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10 Ways People Kill Their Cars - Car Talk - Nairaland

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10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by gateleo(m): 7:02am On May 29, 2016
The famous dictum “If you look after your car, your car will look after you” is certainly true in many respects. Sadly, though, few motorists are knowledgeably caring for, or fully understand, the way their vehicles work. Some functional knowledge will keep your relationship with your automobile running smoothly!

Many drivers are actually unknowingly damaging their vehicles or, at the very least, making themselves quite vulnerable to some mischievous roadside mechanics. The following are the 10 of the most common mistakes motorists make every day while completely oblivious of the damaging consequences.

Most of these points will, at the very least, hit us in our pockets in the near future. How many, if you can eat the humble-pie, are you guilty of?



1.Oil changes and servicing: Engine oil is a vital component in your car. Some people will wrongly assume that if the car takes five litres of oil and they have topped up this year by five litres, then there is no point in changing the oil. Oil degrades, and the reduction in oil level is due to the thinner high-quality oil getting burned or just seeping out of the engine; the sludge, grime and metal particles build up in the residue. So topping up is not the same as changing the oil. The oil level is dangerously low in over 70 per cent of cars – check your oil levels today.

2. Incorrect tyre pressures: This (overinflation, in particular, which is very common in Nigeria due to the ignorance of roadside “vulcanisers”) causes additional heat to build up in the tyres due to extra-flexing. The car has to work harder, reducing fuel economy. With under-inflated tyres, the handling becomes unpredictable at best because the tyre naturally goes bouncy. Braking is also significantly reduced.

3. Not allowing turbo to cool down: How many people with turbo-driven engine drive it hard and then fail to allow the turbo to cool down properly? In Europe, increasingly production cars have turbos to meet emissions and power requirements. The turbo is spinning at between 100,000 rpm and 200,000 rpm and gets very hot. The moment the engine is turned off, you starve it of fresh oil, unless your automobile’s oil pump keeps running. The oil in the turbo gets fried and essentially leaves your turbo spinning with no lubrication! Your turbo will soon need replacing if this is your driving style.

4. Driving hard on a cold engine: Don’t use higher engine rpm’s (like revving or over-revving the engine) when it’s cold (especially early in the morning), until an engine is warm; it will run rich—i.e. dumps fuel into the combustion chamber. Your engine is most at risk from damage when cold, so putting undue stress on it by high revving will exponentially increase the damage done. The combustion process does not become efficient until the engine reaches its operating temperature. An inefficient burn leaves acids and other toxins that eat your engine. The oil also takes a short while to flow properly at start up; so, ideally, you should let the engine tick over for three to ten seconds, then drive off at a steady pace keeping under 23,000 rpm. Do not use the top half of the rev range until the engine reaches operating temperature. This applies as much to modern engines with catalytic converters as it does to older engines. Don’t leave the engine idling to warm it up, just drive it (after giving it 30 seconds for the oil pressure to come up and get the oil to fully circulate).

5. Short journeys: Just as driving off too quickly damages an engine, so will doing short journeys. The problem with a short journey is that the engine never reaches its operating temperature. So, for the reasons detailed in the ‘driving off too quickly’, do not drive many short distances regularly.

Use the under-one-mile walk philosophy!) While cold, the catalyst is unable to operate at peak efficiency, thus, reducing the life of your expensive catalyst.

6. Revving too high: The red line indicates the maximum permissible engine speed. At this point, the engine is under enormous stress and the components are moving at their fastest speed. Slight imbalances in the engine are emphasised at high rpm and if you prolong the high rpm for a period of time, you will more than likely throw a connecting rod through the sump (or worse). The older an engine is, the lower the red line should be. As an engine starts to produce most of its power across the middle third of its rev band, there is little point exceeding this.

7. Hand on gear stick: So many people do this but it can actually cause premature gear wear, especially if you wiggle the stick around. The stick is connected directly to the gearbox (in many cars), so the slightest pressure is transmitted to the gear selector. This is enough to cause wear and eventually your gearbox will start to grind and crunch as you change gear.

8. Riding the clutch in a manual transmission: Again, keeping a foot on the clutch is enough to prevent it from fully engaging. The clutch plate will tend towards slip and will prematurely wear. Keeping the clutch depressed in traffic or at traffic lights is also a bad idea. Just put the car in neutral when you are stationary. When the clutch is depressed you’re forcing the clutch against the release bearing. Eventually, the release bearing will just give up, having done 60,000 miles worth of pressure in just 10,000.

