DRIVING SAFE IN GHANA SERIES: Article No.5.
LONGEVITY FOR YOUR VEHICLE, WHILE ADDING TO YOUR CASH SAVINGS.
Modern vehicles are now made much better than ever before. Drivers of most new models can now expect a good 200,000 Km worth of engine life, as long as they follow the maintenance culture as written in the owner's manual religiously. But quite sadly, most of us motorists do not reach that milestone, because of bad driving habits that take years off the lives of our beloved cars or what we call our “Second Wives”. Even worse still, our nasty driving habits can end up costing us thousands of Cedis in repairs that could have been prevented. But hey, there is hope for you. Here are a few ways, which you can adopt to add longevity to your vehicle and also keep it out of the workshop.
Start up the Engine Properly
Most of the wear and tear on an engine occurs when you start the car. If you can get the starter stuff down, you'll find cars will wear much less over time. How do you do that? Simply make sure any extra accessories, such as headlights, fog lights and air conditioning units aren't turned on when you start the car. If you do, you're asking the engine to work harder than necessary right from the start.
An even more destructive habit is revving the engine. Believe it or not, this won't help warm up the car quickly. In fact, revving would rather do serious damage to your engine and significantly shorten its life span. All engines need oil for lubrication in order to run smoothly. Right after you turn over the ignition, the oil is still sitting in the pan. When you step on the gas pedal, you're asking the engine to work overtime without any lubricant and thus putting metal to metal. Wearing out this most important drive train component can cost you a lot for a new one.
Never let the Fuel Gauge Hit the “RED”
You may not realize it, but sediment collects at the bottom of the fuel tank over time. You never want to do anything to unleash that dirt into your fuel system. Even the smallest amount could clog or damage engine parts. You can stir up sediment by driving with less than a quarter of a tank of fuel. Prolonged abuse could wreck your fuel injectors, which will cost you about GH¢200.00 or more depending on the make of your car. You may also need a new fuel filter for that matter. By continually using the dirty fuel in your tank, your engine would start jerking especially when you are in traffic as well as consuming more fuel and finally you would, one day, need a fuel-system flush and cleaning. Expect to pay not less than ¢50.00 for this service at any filling station.
Do Turns Gently
Cutting the steering wheel too far to the right or left, something nearly everyone is guilty of while parallel parking, or making unnecessary U-Turns, can also do damage. By turning the wheel to the point where it can move no further, you're putting about 50 times more wear and tear on your steering pump and rack than normal. Most motorists will never need to replace the steering pump or rack because it should last the life of your car. But if you continually put massive stress on it, then prepare to cough out over GH¢120.00 for a second-hand one or better still a “Home-Used” one someday from downtown Abossey Okai. A brand new one will cost you over GH¢400.00. By the way, this will depend on the model and type.
Check Your Tires Regularly
The next time you roll by a vulcanizer, take a minute or two to stop and check your tire pressure. Too little or too much pressure can cause all sorts of problems. If you drive especially with too little air, your tires will get hot and excessive heat can wear out the tread much faster even during normal driving and if you drive with too much air, less rubber will hit the road than necessary. The next thing you know, the outside portion of your tire will be doing all the work and wearing out faster than the inside. In short, you will experience uneven wear of your tires. Checking your tire pressure regularly can save you a bundle of cash. Good second-hand tires these days will cost about GH¢35.00 each and brand new ones will cost you about GH¢65.00 each depending on the make and size.
Do Not Ride the Clutch
A very good driver knows very well that he or she isn’t supposed to ride the clutch (that is using the so-called “Half-Clutch” system) while driving. But some of us use the half-clutch to avoid rolling backwards while on a slope or hill. If the clutch is balanced just right it will even propel the car forward on an incline. While this seems very convenient, it doesn't exactly add longevity to the life of the clutch system. If you want to get 100,000 Km out of it, then you'd better use the hand brake instead. Another clutch-preserving tip is to shift the gear into neutral and take your foot off the clutch pedal while sitting in traffic. Ignore this advice, and you'll have to dole out from GH¢100.00 to GH¢300.00 for a replacement one very soon.
