USA Today recently reported that 70 percent of Americans were experiencing some level of financial hardship thanks to the rising cost of gas. With that statistic, it is safe to assume that most drivers don't have a lot of extra funds lying around, especially to spend on car-related emergencies that require vehicle maintenance. Consumers can avoid running into these problems by treating their car well with each use.
Accoridng to Reader's Digest, the engine and transmission are worn out the most in the first 10 to 20 minutes on the road. It is important to accelerate gradually rather than flooring it - doing the latter on a regular basis could add years to your engine's life span.
If you live in an area with a lot of traffic lights, like a city, consider shifting to neutral when they turn red. The source says that this puts less strain on the engine, as staying in drive means that even though the vehicle is stopped, the machine is still trying to move forward. Keeping it in neutral is a good way to give the drivetrain a little rest.
Another small tip is to avoid turning the steering wheel in extreme positions for too long, as it can reportedly do damage to the power-steering pump.