9. Also in manual, wrong gear selection: Nothing puts a strain on the engine like forcing it to pull the car in the wrong gear. Too high a gear strains the bottom end of the engine around the crank and con rods. Too low a gear will mean you are revving more than you need to, so the top end of the engine around the valves, cams and lifters are working too hard.

10. Driving a dirty car: This one is a little contentious but corrosion takes effect more easily on a car which is covered with a layer of dirt. A thorough clean each month and a coat of good quality wax (not polish) will do much to enhance the cars defence against corrosion.

N.B: Protect your car against the rain this season: The rains are here now and the electrical architecture with, particularly, the electronic controllers cum components of an average vehicle are the most susceptible to getting easily damaged (as a result of any vehicle getting flooded!) There’s a nano-technology product that has just come into the Nigerian market, which can be effectively used to coat or protect these vital but fragile components of an over-computerised average vehicle, even including smart phones and household electrical/electronic appliances from being damaged by water or flood. I have tested it and it works perfectly, but I’ll not mention its name here because they’ve not paid me for endorsement. However, I believe they’ll soon be advertising the product here because I’ve told them that this page is one of the most far-reaching platforms where automotive maintenance/repair products and/or services can be advertised in Nigeria. May be the preponderance of readers’ enquiries that this note will precipitate will make them start the advert from next Sunday.

http://www.punchng.com/10-ways-people-kill-cars/

67 Likes 11 Shares

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by BayLord01(m): 7:18am On May 29, 2016
Noted.... Never know it gonna make fp. Well Ftc all d way
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by jhydebaba(m): 7:38am On May 29, 2016
I'll take note so that when God finally pick my call I'll make use of it.

17 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by gateleo(m): 8:40am On May 29, 2016
jhydebaba:
I'll take note so that when God finally pick my call I'll make use of it.

Ok

1 Like

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by seyema(m): 3:50pm On May 29, 2016
Noted
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Nobody: 5:02pm On May 29, 2016
Its fun revving your engine especially if you drive a super car, the sound is so romantic!

7 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by chimah3(m): 7:54pm On May 30, 2016
Hmmm...no. 10
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Nobody: 6:24pm On Jun 01, 2016
gateleo:


4. Driving hard on a cold engine: Don’t use higher engine rpm’s (like revving or over-revving the engine) when it’s cold (especially early in the morning), until an engine is warm; it will run rich—i.e. dumps fuel into the combustion chamber. Your engine is most at risk from damage when cold, so putting undue stress on it by high revving will exponentially increase the damage done. The combustion process does not become efficient until the engine reaches its operating temperature. An inefficient burn leaves acids and other toxins that eat your engine. The oil also takes a short while to flow properly at start up; so, ideally, you should let the engine tick over for three to ten seconds, then drive off at a steady pace keeping under 23,000 rpm. Do not use the top half of the rev range until the engine reaches operating temperature. This applies as much to modern engines with catalytic converters as it does to older engines. Don’t leave the engine idling to warm it up, just drive it (after giving it 30 seconds for the oil pressure to come up and get the oil to fully circulate).


Please I need clarification regarding the bold. I always had the impression that one has to warm up the engine for about 4-5minutes before leaving, especially in the morning.. So this shouldn't be the case?? As in just 30 seconds is all that's required??


Thanks for the post, btw.

4 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Samexdx(m): 6:39am On Jun 02, 2016
.
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by dwilliams: 6:41am On Jun 02, 2016
make I buy land first















...














military zone keep off
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by powerfulsettingz: 6:48am On Jun 02, 2016
Am guilty of that of holding unto clutch padded for Long
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by tabisegroup(m): 6:49am On Jun 02, 2016
AdmiralDru:
Its fun revving your engine especially if you drive a super car, the sound is so romantic!

I.e.. when it's not ur car abi? Cus by the time u change one component n know howfar, u will sit up
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by BTT(m): 6:49am On Jun 02, 2016
Ok op.
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Kollyman: 6:49am On Jun 02, 2016
This is cool!
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by BTT(m): 6:53am On Jun 02, 2016
Ok op.

But you did not include removing the thermostat and connecting the fans to run directly with the ignition because our weather is very hot.

You also did not remember to mention using water only in your radiator instead of the water/coolant mixture.

Good job though.

4 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Clarinett(m): 6:55am On Jun 02, 2016
Don't own a car today but i believe in God.

Hoping to own one before the years ends.

So make chill, read and learn.

