It is true, most cars reach the end of their lifecycle without necessarily having been involved in a car crash, and this is why.
Here’s a list of what you should avoid doing to ensure your vehicle lasts as long as possible:
Ignoring dashboard warning lights, i.e., the oil or overheating warnings
Common practice amongst people is to ignore these lights, but don't try to ignore the red oil light; once you see that pop up, pull over and do what you have to do so that the issue is solved or else….
Driving with totally less or no fuel at all
Running out of petrol or diesel can wreak havoc on your car by letting debris enter the fuel delivery system. At best, you’ll have a few fuel filters to change. At worst, you’ll need to pay a mechanic to fix your fuel injection system. It’s usually wise to fill up when you’ve got about a quarter tank left.
Letting Rust Spread
Whether a small crack of it, never ignore rust, because then you will be forced to incur a lot of money; it is actually the same thing as ignoring a crack and ending up to build an entire wall that you had not planned for.
Putting Diesel in a Petrol Car (and the other way round)
Cars have become advanced lately but there’s not a single model capable of running on both petrol and diesel. Never Mix them!! under any circumstances.
Ignoring Leaks
If your car is leaving a trace behind, make sure you pull over and try to see where the problem is before it gets bad because who knows, it could be the brake fluid, and that's the last thing you want to happen to you. Always be considerate and keen.
Riding the Clutch
If you're driving a manual car, refrain from driving with your foot resting on the pedal. Keep your foot off the clutch when you’re not changing gears because even a slight amount of pressure will disengage it.
Letting a car sit idly for a long time
Cars are designed to be driven on a regular basis; leaving a car parked for months and years will cost you a lot. Seals dry out over time and cause leaks. If they're part of your engine, the engine might even fail to start because it has been cold and abandoned for centuries. Then just don't just buy a car; if you are going to leave it in parking, don't say you had no idea maintaining it was expensive.
Shifting to reverse while moving forward
More especially on manual cars, there's absolutely no way you can go from gear number 4 immediately speeding on a highway and switch to reverse; you will not believe your eyes, unless you're shooting a movie, which I am very sure you ain't. Never shift into reverse unless you’re at a complete stop. You'll damage your gearbox if you try pulling such a stunt which may seem fun but come with a cost.
