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Top 10 Everyday Things People Do To Ruin Their Cars

ridelust.com — People are idiots, and this isn ’t a uniquely American phenomenon, it’s worldwide. The majority of human beings on Earth are stone dumb. Being dumb, most people do dumb things, like unknowingly destroy their car.

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  • mkamal, on 10/04/2008, -3/+106College campuses are so bad that my car's front bumper is still suffering from the effect. :(
    • bpmox, on 10/04/2008, -2/+30if it is your front bumper it sounds like you might be the problem.
      • tkocf821, on 10/04/2008, -8/+5I drive delivery at a college campus, but I was born with two eyes, 1 for the road and one for the sidewalks/sororities/parks

    • EarlOfLade, on 10/04/2008, -2/+58Well...
      A friend of mine smashed into a car waiting on green in front of him thanks to a specimen of point 10 in the article.. The dry comment from the driver in the car he hit, was " I saw her too!"
    • Ramble, on 10/04/2008, -14/+1If you've damaged your front bumper then you are in error.
      • Ultramagnus0001, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1I've been tempted to damage mu bumper many times.....ummmmm in error. Damn Buicks and Grey hair with perms.
    • dasamps, on 10/04/2008, -4/+2That makes Oregon State car hell.
    • jguy584, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5Go look at the bumpers of all the cars in NYC.
    • yuanzhoulu, on 10/05/2008, -1/+8from the article:"75% think English was the most widely spoken language in the world" English actually is the most *widely* spoken language in the world, in terms of geographic distribution of fluent speakers.
      • maynardw, on 10/05/2008, -1/+1I wondered when someone would point that out. Maybe the author of the article is a idiot.
  • Viperidae, on 10/04/2008, -3/+66I think this site is closer to the most common things people do to ruin their cars.

    http://www.barryboys.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t= ...
    • crazzy88ss, on 10/04/2008, -3/+7WTF's that big tail thing on the rear window?
    • ExRe, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5Actually, that's not half bad compared to the stuff I've seen. At least it looks a little bit more original than someone buying some cheap plastic spoiler (with an unmatching color) to throw on their Cavalier.
    • tee349, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1The *****? Is that a tiburon?
    • WildNelson, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1Wow, that spoiler looks like *****.
    • Puppetfunk, on 10/05/2008, -0/+9SPOILER ALERT!
  • hotkate92, on 10/04/2008, -22/+7"People are idiots"? I find the introduction excessively agressive. There are lots of people who observe all the rules. Though good article for those who don't
  • brianpipa, on 10/04/2008, -19/+94Dugg for point #10 - Driving Past Attractive Women
    • lusenok2, on 10/04/2008, -13/+6buried for exactly the same reason
    • SRSco, on 10/04/2008, -11/+7I was going to Digg this for being a good list, and then I saw #10. What a failure of a joke. That wasn't funny. That was lame.
    • hammerton1, on 10/05/2008, -2/+2Agreed, brianpipa. I've had some pretty close calls. Once I came close to mounting a curb and another time I almost slammed into a car coming towards a red light.
    • jguy584, on 10/05/2008, -1/+4It's right, but they give the wrong reasons. The problem is having to turn your head to check out their ass after you pass them, I have had many close calls due to this.
    • yoda7385, on 10/05/2008, -1/+1I actually did get into an accident because of an attractive girl in the car next to mine.
    • FaithclubDotNet, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2So do not drive past attractive women. Instead, stop and pick them up.
    • xsidekick409, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1That or driving expensive cars you know you can't have.
  • DeskFlyer, on 10/04/2008, -4/+113Obligatory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RMLt28n0-M
    • JakeW, on 10/04/2008, -3/+21LOL -- I was watching it (I didn't read the title...) and I was like... how can he be so ***** stupid?! And then I saw he was a she.. and I was like "Oh, I understand."
    • adrames, on 10/04/2008, -0/+27Must be the while-driving equivalent of ROFL. She was giggling at first, then broke into a full blown roll.
    • boot20, on 10/05/2008, -0/+24HOW THE F*CK did she manage that!!?? Wow, that's mad skills right there...
    • OneLess, on 10/05/2008, -0/+10Funniest thing I've seen all day, thank you so much!
    • onederboy, on 10/05/2008, -1/+8(Press Z or R twice!)
    • PrinceMissile, on 10/05/2008, -2/+12DO A BARREL ROLL!
    • Philophobic, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Imagine being the person that rolls up after her.
    • Musicmonkey34, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5Im not even angry, im impressed!
    • barrakuda, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1"ah she can't drive stick"
      "oh she turned too far"
      "***** JUST GOT REAL"
  • ninzoris, on 10/04/2008, -17/+57#11 Pressing down the clutch at a stop light (if you have a manual)
    • Khast, on 10/04/2008, -22/+3I think you will damage your transmission, drive shaft, and possibly the engine.

