We all know that speeding is a surefire way to wind up costing yourself money via traffic tickets, lawyer fees, and increased insurance rates. What many people are not aware of, however, is that there are a few other driving habits that will cost you money. Some of these habits may seem harmless initially, but are detrimental to your wallet over time. Here are some of the most common bad driving habits that will ultimately prove costly:
Aggressive Driving Habits
Some driving habits like the rush of adrenaline that aggressive driving provides is a lot of fun, but the short-lived feeling of excitement is not worth the cost to your car and your wallet. Constant stopping and starting strains your engine, increases the need for brake repair , and wastes expensive gas. Instead, drivers should brake gradually and accelerate smoothly.
Engine Revving
We’ve all pulled up next to this driver at a stoplight: the one who repeatedly revs his engine as if about to start a race. This habit is not only pointless– it’s costly. If a car has just been started when the driver begins revving, engine damage may result. This is because when the engine is still cold, the oil hasn’t yet lubricated the engine’s parts. Thus, revving– particularly excessive revving– can significantly increase the need for engine repair .
Ignoring Regular Auto Maintenance Procedures
When driving a newer car, it’s easy to forget about regular maintenance appointments. After all, if it’s running smoothly right? In short, regular maintenance of your car– such as oil changes and — prevents costly future repairs and prolongs the life of your car.
Don’t Believe the Empty Tank Myth
We see this one all over the internet, and it’s simply not true. It goes like this. Some drivers like to run their tanks down to empty because gas is expensive, and they want to go as long as possible before having to pay for a refill. The car’s engine becomes damaged because the gas at the bottom of the tank is dirty and filled with metal sediment. This dirty fuel clogs fuel lines and damages the engine. Below outlines why this is not true;
- The cars motion (bumps, turns, braking, acceleration) constantly mixes the gas. Larger SUV and trucks have baffles but it does not stop the mixing.
- New cars (past 20-30 years) have fuel pumps with protective screens / filters that filter out these impurities
- There another filter on the fuel line before the gas enters the engine.
- Gas tanks are made from nickel plated steel. This stops rust in its tracks.
- In most cars when the low gas light comes on you still have one to two gallons in your tank.
The only real downside to running your car on low is creating the possibility of emptying your tank completely. When a pump designed to move liquid suddenly begins to spin without resistance, it over revs and it has the potential to burn out. Replacing it can be a few hundred bucks.
More Quick Facts That Will Save You Money
Below are a bunch driving habits that when addressed as a whole will save you a lot of money.
- Keep your tires at their max air pressure. Tires deflate a bit when it gets colder
- Get an engine tune up
- Reduce usage of you air conditioner
- Lighten your car by removing heavy or unused cargo.
- Clear all the snow off your car in the winter.
- Confirm your car is in overdrive. Some gear selectors (Toyota cars 2008 models) go easily into drive instead of overdrive.
- Use cruise control on the highway
- Use Waze to route you out of standing traffic
- Remove roof racks if not needed. Take steps to remove wind drag.
- Keep your windows closed or crack them.
- Clean your air filter. It’s easy to do , and it costs you nothing.
Reply below and tell us about a driving habit that you feel has saved you money.
