Dynamic driving always has some negative consequences, which may manifest themselves not only in the form of legal consequences, but also in issues related to the operation of the vehicle. However, there are some faults that may occur earlier or with greater frequency if the driver drives his car too gently. Here are five such problems.
Personally, I am a supporter of a calm, gentle driving style, which is additionally made more pleasant by a smile on my face, pleasant music and focusing on what is happening around the vehicle. It is also the most effective way to reduce fuel consumption, which in turn translates into lower car maintenance costs. However, sometimes long-term, uninterrupted driving in this style can lead to certain faults or problems, which may then make themselves felt in the workshop. It just takes a little commitment to improve it, although it’s not always possible.
Problems with the DPF filter
DPF filters have been one of the biggest problems for diesel car users for about twenty years. On the other hand, they are the only known way to reduce the toxicity of these vehicles’ exhaust emissions. Nowadays, these filters are so advanced that they can burn out both at low engine speeds and during city driving.
The rest of the article is below the video
However, if you notice that the DPF filter in your car burns out too often or gets clogged too quickly, it may mean that your driving style is not suitable for this type of vehicle. Gentle acceleration, low revs, short distances, longer stops while driving (for example at traffic lights) – these are the most common operational reasons for premature filling of particulate filters.
How can this be remedied? If frequent city driving is a problem, plan a longer route on the ring road from time to time, even if it means losing some time and increasing your mileage. Also when traveling outside the city, it is worth using expressways and doing a few dynamic accelerations. It is good to ride with a medium load and a relatively constant speed for several or a dozen or so minutes.
Problems with the EGR valve
The EGR valve, i.e. Exhaust Gas Recirculation, is an important element of the vehicle’s exhaust system. Its main function is to open to allow a certain amount of exhaust gases to pass back into the combustion chambers. Thanks to this process, the toxicity of gases emerging from the exhaust system is much lower. Typically, the EGR valve opens when driving with a light or medium load, but never operates under full load or idle speed.
What does this mean for the driver? When driving for a long time with a low or medium load, the EGR valve opens more often, which causes it to become dirty more quickly. But that’s not the only problem. Exhaust gases that are passed further directly into the combustion chambers also cause damage. Dirt accumulates on the engine head and is difficult to remove. Moreover, the entire intake system, especially in direct injection engines, may be contaminated.
How to deal with this? Unfortunately, there is no clear solution to this problem. Regular cleaning of the valve and intake system can help, but dynamic driving will not make much difference because then the valve is closed and the contaminants do not disappear. However, occasional use of high rpm and heavy load can benefit the cleanliness of the intake and exhaust system.
Problem with water in the oil and exhaust
Another problem drivers may encounter is water accumulating in the oil and exhaust. Driving short distances, as well as driving with a light load in the autumn and winter, leads to the accumulation of condensation from the engine and exhaust system. Water that mixes with oil creates a substance with the consistency of warm butter and a brown color. Even if it is not visible, the oil ages faster and the components operating under oil pressure become less efficient.
Additionally the exhaust system rusts much faster if it is not properly heated and water remains in it. The more modern the car, with the more complicated exhaust gas treatment system, the greater the problem.
How to deal with this? It is worth warming up the entire car well from time to time, not just the coolant. The ride should end with the exhaust “firing” after stopping and turning off the engine. A dozen or so minutes of driving on the highway or a dozen or so dynamic accelerations are enough, for example while driving on a technical road parallel to the highway. Of course, all this should be done after the engine has warmed up to operating temperature.
Another important aspect is the care of the cooling system. An efficient cooling system allows the engine to warm up faster. If the engine is underheated (especially diesel), it will negatively affect each of the areas described above.
Last but not least, the rule concerns oil. It should be of appropriate viscosity and quality so that it still fulfills its function even after a slight loss of parameters. When driving short distances, especially in the city, the oil should be changed more often.
Problem with adapting the automatic transmission
Have you ever heard of the term “intelligent gearbox”? You may have come across this term, which car manufacturers often use, not always in a purely marketing context. Many automatic transmissions have the ability to adapt to the driver’s driving style, which may be quite unexpected for some people. Most often, this adaptation is short-term, which means that the gearbox adapts to your driving style from the moment you start the engine. However, it sometimes happens that after many years of use, the automatic transmission may function differently than at the beginning.
You may notice this especially after purchasing a used car with a higher mileage. If you purchased your vehicle from someone who drove it very calmly, the automatic transmission may be reluctant to downshift. In this case, it may be necessary to press the accelerator pedal almost fully to force a downshift. However, this is not a sign of a fault, although it may result from, for example, maintenance negligence, such as a kickdown cable not being adjusted or the oil not being changed.
What to do in that case? A good solution is to visit a mechanic specializing in gearboxes or electronics to “reset” the system. It is also worth changing the oil, preferably 2-3 times in quick succession. Thanks to this, the automatic transmission will start working “cleanly” and over the next thousands of kilometers it will adapt to your driving style.
Problem with the braking system
Another part of your car that may suffer if you only use a small part of its capabilities is the braking system. This especially applies to the rear brakes, which are hardly used in normal road traffic, let alone during gentle driving.
Brakes that are used only occasionally and minimally may begin to rust or even stop working properly due to seized pistons or other moving parts of the system. What’s worse, the driver may only find out about it in an emergency situation.
What to do to prevent this? First of all, from time to time it is worth accelerating harder and reducing your speed sharply, preferably several times, making sure that no one is following you. When you brake hard, you will find out how efficient the system is. Loud grinding noises from the brakes may be a sign of system problems and require at least a thorough inspection. It may also be due to corrosion of the brake discs.
2023-10-14 12:00:00
#drive #calmly #faults #car