      -fail
    • secrity, on 10/04/2008, -4/+26Holding the clutch down will cause unnecessary wear to the throw out bearing. Put a manual transmission in neutral and release the clutch when the car is stopped and idling.
    • phrstbrn, on 10/04/2008, -17/+10You sir, are an idiot.
    • feliks2, on 10/04/2008, -2/+14Wow, apparently people are idiots and don't realize that standing on the clutch at a red really is bad, as well as rather uncomfortable.
      • ChildeRoland420, on 10/04/2008, -7/+5It may be uncomfortable, but how exactly is it bad for the car?
      • techdever, on 10/04/2008, -1/+3ChildeRoland420, read 2 comments above... what secrity sayed
      • giggl3, on 10/05/2008, -3/+5I bet the people that do this don't know their is a neutral for this reason...
      • ENFOUR, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1Can anyone tell me if the same is true for a motorcycle. Is it bad to hold the clutch lever @ a red light? I admit its definitely uncomfortable to hold it.
    • Ramble, on 10/04/2008, -10/+6Actually it's not really bad at all. You won't wear out the transmission because you've just disengaged it, and you won't wear out the cluth plate or anything else relating to the clutch because for you to go into neutral while stopped requires four movements of the clutch, while holding it open only requires two.
    • ninzoris, on 10/04/2008, -0/+28I really don't get why I'm being dugg down.
      I have replaced enough clutch kits and transmissions to understand how things work.

      If you pressing down on the clutch pedal while at a stop light the throwout bearing is pressing against the clutch pressure plate. Therefor unnecessarily wearing out. Not to mention that your using the clutch slave cylinder unnecessarily which will wear out and make the clutch pedal to stick to the floor.
      • krarks, on 10/05/2008, -0/+11No, you're completely right. I'm not sure why you got dugg down but it was most likely by the ones who don't even know how to drive a manual trans.

        It will wear out the throwout bearing (aka, release bearing) quicker than if you just keep it in neutral. It's not a hard habit to get into either. Also, while driving, keep your foot completely off the clutch pedal between shifts. No need to use it as a foot rest as you can accidentally be slightly disengaging the clutch which will also cause wear.
      • tidu, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2It's the auto service bury brigade, this article is against their agenda and they're digging you down. fight the man
    • jguy584, on 10/05/2008, -4/+18Whoever is digging down ninzoris is retarded.
    • Jennefah, on 10/05/2008, -9/+5While at a stop light? This goes against everything my instructor has told me.

      He says that while at a stop light I should get the car prepared to move off (putting it into 1st and bringing the clutch to the "bite point"). Otherwise "you'll waste valuable seconds getting the car prepared to move off".

      I'm not disagreeing with you though, I know feck all about the detailed workings of a car. I'm just a little surprised (and miffed) my instructor didn't know/tell me this.
      • ninzoris, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5You can do what he said but when you know your about to move. If for example the lights for the traffic going across your intersection have turned yellow.

        Most instances it takes the car in front of you longer to get going then it does for you to shift into first.
      • bullox, on 10/05/2008, -1/+14Clutches are more valuable than seconds.
      • individual61, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2For a beginning student, this is good advice. Shifting into gear and driving off quickly and efficiently is something that takes a while to master.

      • feliks2, on 10/05/2008, -1/+2Since when does it take "seconds" to shift into first and take off?
    • SpeedSteamBoat, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3Wow, good tip. I had no idea. i only do that about half the time, but I still feel foolish. :-/
    • goldisalie, on 10/05/2008, -0/+0As an addendum to #11, #11b: resting your foot on the clutch as you drive. You aren't pressing it sure, but you are putting an axial load on the entire crankshaft, albeit small, this wears out the thrust washers inside your engine, which are not designed for any significant axial loads.

      This one I find quite hard not to do.
      • feliks2, on 10/06/2008, -0/+1Same here, I knew its not good (didn't know the specific reason), but I find it more comfortable than the actual footrest.
  • josegutz, on 10/04/2008, -4/+23Mount 24 inch spinner rims on them and then stick those faux fender vents on the sides of the car.
    • pap232323, on 10/05/2008, -1/+5why do people insist on putting faux fender vents on there cars and not just old crappy cars but on new luxury cars. If you have spent 50K+ on a car why would you want to make it look like its worthless. I guess people here in Miami are idiots.
  • oakraid706, on 10/04/2008, -2/+7One of my friends shifts his car into neutral going down hills because he says it saves gas.
    • EntangledPhysx, on 10/04/2008, -1/+14I heard that is bad for your car (don't know if its true, my car manual says that). Also, I've read that newer cars turn off their fuel injectors when going down a hill to save gas when in drive (since the engine is still moving), but once you put it in N, the engine has to use gas to stay running.
      • goldisalie, on 10/05/2008, -1/+1Its not bad for the car, its just dangerous for you. You are relying 100% on the brakes, and without them you will just roll off down that hill. The article mentioned brakes but did not point out that the main reason you do not ride your brakes down hills is because they heat up, and hot brakes don't work as effectively. Its called brake fade, and in the end you get to the bottom of the hill and your brakes dont work till they cool down. Dangerous.
    • crazzy88ss, on 10/04/2008, -14/+6Well, technically it does. Your engine will only idle at ~5-800 RPM instead of revving at ~2-3000 RPM from the down hill grade.

      It's still a stupid idea because he will wear through his breaks super fast.
    • 13B1303, on 10/04/2008, -0/+17Depends on how old the car is, most fuel injected engines shut the injectors off when in under no load. The wheels turn the engine so you don't even need fuel to maintain idle. Try it in a car with an MPG meter, my car is 18 years old and engine breaking down some long hills my display will peg at 99mpg. I would also be worried about shifting my car from neutral to drive in an automatic at full speed. With a manual you can rev match but it's pointless anyway.
    • Jektal, on 10/04/2008, -3/+11Well, it should save gas. The real simple rule for determining if your action is costing or saving gas it to watch the tachometer (assuming your car has one). Anything you can do to keep your engine RPMs lower will save gas.

