Are you killing your car.

[waynne]

Time to fess up - how many of these naughty little habits are you guilty of? Have I missed any out of this article.

http://www.torquecars.com/articles/killing-cars.php

10 ways you are killing your car... it will probably be 20 by the time you have all got back with comments.

[Izo Azlion]

3, 4 and 7, I think

The armrest in the Golf + 4th or 6th gear is a very comfy position.

I *rarely* rag it from cold, but I have done.

I rarely sit and wait for the turbo to cool - how long should I be waiting?

Short journeys, I do alot of these with packages and such.

[pgarner]

1. i changed the oil on sunday and checked it yesterday morning (had been working mon tues and didnt move the car after changing it ) only problem was put slightly too much in drained off bout 100ml opps looked to be on the max mark at the time glad id only done about 10 miles

2. my tyre pressures are slightly higher than specified but i find it runs better

3. generally drive slow the 1.5 miles from the 30mph limit an give it a min to cool down longer if its been driven hard

4. try not to max revs i use is around 2.5 - 3k (6.5 red line)

5. short journeys 2 work, 3 miles each way, rest of the time i generally walk now

6 i could count on both hands how many times i have had it near the red

7. Nope

8. Quite bad at holding the clutch down when sitting in traffic

9. Apart from misgearing it the 1st couple of days i had it Nope change down at 2k and up at 3 -3.5k

10. Nope wash it once a week

so in real terms 5 and 8

[Massive]

wow im surprised my car isnt dead! all bar 2+3, i check my tires monthly, and i dont have a turbo, i dont generally red line my car unless im bored and fancy a bit of a rush or a bit of a race with someone in a heap of a car with the biggest spoiler imaginable, rust and alloys, (sorry if anybody likes this sort of thing) and its usually a 106

[HDi fun]

It needs cleaning. Can honestly say that apart from that I'm quite a considerate owner.

[Prince]

I do 4,5,6,7 and 8, although I don't tend to rest my hand on my gear stick as much as I used to. I check my levels and things every other week.

[waynne]

Braking hard causes problems. I would say you at least accelerate tyre wear, and certainly increase brake pad/disc usage.

[Izo Azlion]

Originally Posted by waynne

Braking hard causes problems. I would say you at least accelerate tyre wear, and certainly increase brake pad/disc usage.

Not braking hard enough does more damage :P

[waynne]

Thats where the technique called "not fully pressing the accelerator down" comes into play . Like most drivers I though accelerators were on or off - like the button on a PS2 controller. Apparently the car will slow under its own momentum if you ease off the accelerator . It took a bit of practice but so far I have managed 3 throttle positions, on half on and off! I am told that with a bit more practice I will discover more throttle settings.

[pgarner]

yeah it is easy to stop on a hill without using the brake i quite often do this at a bridge. as coming up to it let the engine slow down downchanging as necessary. then holding on the clutch. brakes are never touched

[sbtUK]

That's made me wonder about something actually...

I was tought to drive by my dad, who learnt to drive before brakes were all that great. As a result, I use engine braking a lot. I didn't really notice quite how much I used it untill I changed my brake discs and pads last weekend and went out to bed them in a bit.

I only really use my brakes if I'm actually stopping or if someone pulls out infront of me etc... Is this likely to be putting excessive strain on my clutch? I mean, I'm not daft with it (I.E. I don't change into 2nd gear at 50mph or anything like that) but given it's easier (and cheaper) to change brake discs than it is to change a clutch, should I stop driving the "old fashioned way", as my dad puts it, and use my brakes more? :-/

[pgarner]

i use both. i was taught to use the brakes in the main by driving instructor but mum and dad told me to use the engine braking as well

i dont see why it would damage the clutch as long as your not riding it, and as you say not dropping down at high speeds.

[sbtUK]

Groovy

I might try to use my brakes a little more (mainly because I'm still trying to bed the new discs in). I'm convinced that using engine braking means that I tend to be more aware of what's going on though. Not directly, but because I have to be more aware of what's infront of me so I've got time to slow down without using my brakes

[waynne]

You must be an economical driver then SBTuk? What do you get from your car?

[Shao]

yep use engine braking and brakes - have started coasting to junctions as was said the other day on here and it doesnt half naff off the person behind you as they have to break heavily as you slow down gradually without your brake lights coming on!