TL;DR – Our version of “I’m not reading all that, *SparkNotes pls.”
- These seven habits silently kill your car: 1) Riding the brakes. 2) Ignoring dashboard warning lights. 3) Harsh acceleration & cornering. 4) Not letting the engine warm up. 5) Running on empty. 6) Overloading your car. 7) Ignoring scheduled maintenance.
- Bad driving habits can compromise your car’s safety, damage crucial components, and increase vehicle wear and tear.
- Poor driving habits can lead to higher maintenance costs, shorter lifespans, expensive repairs and car maintenance costs, increased insurance premiums, and higher fuel consumption.
- Your insurance claims may be rejected if your car is damaged as a result of your questionable driving habits.
Driving Habits That Are Damaging Your Car in South Africa
Think you’re a good driver? We’re going to hold your hand when we say this: You’re probably not. And no, we’re not just talking to the Gauteng Polo drivers.
Every motorist develops habits behind the wheel: some are innocent enough (hands at 10-and-2 instead of 9-and-3), but some driving habits can cause serious damage to your vehicle without you even knowing that you are doing it.
Small Habits, Big Damage – Why This Matters
If you’re guilty of the following 7 driving habits, we have news for you… :
- Riding the brakes
- Ignoring dashboard warning lights
- Harsh acceleration & cornering
- Not letting the engine warm up
- Running on empty
- Overloading your car
- Ignoring scheduled maintenance
These seven habits silently kill your car, causing thousands of Rands worth of damage and casting doubt on your driving ability.
But worry not, this article isn’t here to shame you (but we might be side-eyeing you just a bit).
In this article, we’ll do more than just give you the driving lesson of a lifetime; by changing some of your poor driving techniques, we’ll help you save money, reduce repairs, and improve your coverage eligibility.
Habit #1 – Riding the Brakes
Does harsh braking damage your car? Yes. Harsh braking can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 40%, trigger ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System), overheat brake pads, and wear out your tyres quicker.
Constant Braking Wears Out More Than Just Pads
Once upon a time, car brakes were invented to provide essential control by slowing down or stopping the vehicle.
But instead of using brakes for their intended purpose, a.k.a. safety, preventing accidents, and allowing for safe operation at higher speeds, some motorists ride them.
Using the brakes for an extended period could lead to brake pad glazing, which happens when the brakes are overheated and crystallised materials start to appear on the brake pads and disks. This can cause poor brake performance, vibrations, and cracks.
Other adverse effects of riding your brakes include excessive heat buildup, which warps brake rotors and damages brake fluid. If you hear a scraping noise while you brake, 9.9/10, you probably need to replace your brake pads.
Ideally, you should only use it when decelerating slowly over a long distance, like on the motorway. In any other scenario, tap your foot lightly on the brakes to slow to the desired speed.
Habit #2 – Ignoring Dashboard Warning Lights
Does ignoring your dashboard warning lights damage your car? Potentially. Dashboard warning lights alert you of any issues with your vehicle; ignoring them could compromise your car’s longevity, safety and health.
Warning Lights Aren’t Suggestions – They’re Serious
A few of your vehicle’s features exist for aesthetics; your dashboard lights aren’t one of those. They serve a far greater purpose.
Dashboard warning lights are your car’s early warning system.
Similar to a robot, the different colours indicate varying levels of urgency; red means stop immediately for a safety or serious issue, yellow or orange means pay attention soon for a less urgent problem.
Ignoring dashboard warning lights is dangerous and costly because it can lead to safety risks, severe mechanical damage, and higher repair costs. If you act immediately, you’ll avoid all the stress and unnecessary expenses associated with delayed action.
So, the next time your car’s dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree, get diagnostics done ASAP.
Habit #3 – Harsh Acceleration & Cornering
Does harsh acceleration and cornering damage your car? Yes. These driving habits can increase wear and tear on the engine, transmission, suspension, and tyres.
You’re Not in Fast & Furious: Ease Off the Pedal
If you feel personally called out by this heading, imagine how the public feels whenever you get behind the wheel.
Aggressively taking corners puts strain on your tyres and brake pads. They can cause rear-end collisions and create hazardous situations for following vehicles.
These reckless driving behaviours pose safety risks, including a heightened risk of accidents, rollovers, and losing control of the car. This could lead to injuries to you or your passengers, other road users, and damage to public or private property.
Adding insult to injury, harsh acceleration and cornering increase fuel consumption and wear on car components like tyres, brakes, and suspension.
What does this do to your vehicle?
You may find yourself paying higher maintenance costs and potentially experiencing downtime because your car is out of commission.
So, the next time you feel the need for speed, remember that gradual acceleration saves money and your car. Besides, you’re already late; rushing won’t change that fact.
Habit #4 – Not Letting the Engine Warm Up
Does not letting the engine warm up damage your car? It depends. There’s been a big debate, but the overall consensus is that the best way to warm up a modern, fuel-injected car is to start driving gently after about 30 seconds, avoiding aggressive acceleration until the engine reaches its normal operating temperature.