      What your friend does is an exaggeration of one of those "hypermiling" strategies people were always posting online when gas seemed like it'd soon become $10/gallon - rather than maintaining a steady speed on the highway, accelerate up hills to decrease the time your engine is fighting gravity and running at higher RPMs, and then coast down hills to take advantage of gravity.

      Anytime the engine is on, it uses gas. If you're at a complete stop, or in neutral, your engine should be running at it's idle rate - probably somewhere around 1,000RPM. Which is less than the engine would probably be running at if you were coasting downhill.

      But it is still a considerable amount higher than 0RPM, which brings in the debate of people saying you're best shutting your car off if you're sitting around waiting for that friend who's always late when you pick them up. And make no mistake, if all you care about is your gas mileage, they're right. 0 RPM will use less gas than idling around 1k RPM, always.

      But the "debate" part there, and with your friend shifting into neutral on the decline of every hill, comes when you care about anything other than just gas mileage. Shifting like that is probably adding a reasonable amount of additional strain to his transmission (and clutch, if it's a manual). Likewise, shutting the engine off every time you're stopped for more than XX seconds will add additional strain to your engine, especially the starter.

      Whether the extra damage to your engine/transmission is greater or less than the extra fuel you'd burn is the question.

      My opinion? Stop being an idiot and making driving more complicated just to save $0.20 in gas on your commute. In the big picture I doubt the gas mileage is as important as you (or, your friend) is making it out to be, you're hurting the rest of your car, and you're focused on stupid things while you should be concentrating on the road and keeping your vehicle on it, and separate from any other solid objects.
      • masfenix, on 10/04/2008, -3/+4I agree.
        My parents just bought a camry hybrid, and it actually shuts off the engine.. like.. theres no engine running (like when you turn off your car).
      • petard, on 10/04/2008, -1/+7@masfenix
        that's because the electric engine drives the car and the gas engine just makes electricity.
      • ChildeRoland420, on 10/04/2008, -1/+4Gas usage isn't all about RPM. When you engine brake the car uses no gas even though it may be revved up past 4000.
      • tautology, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1There seems to be a lower limit to the guideline that the lower the RPMs the better the MPG. In my E46 M3, around 2000 RPM is generally the most efficient across all gears. If I go below 2000, MPG actually get worse. Around 2000 RPM in 6th gear will get me 33 MPG at around 55 (rated 26 highway). Of course, the engine is designed for high RPM (8000 red line), so it might just be this one. 6000 below red line seems to be a reasonable lower limit.

        Like ChildeRoland420, I also use engine braking when I can until I get below 1000 RPM, when I brake in neutral. There are a lot of hills here in Portland. The only problem with that is that the oil temperature increases, so I watch for that and switch to regular braking if needed.
      • integra140, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Realistically RPMs have little to do with mpg....It is mainly your throttle position. I have a manual and I could be floored in 5th going 25mph and be under 1,000RPM. I have a ScanGauge that reads my mpg and I found that the higher RPMs uphill gets you better mpg than lower RPMs. This is due to the engine load be lighter in the lower gear, just like on a bicycle, so your throttle position is at a lower percentage.
      • InsaneOni, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1Yeah, this is completely wrong. As Integra140 said, it has more to do with A) Throttle position and B) where your car makes the most power. For smaller engines (like those in Integras), the maximum efficiency spot is around 2000-3000 rpm. At this RPM, you're generating enough torque that you can actually back off the throttle a little bit.

        I used to have a b16a in my CRX and I'd get 40mpg even though I was at 4000 rpm in 5th gear going 70 on the highway (Y1 transmission).
    • adrames, on 10/04/2008, -12/+7Doesn't make sense since it's just wearing his brakes down faster by not letting the engine slow the car.

      2 of my friends died while shifting into neutral /obligatory
    • futurepastnow, on 10/04/2008, -0/+5Look in the car's manual. Most of them have a warning not to drive them (or flat-tow them) in neutral above 55 MPH.
    • ExRe, on 10/05/2008, -2/+5Yes, it does save gas.

      Yes, it does put a little bit of strain on your transmission/engine when shifting back. The amount of strain is probably negligible, I don't think it is much more than what you put on it during normal use with shifting.

      No, it does not wear out your brakes. If you need to use your brakes when going down a hill you should not be in neutral. You are in neutral to coast, not brake.


