Poor driving habits themselves can ruin your car or truck, and that's true even if your bad driving doesn't cause a crash. Below are a few tips on avoiding these bad habits so your car works better and lasts longer.

Don't Push the Speed Limit

Driving as fast as possible on the freeway can be exciting. But driving this way can wreck the engine, and the car. Our auto professionals at Christian Brothers in Fishers believe that most trucks and cars perform best at forty to sixty miles per hour. If you go faster, the engine will burn more gas mile by mile and your transmission will wear out. Also, operating at top capacity means extra stress on all your engine parts, and that can cause it to wear out more quickly. In the end, driving at the speed limit is a great way to show off that you're a proud car owner.

Don't Abuse the Transmission

It can be tricky to handle the transmission properly. First, don't ever change directions or park while your car is moving. Next, don't move the gears into park and leave the car without also putting on the parking brake. When you do, your whole car will be resting against the transmission instead of the brake. For manual transmission vehicles, be careful not to hold down the clutch between shifting. These little things could save you thousands.

Don't Race and Slam the Brakes

You're not Vin Diesel from “Fast and Furious.” Of course this driving habit is unsafe. But also, slamming the gas pedal at lights and braking hard is difficult on your brakes, engine and transmission. It's easy to understand why you want to show off a fast car, but true car lovers know that showing off breaks cars.

Don't Rev the Engine or Idle

We have talked about engine idling before, and the truth is that you shouldn't ever idle the engine for more than about sixty seconds. It's also not great to rev your engine, especially if you're doing so with a cold engine. When you do, the engine will not become lubricated safely and the catalytic convertor won't start working. Furthermore, subjecting all the tiny parts of your engine to extreme shifts from cold to hot can cause widespread damage.

Don't Empty the Tank

Know about two ways that emptying your car of diesel or regular gas or keeping the tank low is harmful. Sediment in gas or diesel drops to the bottom of your gas tank, so when it's almost empty your car has to force that sediment through the fuel ignition system. This causes buildup and can also require your tiny engine mechanisms to work extra hard. Furthermore, gas in the tank usually helps cool the part that pumps fuel, making it last longer and work better. If you have too little, your fuel pump could get too hot.

Avoid Super Slow Acceleration

For safety and a higher mph, realize that It's silly accelerate so slowly that you risk the frustration of your fellow motorists. Some drivers have been taught not to dart off from a stop, and generally true. But starting extra slow stops your engine from working as intended and can put wear on the transmission and engine. You should probably drive at about the same speed as the autos around you.

Get Your Vehicle Checked at Christian Brothers

Drive well and keep your ride tidy inside and out. You should also be sure to check the tires, oil and lights often. And every so often, bring your ride in to your Fishers Christian Brothers shop for a professional checkup.