Like all other machines, regular care is needed for your car engine too. The engine is the heart of a car and it requires special care. Your ignorance or carelessness could lead to the damage of engine components. And, at times, we get to know about it after the damage is done. But one thing is for sure - engine problems could burn a huge hole in your pocket. Here we list five things that could damage your car engine:
Do not cross the redline
Car manufacturers clearly mark the rev range at which the engine works efficiently on every vehicle they make. It is not advisable to rev the engine beyond the redline on the tachometer. One should also take care to not cross the redline immediately after starting the vehicle. Once you start the engine, it takes time for lubricants to start doing their job. It takes time to reach the optimum temperature when all fluids can reach where they need to be. Hence it is better not to rev the engine immediately after starting it.
Downshift when needed
Every vehicle has its own gear ratios. The vehicle works efficiently only if you shift the gear accordingly. People believe that driving in a higher gear in slow speed could give them better mileage. This is not true. To some extent it is true that you get the best mileage when the vehicle is in the top gear. But that doesn't mean you lug the car in top gear even in slower speeds. When you need more power and when the speed has reduced, you need to downshift. Otherwise it could affect the engine.
Get regular service done
Another important factor that affects the efficiency of the engine is the failure to get the car serviced at regular intervals mentioned by the car maker. It is important to change oil, fuel filters and other such things. If this is not done regularly, the engine will be affected.
Do not keep foot on clutch pedal
Many people keep their foot on the clutch pedal while driving. This is not the right practice. Besides, this could also lead to pressing the clutch unknowingly. This could damage the clutch and clutch throwout bearing. Besides, you could be burning much more fuel in the process.
Using half clutch
When driving uphill, if the car doesn't have the hill start assist feature, one could use the clutch to prevent the car from rolling back. Here the clutch does not engage fully but enough to let the car move if you release the brake pedal. But even a small mistake could lead to accidents. Besides, using the half clutch for longer periods will lead to overheating and heavy damage to the clutch plates which could make them unusable much before their expected life. Hence, it is advisable to use the hand brake on inclines to stop rollbacks and cut accident chances.