      There is one location on my way to school where I can throw my automatic into neutral and coast a good mile, probably more than a mile actually. Yes, I do throw my car into neutral a lot, but most of the time it is a bit before a stop sign where I have to completely stop anyways. I get about 4-8mpg higher fuel economy than what my car is rated at (rated at 28mpg).
    • mphree, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3It does NOT save gas. In neutral, your car is actually using more fuel to keep the engine running than just letting off the gas pedal. Watch the Top Gear episode of Jeremy driving an Audi A8 with a twin-turbo V8 800 miles.
      • Generalfier1, on 10/05/2008, -1/+2Yeah cause we all drive Audi A8's round here, and what applies to an A8 certainly applies to every other car.
      • mphree, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1You're a ***** complete idiot. Holy *****. Learn how and engine works.
  • Puffles, on 10/04/2008, -27/+19#12 Owning a car while living in a city with a cheap and efficient mass transit system
    • bstew22, on 10/04/2008, -5/+5boo
    • chaoswings, on 10/04/2008, -1/+18Well it depends how far away you work. Going by bus takes 3x longer then going by car and there are somethings you are not allowed to or can't carry on it.
      • slvrbullet87, on 10/04/2008, -5/+3Strange that you have to drive your own car to the bomb factory
      • gavinhudson, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2You've clearly never lived in San Francisco, USA or Seoul, South Korea.
    • bagboyrebel, on 10/04/2008, -0/+15right, because mass transit will go anywhere that you ask them too.
      Mass transit is nice, but there are cases when you need to go somewhere else.
    • uncleosbert, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3hard on the wallet too... have you seen how much parking is in new york?
  • JuanBSU, on 10/04/2008, -6/+4I think the submitter has Digg rage.
  • elnerdo, on 10/04/2008, -11/+122"75% think English was the most widely spoken language in the world."

    Is it really that stupid to think it? English is generally considered the lingua franca, schools worldwide teach it. It's the second-most-widely spoken, and it only trails Chinese by a small margin (And will probably pass up Chinese, considering younger Chinese people are more likely to learn English than older people).
    • drlha, on 10/04/2008, -34/+3"Widely Spoken" means over a large area, not by a large number of people. Don't get "widely spoken" mixed up with "spoken by the most people".
      • elnerdo, on 10/04/2008, -1/+29In that case, English IS the most widely spoken language in the world.
      • drlha, on 10/06/2008, -2/+2Not sure why I got dugg down -29 for my comment above, it is correct. Downward diggers: Please look up "widely" in the dictionary". His assumption that English trails China as a "widely spoken language" is incorrect IMHO. Chinese is simply spoken by the most people.
    • proliance, on 10/04/2008, -7/+28English is unofficially spoken in 115 countries around the world and is considered the world's most influential language. So all of this crap about Americans can't find such and such on a map is quite suspect also.

      And I don't change my oil every 5000 miles either. I drive a 2008 Ford Escape and it is regularly serviced at the dealer according to their specifications, which means an oil change every 7500 miles.
    • doyoulikeworms, on 10/04/2008, -3/+12Yeah, English is definitely the most widely spoken in the world. There are stats that place Chinese and Hindi above English, but those stats are by "first-language" speakers.
    • nascentia, on 10/05/2008, -2/+8English is also the international language of all air traffic controllers, and is used internationally for business meetings because English is considered a safe, neutral language. So I agree, I don't think that's a dumb assumption.
    • 808ethan, on 10/05/2008, -1/+3English probably is the most widely KNOWN language. There are millions (billions?) of asians and europeans that cant speak English, but can read it and use it if they need to.
  • DLit, on 10/04/2008, -2/+151#12 Driving drunk
    • jackal42, on 10/04/2008, -2/+12#13 Having intercourse while drunk and driving
      • 13B1303, on 10/04/2008, -1/+21but probably worth it....
      • pleasureismine, on 10/04/2008, -2/+6Only if she's not a fattie.
      • giggl3, on 10/05/2008, -1/+6#14 Getting a blowjob, while driving a manual transmission and fingering a girl who's not fat.

        ^Try that and tell me you won't break something.
    • johnfritz, on 10/04/2008, -12/+5If I hear one more ***** person tell me about the dangers of drinking and driving, I am going to go drink a twelve pack of beer and run them down. With my car.

      Enough already. We all know not to drink and drive. Thank you. Now stfu.
      • ExRe, on 10/05/2008, -0/+13Obviously not enough people know the dangers of drinking and driving, else we wouldn't have many drunk driving crashes now would we?
      • pap232323, on 10/05/2008, -2/+6they should make it harder to get a drivers license because i know some people who drive worst than me when i'm drunk when they are sober.
      • GiggleStick, on 10/05/2008, -1/+5@ExRe
        Oh, they know the dangers, but they don't care. There's a difference.
    • 0tis, on 10/05/2008, -1/+3Don't Drink and Digg.
    • Attol, on 10/05/2008, -2/+8#13 Driving with a vagina on.
  • kidrichgt, on 10/04/2008, -11/+5#10 is probably the most damaging, it also causes old people to swerve and crash into your car, popped collars and of course classy pickup lines like "Hey baby want to ride my stick"
    • drew52686, on 10/04/2008, -2/+2Worst Pick-up line ever heard:

      "Hey gurl! What your screen name is shawty?"
  • c010rb1indusa, on 10/04/2008, -18/+6Funny and well written...Dugg
  • TexasShiv, on 10/04/2008, -25/+43This is a horrible list
  • Quake120, on 10/04/2008, -11/+95"Lovely. You know who you are, you’re car is filthy,"
    You are car is filthy huh?
    I think you should read the article "10 Ways People Can't Use ***** English Correctly".


  • byowt, on 10/04/2008, -8/+7Haha, I somehow misread this as "Top 10 Everyday Things People Do To Ruin Their Careers". Now that would be a MUCH better article to check out!
    • byrdgang, on 10/05/2008, -5/+2Cars != Careers.