Listen to Your Car
Every little unusual sound your car makes should be considered as a cry for help. You ignore it, and a small problem could turn into a nightmare. The most common sounds most motorist including myself, ignore is squeaky brakes. “Oh this one is a small problem” that’s what most of us tell ourselves and life goes on as usual. As soon as you hear these sounds, then know that you probably need a set of new brake pads. For now, it’s already a GH¢25.00 problem thereabout. You keep on driving until the metal starts to screech, and you'll need to replace the brake disc. That will set you back another GH¢45.00 or more for a second hand one. It is much higher for a brand new one. Steering systems also need attention, too. Once you hear the whine of the steering wheel, you need to have it checked as soon as possible. If you are lucky, you may need to replace only the fluid or an aging hose. But if the pump is damaged from continued driving with insufficient fluid flow to the pump, then the pump itself will need to be replaced. That will cost you not less than GH¢120.00 for a used one.
Always Heed Your Warning Lights
Don't ignore the warning lights on your dashboard. Most motorists do. I have a friend of mine who drives an Alpha Romeo 75 model and the dashboard looks like the flight deck of a Boeing 747. Almost all the warning lights are blinking and he has been driving this car for close to one year! While we all lead busy lives and may think the problems can wait a bit, it usually isn’t the case. By waiting even a few days or weeks, you can turn a simple problem into a disaster. In some cases, you need to stop your car immediately and get it towed. Otherwise, you could do serious damage that could cost hundreds of Cedis to fix.
Now let’s look at two such situations. The first is when you see that your engine is overheated. If the temperature gauge crosses into the red zone, it is as dangerous to your car as a heart attack or stroke is to the human body. The price of driving even a few extra kilometers to the workshop could cost you your engine. You'll also ruin your engine if you drive after the loss of oil pressure. The engine oil light will pop up if this happens. Oil is the lifeblood of your engine and if you drive without it, you will cause catastrophic damage to your engine. A second-hand engine starts from about GH¢500.00 at Abossey Okai. More expensive models will fetch around GH¢800.00 to GH¢1,500.00 or even more, depending on the make of your vehicle.
Drive Your Vehicle More Often
Many people don't realize it, but not driving your car can be as damaging as driving it too hard. The worst thing you can do with a machine is not to use it. So if you have a second car, make sure you use it as often as possible and not for a Sunday drive to church as most people do. What can happen if you let your car sit too long? First of all, the battery might run down and that's because certain electrical devices are always “ON” in a car, drawing power from the battery. (The clock and central locking system are common examples.) A battery needs to be run in order to recharge itself so if it gets weak, you'll have to spend around GH¢150.00 or more for a new one, plus labour charges.
Rust is another concern, since moisture can build up under your car. One of the first components to be affected is the brake rotor or disc. Once the disc rusts, it must be replaced. As I mentioned earlier, a replacement will cost about GH¢70.00 or more for a second hand one. You might want to guess how much a brand new one will cost you. So if you're planning on going on a long vacation, ask a family member or friend to take your car out for a spin from time to time.
Neglect Will Cost You More
The single most important thing you can do for your car is take it in for regular maintenance. Research has shown that each year, motorists neglect more than USD$60 billion worth of simple basic auto maintenance, according to the Car Care Council, a nonprofit organization based in the USA. Not only will your car break down faster, the lack of proper maintenance will also undermine the safety of your vehicle and others on our good old roads. The National Road Safety Commission have also confirmed that majority of motor accidents that occur in Ghana yearly are due to the lack of proper maintenance for our vehicles.
Final Points to Note
Regular oil changes every 3,000 or 5,000 Km can double the life span of your vehicle. You also need to have the filters changed, belts checked and replaced if need be and all of the fluids inspected (Engine, Brake and Transmission fluids). This is sometimes referred to as a health check or a general inspection of your vehicle, which can be done by your trusted mechanic. Doing this roughly four times in a year is very much recommended. This should cost you about GH¢400.00 annually and your vehicle could last you some 250,000 km virtually trouble free. (During the later years, some small parts may break down, but replacement costs should be minimal.)
Finally, always remember that you could have an inexpensive hose or loose bolt and nut, which if ignored, could start off the beginning of the end for your treasured vehicle. By the way, I drive an old 1995 model Nissan Pickup which I can tell you is still in good shape.
