Turning off the engine as soon as you park after a long drive, waiting for the fuel tank to run low to refuel, or not moving the vehicle all summer can cause malfunctions
After the first operation after the summer, millions of vehicles are expected to be on Spain’s roads until September. Suffering a car breakdown can ruin the long-awaited vacation, so in addition to the usual previous recommendations, such as performing a car inspection, there are a number of behaviors that can help us avoid mechanical problems.
According to Víctor Pardo, Market Manager and Workshop Projects at Norauto, summer is an important time for workshops. On the one hand, “we have people who are farsighted and decide to check their vehicle for the summer trips and on the other hand, we have people who have bad luck on their journey or on the way back.”
Many of the failures can be avoided if a series of very useful recommendations are put into practice, aimed at the maintenance of the vehicle.
1-Review is the best prevention. It is therefore recommended to check the vehicle before traveling, especially tires, brakes, coolant and fluids. It is also advisable to check the proper functioning of the air conditioning, the condition of the lights and the battery. The latter tends to fail, especially at high temperatures. As far as tires are concerned, do not drive with a tire with low pressure or bad parallelism: this can damage the tire. Parallel wear causes the tire to wear unevenly.
2- Avoid overloading the vehicle and lost luggage. It is advisable not to load too much and not to exceed the maximum permissible mass. The extra weight affects stability and, on the other hand, jeopardizes the safety of the vehicle. Norauto recalls that the electronic restraint systems can be affected by the increased weight and it should be borne in mind that the tires and the vehicle itself are not designed for that weight.
With regard to the placement of the luggage, it must be taken into account that the load must not protrude from the floor of the vehicle and that it must be properly secured so that it is not projected in the event of braking or an accident. It is recommended to use transport elements that can facilitate the task, such as trailers, bicycle carriers or roof boxes.
3-Revolutions in driving:
– Do not run the engine when it is cold: the vehicle should not be accelerated in the first few minutes of driving, when the temperature is not yet optimal, because the oil is still cold and does not lubricate well.
– The engine does not rev sufficiently when warm: once the desired temperature has been reached and it has been running for some time, it is recommended to run the vehicle at a certain frequency, maintaining the high revs. In this way the possible carbon from the engine is eliminated.
4- Avoid shocks on the tires. In this sense, it is advisable to choose roads that are in good condition, avoid going through sinkholes, potholes, poorly paved areas… When parking, avoid climbing the curb as this can damage the tire, suspension, steering cause , damage to the rim… All with the aim of avoiding maximum damage to the tires.
5-It is not recommended to wait until the fuel tank is practically empty: the impurities in the fuel settle at the bottom of the tank and are thus absorbed. Likewise, the pump requires a greater effort to absorb the remaining fuel. To this we must add that, if the car runs out of gas at all, the circuit can catch air and not start.
6-Another major mistake that can contribute to malfunctions is not fully depressing the clutch pedal when shifting gears: the gear does not engage properly and the gearbox is forced.
7-Driving through speed bumps at higher speeds than indicated: this can cause damage to the suspension, rims, tires…
8-Switch off the engine as soon as you park after a long journey: it is recommended to leave the vehicle stationary for a few minutes after a long journey so that the engine is well lubricated, does not damage the turbo (if it has one) and let the vehicle cool down.
9-Of course you should not continue driving when a warning light comes on in the car: especially if you do not know the meaning, it is better to stop the vehicle and refer to the manual what the corresponding warning light means. If the warning light is red, do not continue driving. White, green and blue are usually informative. Yellow warns.
10- Failure to move the vehicle during the summer can also cause breakdowns. As we have mentioned, the heat affects certain parts of the car, such as the electrical one. High temperatures, especially extreme ones, also damage the battery and tires. For this reason, it is recommended to drive regularly and not to leave the car parked for long periods during all holidays.
11-Finally, abrupt and irresponsible driving is also very harmful to the vehicle. Acceleration, braking, sudden changes of direction and lane… They affect the vehicle and also endanger safety and can lead to a traffic accident.
Source: La Verdad
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