      How did you add three letters (eer)? Get your eyes checked out (and this is coming from someone who wears glasses).
  • samscomputer2, on 10/04/2008, -6/+7you’ll eventually hear the sound of your own scream as you lose your brakes completely and fly off a cliff in a spectacular fireball of death. It’s more common than you think.
    • RSterkenburg, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5Most people assume other people read the article, instead of posting all the good parts in the comments.
  • DemiRonin, on 10/04/2008, -9/+4What's the point of having a car if you can't do number 10
    • Khast, on 10/04/2008, -4/+11Hmm...let's see... I use mine only to get from Point 'A' to Point 'B' and pray it can get back to point 'A' without someone impaling my car with theirs.

      Sorry, I am not looking at the hot chicks, most of them dress too gaudy for my tastes anyways.
      • upnortherik, on 10/04/2008, -1/+20Point A being 'mom's basement' and Point B being 'WalMart electronics department'
      • TimAllanCard, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Thank you upnortherik, for that wonderful comment.
      • pap232323, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3Point A mom's basement playing GTA4 or on digg.
        Point B WalMart parking lot buying some weed.
        too close to home huh erik?
  • MasonZombie, on 10/04/2008, -6/+4Hey, I follow all of those! Yay!
  • MisterMajusty, on 10/04/2008, -2/+74Buffer zone huh? I like to think that my car is running on "hopes and dreams"
  • theelk801, on 10/04/2008, -2/+13Who the hell has never heard of the parking brake?
    • MattElmore, on 10/04/2008, -3/+11Walk through a parking lot and look at people's windows. Almost no one who drives an automatic uses their parking brake. I finally trained my fiance to use it.

      The transmission is not a kickstand!
      • csw1342, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Try getting her to lock the steering wheel. . . oh the suffering.
      • ExRe, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5A parking brake is not needed on a flat surface.

        If you drive a manual, yes, you probably should always use a parking brake when parking (or at least I do).
      • pap232323, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3i live i Florida i have never even seen a hill in my life. i did use parking brake once when i took my boat to a ramp.
      • MrFoof82, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Agreed. No one uses it. They don't teach you to in driving school either

        For 6 months I had a car with an automatic transmission, and it was holiday season. So we were over at family's, and playing musical cars. And of all people, my father (a huge car nut) asked why the hell I had the handbrake engaged and the steering wheel locked.

        Guy had the biggest, "D'oh! Oh yeah!" moment in his life.
  • theStig, on 10/04/2008, -0/+75this list is clearly written by someone who doesn't know what they're talking about.

    a MUCH better list here:

    http://www.autoforumspy.com/2007/10/10-rules-for-p ...

    bottom line: maintenance.
    • mechfluff, on 10/04/2008, -0/+8Nice find. Most of that other list is common sense, but you'd be surprised at how many people don't even know that stuff.

      I know a girl who used to think that the only fluid that goes in a car is gasoline.... until her car broke down.
    • pk386, on 10/04/2008, -2/+5I agree except for the synthetic part...

      Don't use Synthetic in older cars that have only had mineral oil their entire life... Most seals in the engine will begin to leak. (due to synthetic having smaller molecules.)

      If the car calls for synthetic use it! If not DONT!

      The only exemption to this is if you build an engine from the bottom up and replace every seal then you can start with synthetic.

      (nothing aginst synthetic BTW just don't waste money on expensive oil when you don't have to...)
      • spaceman84, on 10/05/2008, -1/+6Plenty of drivers switch to synthetic at 150,000+ miles with no leaks.

        Regardless, synthetics don't cause leaks, they simply expose them. Better to get your seals replaced than use lower quality oil.
      • SpeedSteamBoat, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3This is completely true, and it is the same advise given to me by an auto technician of almost 40 years. You can say synthetics "only expose" leaks, but if it leaks with synthetic and not with mineral than it's a pretty small difference in my mind. In cars with 150,000+ miles you are likely to have to replace practically ALL the seals simply to switch to synthetic. You can say that plenty of people haven't had any leaks, but I've dealt with it first hand. Running synthetic from the start has clear advantages, but in a car that old the gains are pretty marginal. Better to keep using oil the works fine rather than invest in a bunch of new seals you probably wouldn't need simply to switch to marginally better oil for the likely short remainder of your cars life. After all, once a car hits 200k using mineral oil as opposed to synthetic is most likely the least of your concerns.
    • feliks2, on 10/04/2008, -1/+2Its from ridelust, so its written by horny little 13 year old boys that get Ds in their English classes and who have invested in a thesaurus, but not in learrning how to use it.
  • aurrea, on 10/04/2008, -5/+46Turn your radio off before starting your car? C'mon...
    • masfenix, on 10/04/2008, -4/+17Its not just the radio. The author was making a general statement about your car's accessories. For example, a radio might not be significant, but having AC on as soon you start your car does matter.
    • jinnie, on 10/04/2008, -1/+6and a radio alone could matter depending on the stereo equipment you've got going
    • jcozine, on 10/04/2008, -2/+44Most ignitions cut power to the accessories when starting the car. I should know, I've rewired my truck's ignition switch before. This article is total *****.
    • soakland2, on 10/04/2008, -2/+7It's a drain on the electrical system, not the engine. The alternator runs all the time the engine is running weather it's charging the battery or not.
      • ChildeRoland420, on 10/04/2008, -0/+9Yes, but the alternator will provide the engine with more resistance when there is a higher load on the electrical system.
    • Soulbow2, on 10/04/2008, -2/+3My car won't start at all unless everything else is off, especially the air conditioner.
  • computershack, on 10/04/2008, -13/+24Change the oil every 5,000 miles? Seriously, is the USA so backwards in automotive lubrication technology that you need to do this? Hell, we're on 12000+ mile intervals here in the UK and our engines aren't dropping to bits.

