ADDITIONAL DRIVING TECHNIQUES TO AVOID
TO MAKE YOUR CAR LAST FOREVER
Feathering the Clutch
Have you ever seen someone in the car next to you on a hill, revving the engine
and causing the car to lunge forward then hit the brakes, only to watch the car
creep backward and the whole process starts again? I guarantee you that this
driver is “feathering the clutch.” What they’re doing is equalizing the clutch
halfway engaged and gunning the engine in an effort to make the car stay put on
a hill. This practice results in a failed clutch in short order every time. By
partially applying the clutch and racing the engine, you burn clutch disc material
off the disc, rendering it useless and costing you hundreds or over a thousand
dollars in repairs, depending on the damage done. It’s best to learn how to start a
stopped car on a hill with a clutch rather than this idiotic move.
Power Braking
When power braking, one foot is held on the brake while the other foot floors the
gas pedal. When the light turns green, the driver releases the brake and the car
races off at a high rate of acceleration. The problem with this practice is that
engine and transmission mounts are taxed and over time break. If there already is
a broken engine mount, the engine could lift up and chock the throttle linkage
open resulting in uncontrolled acceleration. In addition, internal automatic
transmission parts can fracture and break, brakes wear out when the tires break
loose against the applied brakes, transmission and oil cooler lines become
stressed and break causing a massive fluid leak and potentially do internal
engine or transmission damage. And this is just a few problems that could crop
up.
Drafting
Some people think they’re NASCAR’s Tony Stewart on the roadways, drafting
semis and other vehicles while driving on the highways. Not only is this
dangerous if the vehicle in front of you has to make a quick stop, it’s also
expensive in terms of paint work. Think about it: All the stones and projectiles
on the roadway rolled over by the leading vehicle gets kicked up onto your
vehicle’s body, paint, and windshield. Think about the paint and body damage,
not to mention glass damage you are setting yourself up to experience. Slow