10 bad habits that kill the engine

Like any technology, cars get damaged - and it's certainly not the end of the world, because they can be repaired. However, it is frustrating when the damage is significant and affects the most vital and expensive components, especially the engine. And all too often, engine problems are the result of seemingly petty but bad driver habits.

Starting without warming up the engine

Many people think that warming up the engine before starting is already from the era of Muscovites and Cossacks. Not this way. Even today's engines with the most sophisticated control electronics still need to raise the temperature a little before putting them under stress.

Oil chilled overnight thickens and does not lubricate as effectively. Let it warm up a little before subjecting pistons and other moving parts to heavier loads. The temperature amplitude in the pistons during cold start and immediate opening of the throttle valve is about two hundred degrees. It is logical that the material does not hold up.

One and a half minutes - two idle runs are enough, and then ten minutes of driving at a leisurely pace.

By the way, in many countries with cold winters, external engine heating systems are widely used - as in the photo.

Oil change delay

Some old naturally aspirated Japanese engines do have legendary durability, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't have oil changes. Or wait until the indicator on the dashboard comes on. No matter how well the components are made from quality alloys, they cannot withstand dry friction.

Over time, the oil thickens and all sorts of waste gets into it. And even if the car is not driven often, it interacts with atmospheric oxygen and gradually loses its properties. Change it at the frequency indicated by the manufacturer, or even more often. If your mileage is low, change it once a year.

In the picture you can see what the oil looks like, which "I have not changed since I took it."

Unchecked oil level

Even if the oil is changed regularly, it is good to monitor the oil level. More modern cars usually do this electronically. But it's best not to rely on the computer alone. In some cases, the lamp comes on long after the engine starts to experience oil starvation. And the damage has already been done. At least from time to time, look at what the level bar shows.

Savings on consumables

The temptation to save on car maintenance is understandable - for what? If one antifreeze in the store costs half as much as another, the solution is simple. But in the modern era, the low price is always achieved at the expense of consumables and labor. Cheap coolant boils earlier and leads to system overheating of the engine. Not to mention those who prefer to save at all and pour water in the summer..

Unchecked antifreeze level

An equally bad habit is to ignore the low level of antifreeze. Many people never look at an overfill situation, relying on a light on the dash to signal them when they need to top up. And the coolant decreases over time - there are fumes, there are micro leaks.

Engine wash

In general, this is an unnecessary procedure. The engine is not meant to be cleaned. But even if you want to wash off the dirt and oil from time to time at any cost, do not do it yourself and with the help of improvised means. First you need to protect all vulnerable places from water - disconnect the battery terminals, cover the generator, the air filter housing ... And after washing, thoroughly dry and blow through all the terminals and contacts. It is better to entrust this work to experienced professionals. And best of all, don't worry at all.

Passing through deep puddles

Today's cars are certainly not as sensitive to deep puddles, but this gives many drivers the courage to step through the puddles. But excessive exposure to moisture on the engine will only harm. And if water somehow enters the cylinder in the compression cycle, that's the end of the engine.

Frequent overheating of the engine

The engine is designed to heat up - after all, this is internal combustion. But it should not overheat, because many of its components have limited resistance to too high temperatures. The absence or low quality of antifreeze is one of the possible causes of overheating.

Another is a compromise choice of fuel. It's tempting to fuel up cheaper. But nine times out of ten low price is achieved at the expense of quality. Low octane gasoline burns more slowly and with more knocks, which also leads to overheating.

Too high gear

Here is the third common cause of overheating. Many drivers find it bored or uncomfortable to regularly change gears. Even when they are forced to slow down, they do not reach for the lever, but again try to accelerate from low revs. In this mode, the engine does not cool down effectively.

Motor overload

Overheating the engine - due to lack of oil or for other reasons - often leads to the biggest trouble: seized pistons or crankshaft. A seized engine is either completely dead or can only be restored after a major overhaul.

All too often, however, sticking is also caused by the steering device: for example, if the driver overloads the engine by trying to pull an overly heavy trailer on a steep slope, or uprooting a tree in a cottage, or other feats of that order.