Top 5 Mistakes People Make With Their First Car & How To Avoid Them
— Advice from a relatively new driver
1. Ignoring Tire Pressure
Why this matters:
Tires that are low on pressure aren’t able to make proper contact with the road, leading to faster tire wear, more gas being used, and a higher chance of blowouts (especially in Calgary’s extreme temperatures).
How to avoid this:
Try to check your tire pressure once a month and especially before long trips. You can do this using a cheap digital gauge, or you can swing by Harper’s Tire and we can check it for you.
Tip: The pressure number printed on your tire isn’t what you should follow. Instead, use the one on your door frame or the owner’s manual.
2. Waiting Too Long for Oil Changes
Why this matters:
Your engine needs oil to protect it and help it run properly. Oil breaks down as the engine runs, so if it’s old, it cannot protect your engine as well as when it is new. If you run your engine low on oil or empty, then the engine could be done for. Fixing it = lots of $$$
How to avoid it:
Try to get an oil change every 5000-8000km, depending on the car and oil type. Your oil should be changed once a year regardless of mileage. To remind yourself, you can either set a reminder on your phone or ask Harper’s Tire to put a sticker on your windshield.
3. Forgetting about Tire Wear and Rotation
Why this matters:
Tires wear unevenly if you don’t rotate them, and driving with worn out tires means you’ll have less grip on the road, leading to longer stopping distances, and more sliding in the rain and snow.
How to avoid it:
Try to rotate your tires every 8,000-10,000 km, most of the time it’ll be free or cheap if you’re getting other services done to your car. You can also check your tread depth --- if it’s near or less than 2/32” your tires are worn out. Once your tires get to either 3/32” or 4/32”, you’ll need to consider getting some new tires.
Tip: You can stick a Toonie into your tread tire. If the silver outer ring is fully visible, then your tires are done and you need to get new ones.
4. Ignoring Warning Lights
Why this matters:
When the “check engine” light comes on, you should probably pay attention to it, it’s your car’s way of telling you that something’s wrong. It could mean anything from a loose gas cap to something serious like an overheating engine.
Red Light = Stop Driving ASAP
Examples of this would be your engine overheating, brake failure, or low oil pressure.
What you should do: Pull over safely and shut off the engine. Call a tow truck or roadside help, as driving any more could cause major damage.
Orange/Yellow Light:
Most check engine lights are yellow or orange
A solid light usually means something like a loose gas cap, worn spark plugs, or a minor sensor issue.
A flashing light means it’s more serious and could mean something like an engine problem which could cause some damage to the vehicle if you continue driving.
How to avoid it:
Don’t ignore the light, if it’s solid you usually have a couple days to get it checked out. If it’s flashing, stop driving and get your car looked at right away. You can either Google what the warning light means or come by Harper’s Tire and we can take a quick look at it.
5. Not Prepping for Calgary’s Wild Weather
Why this matters:
You never know what kind of weather you’re going to get in Calgary, one day it could be sunny and beautiful, and the next day there could be a snowstorm. If you’re not prepared with winter tires or a safety kit, you’re putting yourself at risk.
How to avoid it:
You should try to switch to winter tires around October, and keep a safety kit, with a blanket, phone charger, jumper cables, gloves and a flashlight in case anything goes wrong.