Several car products are available for different purposes, from enhancing cabin aesthetics to improving engine performance. However, if not used correctly, they can negatively impact your vehicle’s health.
Here are 15 such products that can damage your car even though they are meant to improve it.
Engine Oil Additives
While oil additives enhance the engine’s performance and lifespan, wrong use can reverse the action. For example, using more than recommended anti-foaming additives may result in chemical imbalance, leading to air bubble formation. Likewise, if you have bought a cheap additive to save some bucks, it might clog up essential parts (due to compromised viscosity and quality) or cause other issues that can result in costly repairs.
Interior Cleaners
Interior cleansers remove dirt and dust, leaving your car smelling fresh and looking sharp. However, overusing them can strip away protective coatings from cabin parts, harm the leather upholstery, and make the interior more sensitive to stains. Also, cheap cleaners, such as ammonia-based ones, can fade plastic trims and even crack the dashboard. In fact, inviting ammonia to your cabin is a bad idea since it’s toxic. So, buy a quality one and test it on a small hidden area first.
Car Covers
They act as a shield for your vehicle’s body, making it immune to scratches and scuffs. However, a poorly fitted cover can ruin your car’s paint (especially if it’s solely plastic-based) as it rubs against the surface. Likewise, leaving them in the sun for long can cause the covers to fade and become brittle, potentially scratching the exterior. Also, putting on a moist or wet cover can lead to mold and even rust.
Wax/Polishes
While waxing your car can give it a proper makeover by enhancing its sheen, incorrect usage can do more harm than good. Applying too much, exerting excessive pressure, or using low-quality wax will show no mercy to the paint. So, be cautious while using this product.
Aftermarket LED Headlights
Although LED headlights improve your night vision, they can be a severe safety threat. These lights are designed to fit specific housing. Using them in the wrong way results in a scattered light beam, which can create a dangerous glare, (temporarily) blinding other road users. Also, investing in a cheap set of head bulbs can lead to more power consumption than usual or other wiring issues. So, if you are considering buying aftermarket LEDs, look for good ones and use a headlight adjuster to adjust the beam toward the ground.
Wheel Spacers
Wheel spacers must be your top pick if you want to improve the car’s handling and cornering abilities. But what do you think will happen if it’s not perfectly aligned and used for longer periods? Yes, the increased stress on components in consistent usage makes car components more prone to wear and tear. Besides that, improperly installed spacers mess with the suspension, which can lead to injuries or accidents.
Brake Fluid
While brake fluid makes braking smooth and easy, the wrong one can backfire. It doesn’t only result in poor performance but may also pose safety risks by progressing to a brake failure.
Power Inverters
It’s so cool when you can draw power from the car’s battery to use other electrical items, e.g., a phone charger. Power inverters come in handy for this purpose, but they can be risky. If car inverters are not properly wired or the device being connected to them is not compatible, power failure issues may arise. In some instances, they can even result in a fire. No one wants to walk on thin ice. Do you?
Tire Sealants
Tire sealants are life-saving when you encounter an unexpected tire puncture in the middle of your journey with no repair shop nearby. However, a bad-quality sealant that doesn’t warm up quickly can flow to the bottom of the tire, which can cause wheel misalignment besides damaging the pressure sensors.
Wheel Cleaners
You use cleaners to keep car tires in excellent condition. But have you ever checked how the acidity of those cleaners may affect your vehicle? It’s a common misconception that only acid, being corrosive, ruins surfaces. The fact is both the highly alkalic and highly acidic can damage the wheel’s rim and surface if you use them too often. So, it’s wise to consider wheel cleaners only when it’s a necessity, i.e., in case of stubborn dirt or after an off-road adventure.
Dent Removal Kits
Every dent on your car doesn’t need you to drag it to a repair shop. Suction cups, pulling devices, and glue tabs in dent removal kits efficiently assist with minor dents. However, you might not be able to use the proper technique sometimes, further aggravating the situation. For instance, you may get more significant dents or paint damage if you pull too hard.
Touch-up Paint Pen
Have minor scratches on your car? Touch-up paint pens are your best friends. They quickly fix minor damage and prevent rust. But did you know touch-up pens can ruin your car’s surface 95% of the time? Yes, you read it right. If you fail to match the color or the product is substandard, a touch-up pen, which is meant to enhance the exterior, leads to more scratches and uneven surfaces.
Body Kits
Body kits add to the looks of your car. The custom bumpers, side skirts, spoilers, etc, may make your vehicle more aerodynamic and sporty. However, poor installation would significantly degrade a car’s performance, making it unsafe as parts may come loose while driving.
Suspension Lowering Kits
What happens when you lower an object’s center of gravity? Yes, it becomes more stable. But it’s quite risky when it comes to vehicles. A slight alignment problem, and boom! Your car can suddenly be hard to handle and prone to quick wear and tear. Les Schwab mentions how even one and a half inches lower suspension results in such mishaps.
Performance Chips
Performance chips help drivers with the overall car performance by boosting the engine power. However, low-quality chips or improper installation throw a wrench in the work. It may damage the engine, reversing and even worsening all the “good” that was supposed to cause.
Are These Products Worth the Trouble?
In short, the world now offers many things that make owning a car easier, but you must be equipped with all the knowledge and techniques to make the most of it. After all, you never want to invest in products just to end up spending more on damage repair.
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Zainab Noor is a motoring journalist. Childhood rides in Nissan Almera fueled her love for cars. After graduating from AIOU in 2021, she steered her passion into freelance writing. You can find Zainab on LinkedIn.