Cold Starts = Cold Engine Oil = More Damage
Winter mornings are brutal, and the low temperatures and lack of sunshine don’t help. Now imagine if your morning routine included being doused in ice-cold water. Well, that’s kind of how your car feels when you rev its engine before allowing it to warm up.
Not letting the engine warm up before the engine oil circulates properly can strain its components and cause increased wear and tear.
Cold engine oil is thicker, so it has a harder time circulating effectively and takes longer to reach all the metal moving parts.
So, instead of rushing off, and destroying your engine in the process, allow the car to idle for at least 30 seconds before moving off gently. Even on a warm day, you should avoid revving your engine after starting the vehicle. This will help maintain the engine’s health and longevity.
Habit #5 – Running on Empty
Does running on empty damage your car? Yes. Running on empty can cause the fuel pump to overheat and fail, clog fuel filters and injectors with sediment from the bottom of the tank, and lead to engine misfires.
Driving on Fumes Can Damage Your Fuel Pump
Running on empty might be admirable in today’s hustle culture-fueled society, but not where automobiles are concerned. Newsflash: Your car needs actual fuel.
When your car is running on low fuel, it sucks up sediment from the bottom of the fuel tank, potentially clogging filters and injectors. Your car’s fuel pump is designed to be submerged in liquid fuel to work efficiently.
With diesel engines, in particular, running on low fuel can damage the fuel pumps and result in excessive wear and tear.
Starting your car with low fuel can also damage the ignition system and cause engine misfires due to an improper fuel-air mixture!
Our recommendation is not to leave refuelling until the very last second; fill up at ¼ tanks, not “emergency” mode. We get it—petrol prices have you thinking twice about pulling into the nearest garage, but your car’s health should matter more than saving a few cents.
Habit #6 – Overloading Your Car
Does overloading your car damage it? Well, yes. Carrying extra weight forces the car’s critical components to work harder, leading to overheating and potentially catastrophic mechanical failures.
Your Boot Isn’t a Brick Haulier
This may surprise you (it certainly did when we were researching), but carrying excessive weight or overloading your car affects fuel consumption. The extra weight also puts unnecessary stress on your tyres, the vehicle’s suspension, engine and brakes, especially smaller vehicles.
It also decreases braking distance, meaning your car will take longer to come to a stop.
Another reason to avoid exceeding your car’s loading capacity (how much weight it can comfortably carry) is that your insurance may not pay out if any damage occurs that could be linked to overloading.
If you’re unsure how much weight your car can handle, remember to check its loading capacity, which is found in your manual, before loading up.
Habit #7 – Ignoring Scheduled Maintenance
Does ignoring scheduled maintenance damage your car? Yes. Ignoring your car’s regular schedule can lead to extensive and costly repairs, reduced performance and fuel efficiency, and significant safety risks to you and others on the road.
Skipping Services Can Void Your Insurance
If you ask any driver what the hardest part of having a car is, 9/10 will say, “Car maintenance is crazy, bro!” (Sorry, we’re quoting the 23-year-old intern from the Marketing department).
Servicing your car helps maintain its performance, ensuring your safety and keeping the manufacturer’s warranty and your insurance policy valid. According to Dewald Ranft, Chairman of the Motor Industry Workshop Association, motorists who skip their service risk having their claims rejected.
Like most South African insurance providers, Pineapple has a clause stating that policyholders must take reasonable steps to prevent accidents.
Why? Well, skipping your car’s service is a form of negligence.
If you’re deemed negligent, your insurance may reject your claim because they could argue that you should have taken preventative steps to maintain your car, but didn’t.
Other dangers of skipping your car’s scheduled maintenance include:
- Expensive repairs that could’ve been caught early.
- Compromised safety due to negligence of the engine, tyres, brakes, etc.
- A lower resale value.
Just like you get routine check-ups for good personal health, your car also benefits from regular maintenance. Keep a digital or printed service record to show you’ve done your due diligence, and your car’s safety hasn’t been compromised.
| Check your car’s policy terms to see what maintenance is required. |
Drive Better. Save Money. Stay Covered.
You don’t need to be a motorhead or car enthusiast to stay on top of your car’s health—just a mindful driver. Steer clear of these seven bad habits, and you’ll already be doing better than most South African motorists.
Speaking of most South African motorists… many of them don’t have car insurance.
They must not have heard that Pineapple’s comprehensive cover is affordable (R19-ish a day), quick (quotes in 90 seconds, insurance in under 5 minutes) and accessible.
- Simply download the Pineapple app
- Send us a WhatsApp message on 060 012 3771
- Get a quote on pineapple.co.za (you’re already here, so that’s half the work done)
Want to be rewarded for better driving habits? Learn about Pineapple’s ‘Drive Less, Get Blessed’ benefit.
Please Note: The information provided above is for informational purposes only; you should not construe any such information as legal or financial advice.
Pineapple (FSP 48650) is underwritten by Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Insure Limited, a licensed Non-Life Insurer and authorised FSP. T&Cs apply.
