Car ownership is an expensive endeavor, so the last thing you want to do is jeopardize your investment with avoidable mistakes. While a vehicle is more of a liability than an asset from a cost perspective, there’s no reason to diminish its value further.
People Are Holding Onto Their Vehicles Longer
According to NADA.org, the average age of cars and light trucks in the U.S. last year increased to a record of 12.5 years. And you can bet some people squeeze even more life out of their rides. However, you won’t have that option if you fail to properly care for your vehicle.
DIY Maintenance Is a Lost Art
Unfortunately, many car owners don’t know how to do simple maintenance like oil changes. While vehicles are complex, changing the oil isn’t complicated. Even if you don’t have plans to roll up your sleeves and get down to business, there’s no excuse to let routine maintenance fall between the cracks. Hire a mechanic if you can’t DIY.
Keep reading to see 14 common mistakes that jeopardize your car’s reliability.
Skipping Oil Changes
It’s said that a car’s engine oil is what blood is to your body. So, check your owner’s manual to determine how often to change it. While changing the oil, swap the engine oil filter, too, and examine the oil drain pan plug. It’s a good idea to change the plug if it’s in poor shape. Otherwise, it might get rounded or fail to seal correctly over time.
Failing to change the engine oil on time can damage your engine, and it costs a small fortune to repair or fix it.
Driving With OverInflated or UnderInflated Tires
Failing to take proper care of your tires can also reduce the reliability and longevity of your car. It’s a good idea to check the tire pressure at least once a month—and to top them up as needed. You’re only asking for trouble if you have too much or too little air in your tires.
On the one hand, underinflated tires are less stable, provide less traction, experience greater wear and tire, and have higher odds of catastrophic failure. Conversely, overinflated tires are more likely to lose traction, offer a harsher ride, and wear out the center of the tire.
Failing to Follow a Regular Maintenance Schedule
If you want a reliable car, maintenance can’t be random. You need to follow the schedule detailed in your owner’s manual. Otherwise, you’ll run into problems sooner rather than later.
Opting Not to Rustproof Your Car
If you live in a state that uses salt or corrosive chemicals to treat the roads in the winter, rustproofing should be part of your annual routine. Some people opt not to go that route if they don’t intend to hold onto their vehicles for too long.
But if you want to keep yours until the wheels fall off, so to speak, rustproofing makes sense. You don’t want rust to wreak havoc on your car.
Dragging Your Feet on Small Repairs
It might be tempting to hold off on minor repairs when they don’t affect whether you can drive your car. But doing so can turn a relatively minor matter into a serious one that costs a ton to fix.
Failing to Check Fluid Levels
Another problem you must avoid is failing to maintain proper fluid levels. Get in the habit of checking—at least once a month—the coolant, oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, and even washer fluid. If they’re a little low, top them up.
When you regularly check fluid levels, you’ll know if something’s wrong. But if you’re negligent, it might become a serious problem that is too late to remedy.
Delaying Recall Work
One of the worst things you can do if you receive a recall notification is to ignore it. Of course, some recalls are more serious than others. But all recall work should be done ASAP. Failing to do so can compromise the safety of your vehicle and reduce its overall performance.
Resting Your Hand on the Gear Shifter
Another mistake that will lessen your vehicle’s reliability if you’re not careful is resting your hand on the gear shifter. It’s common practice—something many people do out of sheer habit. However, doing so can cause wear and tear on the transmission components. It’s best to keep your hands on the steering wheel instead.
Neglecting the Battery
Many motorists take their batteries for granted until they can’t start their cars or get stranded.
Jiffy Lube says drivers should get their batteries tested at least twice annually, which works out to every six months or 6,000 miles. When battery care is prioritized, problems can be addressed before they worsen and cause great inconvenience.
Using the Wrong Size Tires
Always stick to the tire sizes recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Installing another size can negatively impact fuel economy, handling, and safety. It’s not worth the risk.
Performing DIY Maintenance You’re Incapable of Doing
Yet another mistake that can harm your car’s reliability is tackling DIY maintenance and repairs—and making a mess of things in the process. Before working on your vehicle, honestly assess your ability and always ensure you have the right tools. Otherwise, leave the job to the professionals.
Overloading Roof Racks
If you load cargo on roof racks, don’t overdo it. Putting too much weight on the roof can negatively impact handling, increase the risk of a vehicle rollover, and put too much stress on the roof structure.
Driving with Old Shocks and Struts
Driving around on shocks and struts that should be replaced is asking for trouble. Your vehicle won’t handle right, will drive horribly over bumps in the road, and will compromise safety. They could even break while you’re driving, increasing the risk of an accident.
Installing Aftermarket Accessories Improperly
Another no-no is installing aftermarket accessories improperly. There’s nothing wrong with aftermarket accessories, but you can do more harm than good if you don’t know what you’re doing. It’s best to hire a pro to install them unless you can do so correctly.
Avoid These Common Mistakes
If the goal is to ensure your vehicle remains dependable, avoid these 14 common mistakes that many people make far too often. You don’t want to do anything that jeopardizes your car, after all.
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