3 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by kingphilip(m): 6:55am On Jun 02, 2016
Ok
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Ejehjoe(m): 6:56am On Jun 02, 2016
Thanks for this great caution. Is warming up engine esp in the mornings for only 30seconds NOT FANTASTICALLY MISLEADING

2 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Houseofglam7(f): 6:57am On Jun 02, 2016
Very educative cool
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by poseidon12: 7:10am On Jun 02, 2016
On nos. 4 & 10: Most cars in Nigeria do not reach operating temperature because Nigerian mechanics usually advise their clients to remove the car thermostat and connect the radiator fan directly. As soon as you start the car, the engine coolant starts to circulate (without waiting for engine to reach operating temperature) and the radiator fan also starts blowing. I believe this is a major killer of vehicle engines.

3 Likes

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Nobody: 7:10am On Jun 02, 2016
Fact 1: Road crashes kill more than HIV/AIDS and Malaria.
Fact 2: There’s someone you know who has been killed or injured in a crash.
Fact 3: People are killed or injured in road crashes everyday.
Fact 4: ALL road crashes can be prevented.
Fact 5: Most crashes are caused by the driver’s behaviour and not always as a result of bad roads.
Fact 6: The Idea of a “Safe Road” in Nigeria is more of changing our driving behaviour than advocating for good road infrastructure.
Fact 7: We can reduce deaths and injuries due to crashes by 50% if we make a commitment to: not drink and drive, not over speed, wear seat belts and helmets, not use phone or eat while driving, obey traffic rules and tell people about Safe Road Nigeria

Use your seatbelt, stay alive

10 Likes 3 Shares

Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Nobody: 7:13am On Jun 02, 2016
OK..that's why I didn't regret attending driving school abroad...its pretty cool
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by johnlegend01: 7:16am On Jun 02, 2016
Noted
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by geloorrrrdd(m): 7:23am On Jun 02, 2016
h
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Anthony496(m): 7:32am On Jun 02, 2016
Noted
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by dalongjnr: 7:40am On Jun 02, 2016
I concur. educative piece.
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Nakuza(m): 7:43am On Jun 02, 2016
Tnks for the advice
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by tukdi: 7:45am On Jun 02, 2016
.
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by kenoz(m): 7:49am On Jun 02, 2016
gateleo:

The famous dictum “If you look after your car, your car will look after you” is certainly true in many respects. Sadly, though, few motorists are knowledgeably caring for, or fully understand, the way their vehicles work. Some functional knowledge will keep your relationship with your automobile running smoothly!

Many drivers are actually unknowingly damaging their vehicles or, at the very least, making themselves quite vulnerable to some mischievous roadside mechanics. The following are the 10 of the most common mistakes motorists make every day while completely oblivious of the damaging consequences.

Most of these points will, at the very least, hit us in our pockets in the near future. How many, if you can eat the humble-pie, are you guilty of?



1.Oil changes and servicing: Engine oil is a vital component in your car. Some people will wrongly assume that if the car takes five litres of oil and they have topped up this year by five litres, then there is no point in changing the oil. Oil degrades, and the reduction in oil level is due to the thinner high-quality oil getting burned or just seeping out of the engine; the sludge, grime and metal particles build up in the residue. So topping up is not the same as changing the oil. The oil level is dangerously low in over 70 per cent of cars – check your oil levels today.

2. Incorrect tyre pressures: This (overinflation, in particular, which is very common in Nigeria due to the ignorance of roadside “vulcanisers”) causes additional heat to build up in the tyres due to extra-flexing. The car has to work harder, reducing fuel economy. With under-inflated tyres, the handling becomes unpredictable at best because the tyre naturally goes bouncy. Braking is also significantly reduced.

3. Not allowing turbo to cool down: How many people with turbo-driven engine drive it hard and then fail to allow the turbo to cool down properly? In Europe, increasingly production cars have turbos to meet emissions and power requirements. The turbo is spinning at between 100,000 rpm and 200,000 rpm and gets very hot. The moment the engine is turned off, you starve it of fresh oil, unless your automobile’s oil pump keeps running. The oil in the turbo gets fried and essentially leaves your turbo spinning with no lubrication! Your turbo will soon need replacing if this is your driving style.

4. Driving hard on a cold engine: Don’t use higher engine rpm’s (like revving or over-revving the engine) when it’s cold (especially early in the morning), until an engine is warm; it will run rich—i.e. dumps fuel into the combustion chamber. Your engine is most at risk from damage when cold, so putting undue stress on it by high revving will exponentially increase the damage done. The combustion process does not become efficient until the engine reaches its operating temperature. An inefficient burn leaves acids and other toxins that eat your engine. The oil also takes a short while to flow properly at start up; so, ideally, you should let the engine tick over for three to ten seconds, then drive off at a steady pace keeping under 23,000 rpm. Do not use the top half of the rev range until the engine reaches operating temperature. This applies as much to modern engines with catalytic converters as it does to older engines. Don’t leave the engine idling to warm it up, just drive it (after giving it 30 seconds for the oil pressure to come up and get the oil to fully circulate).