    Oh and by the way, most of the rest of the world uses manual gearboxes so a good third of that article is completely irrelevent.
    • Ymeg, on 10/04/2008, -0/+11or the article is *****?

      The UK does not have some special monopoly on automotive lubrication technology.
    • gujuthugster, on 10/04/2008, -5/+15i thought the UK goes on kilometers, not miles
      • cr3ative, on 10/04/2008, -1/+6Technically we do, but most people ignore certain parts of the metric system. We buy litres of cola, but pints of milk. Distances are still widely in miles - and my car requires a oil change once yearly or every 15,000 miles.
    • spaceman84, on 10/05/2008, -1/+7Honda now recommends once a year or every 15,000 miles. Other manufacturers recommend 10,000+ as well.
    • CobaltBlue, on 10/05/2008, -4/+20This is the first time I have seen someone be an arrogant douchebag about oil change intervals.
    • csw1342, on 10/05/2008, -5/+212,000 miles?? Sure you do, Joesixpack.

      Moron.
    • krahzee, on 10/05/2008, -1/+2I personally go once every 6 months. A bit earlier than the factory recomended ( Drive about 12k a year, car recommends every 7,500k) , but it is worth it to me to spend a few extra dollars a year given the varity of temperatures throughout the year here in NY.
    • kdesu, on 10/05/2008, -1/+3It could be that you guys use synthetic oil on all vehicles, whereas conventional oil is still widely used here.
    • Canadaa, on 10/05/2008, -0/+5man we must be getting ripped off in canada then - every 5000k, or 3000 miles is reccomended
      • IndustrialJones, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3Yeah, same here. Since I had my first car, I've always been told every 3 months or 3000 miles.
    • bluekangaroo, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2My manual says once every 7,500 miles.. I end up changing it once a year and at the six month interval i change the oil filter only. My car is 14 years old and i've never had engine trouble.

      3,000 miles is a myth invented by the oil industry to sell more oil.
    • MrFoof82, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2The UK also runs higher compression engines and a lot of turbodiesels, necessitating the use of fully synthetic oils which have a much higher service life than conventional oil.

      Whereas here in the US, you need a pretty high-end car for your manufacturer to require the use of synthetic.

      Granted I always run synthetic. Don't see why not to. I think I pay another $10/case of 12. Even if I don't change it myself and take it to a mechanic I trust (because I have no spare time at all for some reason) it's not like they charge me for. If I bring my own oil, they charge the same $24.
  • 5xSTUN, on 10/04/2008, -2/+9We need a "Top 10 Types of Lists That People Need to Stop Putting On the Web."
  • Handonam, on 10/04/2008, -1/+23Most important:

    13. adding useless bodywork/kits to cars attempting to improve the look, aerodynamics, or other performances to the car

    Yes, as in adding rear downforce to a Toyota Tercel, replacing with chrome tail lights, or painting the car with primer AND NOT FINISHING IT, LEAVING IT TO LOOK LIKE *****.

    14. riding the clutch (rolling back and forth) at a stop light. Stop trying to act cool you douchebags

    • feliks2, on 10/04/2008, -0/+6I don't think people who do that know what aerodynamics are, let alone how to even go about attempting to improve them.
    • Virgule, on 10/05/2008, -3/+3If I want to improve the aerodynamics of my car i'll install a full underside flat panel and btw rear wings are not automatically *****.
      • feliks2, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3I'm sure about 99% of aftermarket wings are complete performance, design, and mileage-hindering *****. So no, not quite automatically, but almost.
      • SpeedSteamBoat, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Unless you're corning at high-way speeds with a wing that is properly adjusted it is likely doing little more than causing drag (read: burning extra gas) and making you look like a douche.
      • Virgule, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Call me picky but 99% < 100%. Rear wings are not _automatically_ *****. Only 99% ***** because it's always there as a superfluous weight near an extremity that can actually catch enough wind at 60mph to slow you down without making your car any 'better' by any measurable lengths. :c)

        Aerodynamic is too fine an art to benefit right away from a generic bolt-on a part bought off a go-fast magazine ad.

        Rear wings have a perfectly valid purpose; it's just that you have no business driving fast enough on public streets to actually make them work.
    • adougy, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2"14. riding the clutch (rolling back and forth) at a stop light. Stop trying to act cool you douchebags"

      ..guilty..
      i feel so cool though =(
  • doublefelix, on 10/04/2008, -0/+1015. Placing a 'BadBoy' sticker in the rear window.
  • Perk, on 10/04/2008, -1/+11Add "not letting the turbo spool down" to the list. If your car is turbo-charged, the turbo is relying on circulating engine oil to cool it. If you shut the engine (and hence the oil pump) off before the turbo has a chance to spool down from 20,000 RPM, it'll dramatically shorten the life of the turbo.

