An auto expert spoke about the impact of driving style on the service life of a car

Discussions about the right riding style — calm and smooth or fast with acceleration — have been going on for many years. Some believe that sudden starts and frequent accelerations accelerate the wear of the engine and chassis, while others believe that for the car to function properly, it needs to operate at full capacity. Konstantin Ershov, coach of the training center of the international network of FIT SERVICE car services, told Izvestia on October 11 about how this affects the car.

"The components and parts of a car that is constantly driven at a speed of 40-50 km/h in urban traffic jams and short trips wear out faster. Because of this, deposits accumulate in the engine, the oil loses its properties, and the piston rings begin to stick. Over time, the engine may lose compression and start smoking," the expert said.

According to him, although such consequences do not occur immediately, for years such driving can significantly shorten the life of a car, especially for gasoline engines.

Driving on the highway with engine speeds above 3 thousand is useful for prevention. This helps the engine to get rid of carbon deposits, and the valves and spark plugs work in the normal temperature regime. However, it is important to remember, noted Ershov, that sudden accelerations on a cold engine can be harmful. This should be done only after warming up the engine and occasionally. Constant sudden starts and skidding can lead to major engine repairs.

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In addition, aggressive driving style negatively affects the transmission, especially if it is an automatic transmission (automatic transmission). She does not like sudden shifts and slips, which can lead to overheating of the oil and rapid wear. The manual transmission keeps working longer, but if you constantly start abruptly, the clutch and synchronizers will quickly fail.

"If the car has been driving calmly and smoothly for years, then the box adapts to this style. Then, when switching to a more active ride, slight tremors may appear when shifting gears — this is not a breakdown, but a consequence of adjusting the box to the driving style. Modern adaptive automatic transmissions remember the driving style and adjust the operating algorithm," the specialist emphasized.

He drew attention to the fact that the suspension is also sensitive to the riding style. Sudden acceleration and deceleration accelerate the wear of shock absorbers and ball bearings, especially if the car often drives on bad roads.

The expert recommended a balanced approach to driving style. Constant smooth driving without leaving the track and aggressive starts can be harmful to the car. The best option is alternation. Periodic trips on the highway with accelerations help clean the engine, and moderate styling helps preserve the gearbox and suspension.

On September 15, auto expert Alexander Kovalev named frankly problematic examples of Nissan cars on the Russian secondary market and singled out the third-generation Pathfinder. Before that, on September 8, he listed the problematic Mazda models on the Russian secondary market. Kovalev called the second-generation Mazda 6 sedan one of the company's most controversial projects.

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