Many of us have driving habits that we think are harmless, but they are slowly ruining our car’s petrol engine. This not only affects your mileage but also increases maintenance costs, as parts wear out faster than they should. The reasons for this are often small and go unnoticed. This guide will talk about these common mistakes, show you the damage they cause, and, most importantly, provide solutions to help you drive better and extend your car’s life. Understanding these common petrol car problems can save you thousands in repairs.
Mistake 1: Improper Gear Shifting
Your driving style, especially how you shift gears, is crucial. Driving at a very high RPM puts a lot of stress on the engine, which gradually damages it. You should always avoid running your engine at high RPMs in a low gear. On the other hand, driving at extremely low RPMs is just as bad. When you drive slowly in a high gear, the engine is under a lot of load, forcing the fuel injectors to inject more fuel for combustion. This puts a heavy strain on the engine and reduces its lifespan. This is one of the most common petrol car problems.
Mistake 2: Skipping the Warm-up
When you start your car in the morning, the engine is cold, and so is the engine oil. It takes a few seconds for the oil to properly circulate and lubricate all the engine parts. It then needs to warm up to reach its optimal temperature for effective lubrication. If you start the engine and immediately accelerate and drive hard, it’s like rubbing sand paper on your engine parts. It causes excessive wear and tear. Always give your car at least 30 seconds to warm up. Ignoring this simple step is a major contributor to petrol car problems.
Mistake 3: Ignoring a Misfire
A misfire is a sign that your engine is in trouble. It happens when an injector isn’t firing or a spark plug isn’t creating a spark, causing unburned fuel to exit the engine. Driving with a misfire can damage your catalytic converter and cause engine knocking, which is very harmful to your engine’s health. You can feel a misfire as extra vibration and a loss of pickup. If you feel this, you should get your car checked immediately and avoid driving it. This is a very serious petrol car problem that can lead to costly repairs.
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Mistake 4: Frequent Short Trips
Short trips, where you turn your car on and off frequently, are also a major killer for your engine. The life of your engine oil is measured not just in kilometers, but also in heating and cooling cycles. When you take frequent short trips, your engine often doesn’t even get to its optimal operating temperature. This wears down the engine parts and degrades the oil quality faster. It is always better to consolidate your trips and avoid turning the engine on and off repeatedly for short distances.
Mistake 5: Ignoring Check Engine Light
One of the most important things to remember is to never extend your engine oil change interval. While some companies like Tata suggest 15,000 km, it’s always better to change your oil at 10,000 km to keep your engine in top condition. Also, never ignore your check engine light. If it comes on, get your car scanned with an OBD scanner and fix the issue. Modern petrol car problems now require a similar level of proactive maintenance as diesel engines.
For more information on car maintenance, you can visit a trusted source like Car and Bike.
Here is a summary of the mistakes and solutions:
| Mistake | What It Does | Solution |
| Improper Gear Shifting | Stresses the engine, reduces life, and decreases mileage. | Shift gears at the right RPM, avoid extremely high or low revs. |
| No Warm-up | Causes excessive engine wear and tear. | Let the engine idle for 30 seconds before driving. |
| Ignoring Misfires | Damages the catalytic converter and causes engine knocking. | Get the car checked immediately; avoid driving with a misfire. |
| Frequent Short Trips | Wears down engine parts and degrades oil quality. | Consolidate your trips, avoid starting and stopping repeatedly. |
| Ignoring Check Engine Light | Can lead to major engine problems. | Get the car diagnosed with an OBD scanner immediately. |
Our Take
You might think that letting your car idle for a few seconds wastes fuel, but in the long run, it actually saves you money by preventing costly repairs. I always change my car’s oil before the recommended time, and as a result, the engine in my cars has always been in A1 condition. With modern petrol engines, it’s more important than ever to be proactive and avoid these common petrol car problems.
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