    Always allow 30-60 seconds of idle (or very low RPM driving) time before shutting off the ignition on a turbo-charged car. Or buy a turbo-timer.
    • 13B1303, on 10/04/2008, -0/+8Unless you own a newer Mini, they have an electric water pump to circulate water to the turbo after shut down.
    • joshjx, on 10/04/2008, -0/+9most new cars don't need a turbo timer. The Ecu in the 08 EVO (probably the new STI as well) knows how much load was on the turbo and how hot the turbo is. If you turn off the car quickly after a hard run, the pumps and fans will actually stay on long enough to cool it.

      Also, if you aren't in boost (probably 90% of driving), then you aren't using the turbo, and it's not getting hot. Turbo timers are over rated.
  • jackal42, on 10/04/2008, -1/+516. Being completely oblivious to motorbikes.
    (resulting in said pissed off near death experience bikers leaving a nice big dent in your car with their boot)
    • cajungator2, on 10/05/2008, -1/+3I see people on motorbikes but Grand Theft Auto makes me want to hit them. Not cause them personal harm but just make the bike fly.
  • bobdole369, on 10/04/2008, -2/+521. Not Using The Parking Brake
    *** Not surprising. Most folks think the park selector is all you need. These same folks are mostly American's who have never driven a standard. No park on a 5-speed! I disagree with the article saying "It’ll add years of life to your cars transmission." The absolute worst you could do is snap the parking pawl, which basically holds the tranny fast. Once broken it freewheels. No big whoop - your car just rolls down the hill.

    2. Not Coming To A Complete Stop Before Shifting
    *** Also some misinformation. "You’ve just added months of wear to your transmission in seconds" Depending on tranny design - its just causing a bit of slippage on the bands, which are designed for that - the planetaries don't engage until the band stops the rear shaft anyways. Not a good idea, but not MONTHS of wear.

    3. Riding The Brakes Down A Hill
    *** NEVER do this.

    4. Forgetting To Change The Oil
    "You need to change your oil every 5,000 miles at the most." - Not with synthetics. Using a full-synth oil like mobil-one or Amsoil or Royal Purple as well as a synth designed filter can allow for 10-15,000 or even 20,000 mile oil change intervals.

    6. Starting Your Car The Wrong Way

    "Most of the wear on the engine happens when you start the car, and by turning off those accessories, your engine doesn’t have to work as hard when starting. "

    *** Simply wrong - your AC clutch is not engaged until the car is started, the alternator is actually switched out of the loop when the key is in "start". Even if it weren't, the load the alternator places on the engine is negligable.




    • graemee, on 10/04/2008, -8/+2No big whoop - your car just rolls down the hill.

      Unless your down the hill too.

      But I do agree with your points and the last joke one is lame. Not dugg. But this list is.
    • cknyan, on 10/05/2008, -1/+5I like your modifications to the list.
  • codx999, on 10/04/2008, -13/+3#10 ROTPL (rolling on the telephone pole laughing)
  • Brassbud, on 10/04/2008, -2/+19My issue is with the introduction. I'm pretty sure English is the most widely spoken language. As far as I know, the only language ever spoken on the Moon was English, and thats as wide as it gets at this point.
    • DroppedGT, on 10/04/2008, -10/+2well, china did make it to the moon recently..
      • TheSabre, on 10/04/2008, -0/+9Uh, no they didn't. They went to space. They are still planning on a manned moon mission by 2017 to 2024.
  • jcaino, on 10/04/2008, -0/+9there's things you can do to help in some of these situations:

    1. Not Using The Parking Brake
    not only should you use the parking break, but you should set it before taking your foot of the brakes. This way it doesn't load the transmission before the parking break is set

    3. Riding The Brakes Down A Hill
    downshift to a lower gear. then you use the compression of the motor to slow you down.
    • feliks2, on 10/04/2008, -5/+4Or just don't slow down? Oh wait, hills are very dangereous, if you go faster than the arbitrary speed limit you will crash and die, taking a child, a virgin, and patriot with you.
      • elnerdo, on 10/04/2008, -0/+5Nobody here claimed that you need to stay with the speed limit all the time.

        Your point just makes you look like a douche bag, and anyway, there are a lot of times when you need to be going slowly down a hill. You make it sound like there's never a reason to need to brake while going down a hill, and that is clearly wrong.
      • Virgule, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2try Montana ^_^
      • PeanutCheeseBar, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3If I were you, I'd worry more about myself than I would the child and the patriot.
    • Edudris, on 10/05/2008, -3/+2Brakes are cheaper than engines. Use the breaks instead of downshifting to extend the life of your engine.
  • upforair, on 10/04/2008, -0/+9I think someone should make a list, of the things mechanics "say" you need to get fixed,when all you asked for was an oil change!
    • corvairkid, on 10/05/2008, -0/+6Except that most people no longer do even basic maintenance on their vehicles so an oil change is the best time to look for other things that need attention.

      I work for a major GM dealership in my city and at least 20% of the repair work through our shop is from things found by the boys over in the quick lube. That's not counting burned out light bulbs, low or worn tires, dirty air filters, and fluid flushes which they handle.

