Automatic cars are increasingly chosen by many people thanks to their simple and convenient operation, especially in urban traffic conditions.
However, many drivers still maintain incorrect driving habits, unintentionally increasing the wear and tear of gearboxes and engines, making repair costs later become expensive.
According to a technician at the Ninety Eight Auto Repair, Maintenance and Care Center (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City), one of the common mistakes is using both legs to control the car. This habit is often encountered in people who have just switched from manual to automatic cars. They still use their left foot to steer while their right foot controls the accelerator pedal.
Using both legs at the same time can lead to the situation of mistakenly stepping on the accelerator and brake pedals or accidentally stepping on the brake when still keeping the accelerator. This not only makes the car operate unstable but also increases the load on the gearbox, engine and potentially poses a risk of traffic unsafety. For automatic transmission vehicles, drivers should only use their right foot to control both the accelerator and brake pedals.
Another habit that also greatly affects the lifespan of the gearbox is pedaling the accelerator pedal every time you need to accelerate. When the driver frequently accelerates suddenly, the engine must maintain high revs for a long time, and the gearbox must also work with larger loads than normal. This causes the temperature inside the powertrain to increase, speeding up the abrasion of mechanical details.
To make the car accelerate smoother, the driver should accelerate slowly instead of kicking the accelerator pedal immediately. After the car starts accelerating, you can lightly release the accelerator pedal in a split second for the gearbox to complete the shifting process, and then continue to accelerate. This operating method helps the shifting process take place more smoothly, reducing pressure on the gears, clutch and details inside the gearbox.
According to Ninety Eight Auto, the automatic transmission is designed to be highly durable if the user operates properly and maintains it periodically. Drivers should only use up the accelerator pedal in truly necessary situations, such as when overtaking or handling emergencies.
Maintaining a gentle driving style, limiting sudden acceleration, combined with checking and changing gearbox oil as recommended by the manufacturer will help the gearbox and engine operate stably, extend lifespan, and significantly reduce the risk of damage and repair costs during use.
