7 Bad Driving Habits Damaging Your Car

29 May 2024

Over time, we all develop driving habits. Just like habits off the road, the bad ones can be hard to break. But there are a few driving habits that damage your car, leading to long-term issues, expensive repairs, and even safety concerns. 

Therefore, it really pays to pay attention to the way you drive to prevent difficulties down the road. 

Here, we’ll take a look at seven driving habits that damage your car, and what you should be doing instead.

1. Revving a cold engine

Picture this: it’s a dark cold day, you’ve had to de-ice the car and you’re already late for work. It can be tempting to put your foot down to make up for lost time, but this is one of the worst driving habits that damage your car. This is because it strains the engine before the engine oil circulates properly, causing increased wear and tear. 

Even on a warm day, you should avoid revving your engine after you have just started the car. While the steering wheel might feel hot, the inner workings of the vehicle still need a chance to warm up. 

2. Riding the clutch or ‘coasting’

Keeping your foot on the clutch disengages the engine, leaving the car free to roll forward using just built-up momentum. Some people think this saves fuel, for example, when driving down a hill. So why is coasting a bad driving technique? 

In most modern vehicles, coasting won’t actually save you any fuel, and could even cost you more in the long run. The cars of today have intricate systems in place to maximise fuel economy, most of which only work while the engine is engaged. 

Keeping your foot on the clutch pedal also wears down the pressure plate and bearing prematurely. Clutches can be incredibly expensive to replace and are unusually not covered by a vehicle’s warranty, so it’s crucial to avoid this bad driving habit.

3. Ignoring warning lights

Doesn’t it feel like warning lights always come on at the most inconvenient times? While it can be tempting to ignore them, these lights signal potential problems. Neglecting them can lead to more serious and expensive repairs. 

Some lights are more serious than others, so it’s worth familiarising yourself with the symbols on the dashboard so you know when to stop and take action. 

Any light relating to a critical system such as the engine, braking, power steering, airbag, cooling system, oil pressure or tyre pressure requires immediate attention. If any of these appear, you need to pull over and seek help from a breakdown provider. 

Meanwhile, if you see a warning light that indicates you need to top up or change your engine oil, brake fluid, or engine coolant, be sure to do this as soon as possible to prevent unnecessary wear and tear. 

4. Running low on fuel

If you’re in a hurry, it’s easy to ignore the fuel gauge dropping down to zero. But topping up before you get to this point can protect your car from costly damage. When your car is running low, it sucks up sediment from the bottom of the fuel tank, potentially clogging filters and injectors.

Instead, try to top up once your fuel gauge indicates you have around a quarter of a tank left, and always fill up before a long drive. Don’t depend on the mileage range indicator, because this can change depending on how fast you drive and a range of other factors. 

5. Sudden gear changes

Changing gears becomes a subconscious process after a while, but still requires multiple actions in one smooth motion. Slamming the gear stick too quickly or shifting without properly matching revs puts stress on the transmission and clutch.

To avoid causing damage to your clutch or gearbox, always make sure the clutch is fully engaged before moving the gear stick. Don’t use too much force on the pedal or gearbox,  and try to match revs when shifting down a gear. 

6. Engine braking excessively

Engine braking is a way of slowing down without using the brake, it typically occurs when your car is in gear and you take your foot off the accelerator. This is because taking your foot off the throttle closes the air intake valve, which slows down the engine. 

While helpful in certain situations, overusing engine braking to slow down can wear down the engine and drivetrain components. You should only use it when decelerating slowly over a long distance, such as on the motorway, or for more control when driving downhill. In any other scenario, tap your foot lightly on the brakes to slow to the desired speed. 

7. Accelerating hard in high gear 

Accelerating too hard in a high gear strains the engine as it works harder to overcome the load, especially when cold or climbing hills. 

Most modern vehicles have a gear shift indicator which tells you when to shift up. You should also pay attention to your revs and change down when necessary, instead of accelerating at a low RPM. 

Hopefully this post has given you some insight into the driving habits that can damage your car and how to avoid them. Just a few small tweaks to your driving style can prevent damage, wear and tear, and unexpected breakdowns. 

Meanwhile, ensuring your car is always topped up with the right engine oil, coolant and brake fluid further protects your vehicle from premature problems.