluid, and brake fluid in your vehicle, you might just get landed with problems including overheating, bad gear shifting, and failing brakes!

7. Dismissing weird noises

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One of the worst things you can hear while driving are strange noises that cause a pang of anxiety. Mechanics know that it can be easy to turn the music up and ignore them, but weird noises, such as squeaks, rattles, or grinding sounds, should be checked as soon as possible since they may indicate the presence of potential issues that can be made much bigger through neglect.

8. A malfunctioned spare tire

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Firstly, not everyone has a spare tire, but you should definitely make sure that you have one with you. Not only that, but mechanics have revealed that you should make sure that your spare tire is correctly inflated. If it is flat, don't depend on it in the case of an emergency, it won't get you far. Not many people think to check!

9. Failing to replace wipers regularly

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Windscreen wipers need maintenance as much as any other part of your vehicle and eventually they do need replacing. The vision through the windshield is decreased when old or broken windshield wipers are used in wet or snowy weather, which creates dangerous driving situations, so get them replaced!

10. Not replacing the air filter

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Mechanics reveal that not enough people know about the positives are maintaining your air filter within the cabin. The airflow is restricted when the air filter is clogged, which decreases the efficiency of the engine and the fuel economy, so definitely replace it when necessary.

11. Forgetting to clean the air filter

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Not only should you replace the air filter (when you really need to), you can also look to clean it out. Mechanics state that if the cabin air filter is unclean, it may result in poor air quality within the vehicle as well as decreased efficiency from the HVAC system.

12. Ignoring the transmission service

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If you drive an automatic car, you should think about getting your car serviced more regularly due to the conditions that come with driving automatics. Transmissions that are automatically shifted need to have regular maintenance performed on them to avoid sliding, harsh shifting, and premature wear.

13. Regularly riding the clutch

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Now, we’ve all been there (those of you that drive manual cars), when we can’t be bothered to sit stationary and ride the clutch instead. Well, mechanics have revealed that letting your foot rest on the clutch pedal for extended periods of time may cause premature clutch wear as well as difficulties with the gearbox.

14. Filling with the wrong fuel

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Not many people think that this is a major problem, or that it’s just stupid to get it wrong, but you’d be surprised at how many people misfuel their car often! Mechanics state that using the incorrect type of fuel in an engine, such as diesel in a gas engine, can cause some major damage to the engine itself.

15. Not paying attention to the wheel alignment

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You ought to ask mechanics to check your wheel alignment, which many people often forget to ask about. Wheels that are not properly aligned can make your tires wear unevenly, and can cause poor handling, and decrease your fuel economy, which are all bad for your car in the long run.

16. Forgetting about the parking brake

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Many people drive for hours a day, and neglect to use their parking brake (for example on a hill). It’s fine not to, but mechanics have recently stated that using the parking brake on a frequent basis helps keep it from becoming stiff over time, so think about that!

17. Exceeding your vehicle’s weight restrictions

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Not many people realize this, but exceeding the weight restriction of your vehicle may put pressure on the suspension, brakes, and tires. Mechanics revealed that so many people don’t even know the weight limits of their vehicles, so it’s good to check and stay aware!

18. Never replacing the timing belt

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The timing belt needs to be replaced regularly when it’s starting to wear, to avoid further major problems! Mechanics say that failing to replace the timing belt at the frequency that is suggested may result in severe damage to the engine, which isn’t good.

19. Using poor quality gas

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When you go to a gas station, the last thing you’re thinking of is the actual quality of the gas itself. But, mechanics have revealed that using gasoline of poor quality may result in carbon buildup, decreased performance, and banging from the engine. You don’t want that!

20. Neglecting a clean interior

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You might not think that cleaning the interior of the car would have anything to do with mechanics, but you’ll be surprised. They do suggest that uncleanliness in the inside of the vehicle may result in unpleasant smells, severe corrosion and a less enjoyable driving experience.

21. Using abrasive cleaners

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We all love to keep our cars clean (well, some of us), but did you know that using abrasive or harsh chemicals can lead to some disastrous consequences. Using cleaning chemicals that are too abrasive or that are not appropriate for the job might cause harm to the surfaces, leading to rust and corrosion.

22. Forgetting about battery maintenance

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Not many people consider the maintenance of their battery, but you should remember that it’s as important as any other part of your car. Mechanics can’t stress enough how important it is to check and clean the battery terminals on a regular basis to avoid corrosion and to lengthen the life of the battery.

23. Not maintaining the A/C system

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Your A/C system needs as much TLC as the rest of your car, so you should definitely pay attention to it. Mechanics say that performing routine maintenance on the air conditioning system helps to avoid expensive repairs and ensures that it operates well.

24. Continuing to drive with an overheated engine

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One of the worst things you can do is carry on driving when a major issue has been raised on your car’s dashboard. Mechanics stress that keeping on driving while your engine is overheating might result in significant damage to the vehicle, so don’t think about doing it!

25. Ignoring suspension matters

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Putting off suspension maintenance might result in a rough ride and impact how well the vehicle handles later on down the line. Like any other issue you have with your car, you should keep on top of it as much as you can, otherwise, you’ll have a much bigger, heftier bill to pay later on.

26. Not knowing what “break-in” procedures are!

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Not enough people know about the “break-in” period when they buy a brand-new cars, and mechanics want to make sure that people understand it properly. New vehicles need a break-in time to enable components to settle. Failing to follow this may contribute to premature wear and tear.

27. Neglecting the fuel filter

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Mechanics reveal that if the gasoline filter becomes clogged, it will impede the flow of fuel, which will hurt the performance of the engine. You’ll always want to maintain aspects of your car so that you don’t end up paying a fortune for things that could’ve been fixed much easier.

28. Driving on an empty tank

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Listen, we know times are tough, and if you have to run on empty, you should. But don’t make it a regular habit. Mechanics say that if you often drive with a gas tank that is close to empty, you might cause harm to the fuel pump over time, which might just land you with a nasty bill.

29. Cluttering your car

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You shouldn’t keep unnecessary items lying around your car, especially if they aren’t secure. Items that are not properly secured in a vehicle have the potential to become deadly obstacles in the event of an accident or unexpected halt, which can make the crash much worse.

30. Ignoring product recalls

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Product recalls happen a lot more often than you think and if you have a new car you’ll want to keep an eye on them. You might put yourself in harm's way and cause difficulties that could have been avoided by not responding to service bulletins and recalls issued by manufacturers.