5. Short journeys: Just as driving off too quickly damages an engine, so will doing short journeys. The problem with a short journey is that the engine never reaches its operating temperature. So, for the reasons detailed in the ‘driving off too quickly’, do not drive many short distances regularly.

Use the under-one-mile walk philosophy!) While cold, the catalyst is unable to operate at peak efficiency, thus, reducing the life of your expensive catalyst.

6. Revving too high: The red line indicates the maximum permissible engine speed. At this point, the engine is under enormous stress and the components are moving at their fastest speed. Slight imbalances in the engine are emphasised at high rpm and if you prolong the high rpm for a period of time, you will more than likely throw a connecting rod through the sump (or worse). The older an engine is, the lower the red line should be. As an engine starts to produce most of its power across the middle third of its rev band, there is little point exceeding this.

7. Hand on gear stick: So many people do this but it can actually cause premature gear wear, especially if you wiggle the stick around. The stick is connected directly to the gearbox (in many cars), so the slightest pressure is transmitted to the gear selector. This is enough to cause wear and eventually your gearbox will start to grind and crunch as you change gear.

8. Riding the clutch in a manual transmission: Again, keeping a foot on the clutch is enough to prevent it from fully engaging. The clutch plate will tend towards slip and will prematurely wear. Keeping the clutch depressed in traffic or at traffic lights is also a bad idea. Just put the car in neutral when you are stationary. When the clutch is depressed you’re forcing the clutch against the release bearing. Eventually, the release bearing will just give up, having done 60,000 miles worth of pressure in just 10,000.

9. Also in manual, wrong gear selection: Nothing puts a strain on the engine like forcing it to pull the car in the wrong gear. Too high a gear strains the bottom end of the engine around the crank and con rods. Too low a gear will mean you are revving more than you need to, so the top end of the engine around the valves, cams and lifters are working too hard.

10. Driving a dirty car: This one is a little contentious but corrosion takes effect more easily on a car which is covered with a layer of dirt. A thorough clean each month and a coat of good quality wax (not polish) will do much to enhance the cars defence against corrosion.

N.B: Protect your car against the rain this season: The rains are here now and the electrical architecture with, particularly, the electronic controllers cum components of an average vehicle are the most susceptible to getting easily damaged (as a result of any vehicle getting flooded!) There’s a nano-technology product that has just come into the Nigerian market, which can be effectively used to coat or protect these vital but fragile components of an over-computerised average vehicle, even including smart phones and household electrical/electronic appliances from being damaged by water or flood. I have tested it and it works perfectly, but I’ll not mention its name here because they’ve not paid me for endorsement. However, I believe they’ll soon be advertising the product here because I’ve told them that this page is one of the most far-reaching platforms where automotive maintenance/repair products and/or services can be advertised in Nigeria. May be the preponderance of readers’ enquiries that this note will precipitate will make them start the advert from next Sunday.

http://www.punchng.com/10-ways-people-kill-cars/
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by kenoz(m): 7:51am On Jun 02, 2016
gateleo:

4. Driving hard on a cold engine: Don’t use higher engine rpm’s (like revving or over-revving the engine) when it’s cold (especially early in the morning), until an engine is warm; it will run rich—i.e. dumps fuel into the combustion chamber. Your engine is most at risk from damage when cold, so putting undue stress on it by high revving will exponentially increase the damage done. The combustion process does not become efficient until the engine reaches its operating temperature. An inefficient burn leaves acids and other toxins that eat your engine. The oil also takes a short while to flow properly at start up; so, ideally, you should let the engine tick over for three to ten seconds, then drive off at a steady pace keeping under 23,000 rpm. Do not use the top half of the rev range until the engine reaches operating temperature. This applies as much to modern engines with catalytic converters as it does to older engines. Don’t leave the engine idling to warm it up, just drive it (after giving it 30 seconds for the oil pressure to come up and get the oil to fully circulate).

http://www.punchng.com/10-ways-people-kill-cars/


Thanks for this piece

I've been arguing this particular point with a friend for the past three months now. But whenever I tell him to warm the engine before putting it into motion he'll just look at me like I don't know what I'm saying.

And I'm sure showing him this will make him believe me now
Re: 10 Ways People Kill Their Cars by Sobeautiful: 7:54am On Jun 02, 2016
Good one. No. 5 puts shivers on me each time l hear it. Someone can't just hit the road on a journey when there's no reason to do so.

1 Like

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