Easy Steps to Annihilate Your Car

Manufacturers have come a long way in the last few years.  They make vehicles that last if they are taken care of.  We have customers who are driving cars well over 300,000 miles because they get them serviced regularly. I still remember when cars seemed to be ready for the junk yard as you made the last payment and that was when the payments were for three years.

Some people though, seem determined to destroy their vehicles. They certainly don’t intend to drive them thousands of miles or even keep them in good shape to trade them in. I don’t know what the vehicle has done to them to deserve this so I’m not out to judge here, I am just sharing what I have been observing.  It is certainly easy to destroy a car and it doesn’t take a car crash to make it happen.  Being a guy who loves cars, I think they should be turned in for vehicle abuse but that is just me.

Drive it Gently- The quickest way to annihilate your car would be to drive it hard, we are not on a racetrack. Jackrabbit starts, quick stops, turning the steering wheel quickly, all will wear out a car faster than if you take off slowly, stop slowly and turn slowly.

I have two cars I drive. One is driven gently… it seldom needs repair, or any real maintenance. I have another that we drive some on the street, but also run at the track (road course, autocross, and drag race). This car needs a lot of maintenance… oil changes every 500 miles,  brake flush every month, brake pads every 6 months, tires every year.

This is with the same driver, basically the same car, just a major difference in driving style. There is a huge difference in the cost of maintenance.

Hold the Oil – We in the industry have said for years that oil is the life blood of a vehicle.  Keep it changed and your car will have a happy life and an oil change is kind to your budget.  I don’t know if some are seeing just how far they can go without changing the oil before the engine dies or if they just don’t understand the importance.  Either way, a car won’t last long without regular oil changes.

Let Metal Grind on Metal – Brake pads are essential to your car’s braking system.  They are also inexpensive compared to a full brake job.  Neglect them long enough and your car will suffer from brake failure.  I’m amazed how many people will drive along hearing the squealing, hissing or grinding noise from their brakes and not give it a thought.  Sadly, when the brakes fail not only will the vehicle be in danger of a crash, so will the driver and other motorists on the road.  Some people do like to live on the edge of danger and this is certainly one way to accomplish that.

Ignore the Knock for Help – Cars do make certain noises trying to get their driver’s attention.  When it makes a knocking or pinging noise when accelerating or climbing a hill, it is saying that the gas and air mixture in the car’s cylinders isn’t burning properly. The sound is the result of the fuel and air mixture combusting unevenly in the cylinder. Pinging or knocking does reduce the efficiency of the engine and over a very long period of time it will cause damage.  Keep ignoring it and sure enough, destruction will occur.

Let it Blow off Steam — Steam rising from under the hood accompanied by a sweet, sickly smell alarms most people. They would stop driving as severe overheating can damage the car’s engine. This is antifreeze or coolant leaking from the cooling system.  For those who like to gamble with chance though, they just add a little coolant from time to time just to see how far they can push the envelope.  Of course if they lose the gamble, the engine goes but those are the stakes!

Hear That Roar! – I know some think it is really “cool” to have a car that roars! If your exhaust system has a leak, you will hear a roar coming from under your vehicle that is loudest when accelerating. This of course means the exhaust system needs repairs. The dangerous part is if the leaking exhaust gases, which contain carbon monoxide, get inside the passenger compartment. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a silent killer. It takes only a small amount of carbon monoxide inside the passenger compartment to affect alertness, ability to concentrate and react to changing driving conditions. A very small amount can cause dizziness, headaches, nausea, and bring on stupor in two hours. A one percent concentration of carbon monoxide can kill a person in less than three minutes! This would certainly damage the car if one was driving it while this occurred!

Now you know what it takes to destroy a car…neglect.  Personally, I like to see cars get all the tender loving care they can so if you have been guilty of neglecting your vehicle, please reconsider before it gasps its last breath.  Rush it to a car care facility today!  They may be able to save it!

For more information, visit our website: www.fairwayautorepair.com.

Happy Motoring,