      The ones I love are the soccer moms with the Pontiac Montana vans who come in with a blown tranny and I can pull up the last four oil change invoices with a fluid flush recommended. Pay me now or pay me later.
    • SpeedSteamBoat, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2"Your brake drums are shot, and you need a new transmission."
  • Vodd9, on 10/04/2008, -1/+26The author calls people with a lack of knowledge "dumb" yet he does not seem able to make the difference between idiocy and ignorance.
  • Netrilix, on 10/04/2008, -0/+14The other day, I was headed to Six Flags with a friend. I pulling out of the driveway to go pick her up. I was in reverse, and l looked down and saw that I didn't have my tickets with me. I slammed it into park, jumped out, and ran inside to get the tickets. I ran back outside, and my car was gone. Apparently park and drive are two different things. The car was 60 feet away, down a 40 foot elevation drop, in my backyard. Against a tree. Totaled.

    http://s4.tinypic.com/syl3xg.jpg
    • alarmist, on 10/04/2008, -1/+9LOL damn.
    • Protoss, on 10/04/2008, -1/+9One of the great things about driving a standard, you ALWAYS put the parking brake on when stepping out of the car.
      • campigenus, on 10/04/2008, -1/+7You do? I just put my car in gear. Unless, of course, you are talking about stepping out while the engine is running.
      • IronPwnage, on 10/05/2008, -0/+4That'll buff out.
      • RealJimShady, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3Standard? Is that a colloqualism for Manual Trans.?
      • Alth, on 10/05/2008, -0/+6Yes. Yes it is. See also 'stick' 'being a real man'.
      • lateralus13, on 10/05/2008, -0/+1if you were in reverse, why is the front of your car wrecked? just asking...
    • SpeedSteamBoat, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3Did you still go to Six Flags?
      • Netrilix, on 10/05/2008, -0/+3Yep, and I was still 5 minutes early picking her up. I left the thing in the woods and took another car.
      • Dugglous, on 10/06/2008, -0/+1I bet the sex with her is really good.
      • SpeedSteamBoat, on 10/13/2008, -0/+1Good man.
    • integra140, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2It's a blazer....You use that stick thing on the steering column to change gears. Lift up on it to put it in park. Push down on it to put in in drive. I don't see the complication.
  • senatorpjt, on 10/04/2008, -1/+7The corollary to #1 (not using the parking brake) is not remembering to turn the parking brake off before driving away. I'd probably be unlikely to start using it now because a) I've never had a problem with not doing it and b) I know I'm going to forget it's on.
    • BineySyndrome, on 10/04/2008, -0/+6You'll know by the smell and the lack of acceleration that you forgot to disengage it pretty quickly.
    • RealJimShady, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2Holy ***** where did you learn how to drive?

      I've never met anyone who doesn't use the handbreak every time they get out of the car.
      • ScottDaMan, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2When I'm not on a hill and parking, I don't use it in my automatic.
  • floronicman, on 10/04/2008, -1/+2Make that two super interesting lists today! Huaazh!
  • opiv421, on 10/04/2008, -0/+31#11 Text messaging.
    • jrtcs, on 10/05/2008, -0/+12This rule also applies to locomotives.
  • Proctor, on 10/04/2008, -2/+2Not washing the paint should be on there. If you don't wash and protect your paint, the sun will create clear coat failure. Clear coat failure can't be fixed unless resprayed and it looks like *****.
  • PHiZ187, on 10/04/2008, -5/+4I would like to add "immediately turning your key to start the engine." I always follow the procedure of inserting the key, turning the key to the furthest position before igntion. You will hear the fuel pump come on and then turn off, and your dashboard lights will all come on and then turn off (this is a diagnostic procedure.) After all of the lights go out, THEN you start your car.
    • kevinwiz, on 10/04/2008, -4/+3congratulations, but most people don't have that kind of time
  • FelixDrylock, on 10/04/2008, -1/+4I'm guilty of all those things except the pressure washing thing. I'M THE WORLDS WORST CAR OWNER.
    • xyqxyq, on 10/05/2008, -0/+2I'm sure there's a person out there who does all 10 things. Don't feel too bad.
  • EdwardMass, on 10/04/2008, -6/+5Dugg for number 10. Women are crazy...CRAZY HOT
  • DroppedGT, on 10/04/2008, -3/+6in response to number 10 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELa9o1V5UoI dangerous to the car or the woman lol?
    • giggl3, on 10/05/2008, -2/+1Holy ***** I am so high and I was just watching that video rofl good stuff ^_^
  • paker, on 10/04/2008, -4/+510. Driving Past Attractive Women
    Stopping and offering $20 for an immoral act, just to find out she's a cop!
  • smartsalman, on 10/04/2008, -0/+2must admit. I do #1 and #2 quite often!
  • Tartooob, on 10/04/2008, -1/+6Loved the article but replying to #6 Most new cars these days specially German cars, when switching on the engine, everything gets disconnected [electricity] and only the engine works then everything gets connected, so for example you are driving and your Air condition is on and you switched off the engine WITHOUT switching off the Air condition then you switch back on the engine, the air condition will disconnect for a few seconds then it will connect back, its a safety measure taken on all new cars and made by Germans [I guess?]
  • Suricou, on 10/04/2008, -1/+9When I was at university, one of the students was into car modding. He installed a turbocharger from a kit - one of those devices that precompresses air into the engine for more power. He wasn't very good at this, and found that the intake pipe couldn't fit to the grill at the front. Inventive bodger that he was, he simply rerouted it to intake underneath the car.

    The leafsucker did indeed draw in air, though the kinked pipe reduced power. It also drew in stones, sticks and leaves - directly into the engine. He got through one journey before realising this problem. Though I heard his engine survived, the turbo was destroyed.

    No, I don't know what happened to the air filter.
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