Poor driving habits themselves can ruin your auto, and that's true even if you don't crash. Read the tips from our experienced auto repair team below.

Keep the Tank Half Full

Know about two ways that draining your truck or car of diesel or regular gas or keeping the level low is a bad idea. Sediment in gas sinks to the bottom of your gas tank, so when the level is low your engine has to send that grit through the fuel ignition system. This causes buildup and can also force your car to work harder than usual. The other reason is that for many vehicles, fuel in the tank actually helps cool the part that pumps fuel, making it last longer and work better. If you don't have enough, your fuel pump could get too hot.

Don't Drive Aggressively

Don't drive like you're in an action movie. Obviously this behavior is unsafe. But beyond that, peeling out at stoplights and slamming on the brakes is rough on your brakes, engine and transmission. It's clear why you want to show off a fast vehicle, but realize that trying to show off too much will be destructive down the road.

Don't Speed on the Freeway

It can be a thrill to race down the interstate, passing all the slowpokes and mastering the curves as you travel through the lanes and around the curves. But driving this way can wreck the engine, and the car. Our automobile professionals at Christian Brothers in Mooresville, NC advise that most cars and trucks do best at between 40 and 60 mph. If you go faster, you will burn more gas mile by mile and your transmission will be pushed to the max. Also, operating at top capacity means extra stress on all the small moving parts of your engine, and that can cause it to wear out more quickly. Driving at the speed limit is a great way to show off that you're a proud car owner.

Avoid Slow Acceleration

For safety and a higher mph, realize that it's not a good idea to accelerate more slowly than traffic. Some new drivers have been taught not to “jackrabbit” at start, and that's usually smart. But accelerating at very low speeds stops your car from reaching optimal speed and can put wear on the transmission and engine. The best idea is to drive at expected speeds.

Don't Shift Improperly

There are several instances in which inattentive shifting behavior can damage your transmission or clutch. We'll just go over a few of the ways. Don't ever shift into park or reverse while your car is still moving. Next, don't go into park and head off without putting on the parking brake. When you do, all the weight of your car will rest against the transmission itself. For manual shifters, be careful to remove your foot from the clutch when you aren't shifting. These little tricks could save you thousands of dollars.

Don't Rev the Engine or Idle

If you've read our blog, you know our thoughts on idling. It's also unwise to rev your engine, especially if your engine is cold. When you do, the engine will not become lubricated safely and the catalytic converter won't work. Furthermore, subjecting all the tiny parts of your engine to extreme shifts in temperature can mean widespread damage.