Tags
Related Posts
Share This
Gallivanter’s 14 Free Car Tips for Malaysians
Skip Washing the Car on Your Own
I used to wash my car at home, and end up spending longer time, and probably 5 times more than a professional car wash. It’s because we care for our car and make the effort to clean as much as possible, and sometimes, leave scratches by trying to wash too hard. So, always wash your car outside. There’s a carwash near my home in Shah Alam where I only pay RM8 for wash and vacuum!
Lower Your Car Seat if it’s Possible
I don’t know about you, but when I had a 4-wheel drive years ago, because of the high seating position, I felt like I was driving slower. With my new car, I then realize this is actually true, if you lower your adjustable seats, you quickly come to grips on the speed of the vehicle, unless you have height issues.
Turn Your Car Lights on A Little Earlier
With my new Kia Forte, it has an automated element that the lights come on approximately an hour before nightfall, and I believe this is good because I’m sure it helps reduce accident risk, just like for motorcycles.
Put the Car in Neutral During Stops of Over a Minute
When I had the Proton Gen-2, I hardly shift the gears to neutral to save the gearbox as opposed to wearing out the brake pads, which obviously is cheaper to replace. I then come to realize the shifting to neutral makes it a little easier for the engine as it reduces the amount of heat by the cooling system.
Empty Your Back Pockets and Save Your Ass
Lately, I have been removing my wallet from my back pocket during long drives. I realize that a thick wallet raises my right butt cheek a little, thus indirectly straining my lower back and unbalancing my spine. So, empty your back pockets and let your ass rest.
Go With the Flow, Forget About Your Tight Schedule
If you expect to keep a tight schedule on your travels, forget it. Trips usually take almost 20% longer than planned, so don’t drive like a maniac trying to get there, endangering your life and those around you too.
Lose the Junk in the Trunk
If your car boot has junk, lose it or at least trim it unless necessary. Weight plays a role in affecting your fuel consumption.
Ditch Junk Food
With my new car, it comes with loads of cupholders, indirectly making me drink more often in the car as well while driving. The best – water and nothing else.
Take Quick Breaks
For a long drive, take at least a 30 minutes break every 2 to 3 hours, because your nerves are stretched during the drive which they are not supposed to, nerves are not muscles.
Check Tire Pressure
Do not under inflate nor over inflate, they both have their weaknesses. Check your car manual, or look at the tyre itself, the pressure indication should be there – follow it to the book.
Maintain Decent Music Volume Level
I used to blast music until kingdom come when I was younger – my car was a portable nightclub, and I loved it because of how it got my blood pumping. However, as I got older, I learned that loud music, slows your reaction time. So set it at a volume where you can still talk without raising your voice.
Set a Driving Time Curfew
I used to love driving at night, whenever I travel long distance, I prefer leaving between 10pm and 11pm, reaching my destination around 3am to 5am, depending where I go. I was young back then, now I realize, best to travel early morning or late evening as anything in between, might cause you to be a little fatigue.
Pull Up the Hand Brake First, Then Put the Car in Park
Putting a car into park and then activating the parking brake causes the car to settle back, putting unnecessary weight on the transmission. With the car still in drive and your foot on the brake, activate the parking brake. Then put the car in neutral and release the foot brake.
Be Defensive, Anticipate Drivers Around You
These days, you have to think what other drivers around you will do, anticipate their moves 10 seconds ahead, just assume the worst, and you’ll immediately start thinking on your feet.
#1: but i find that sending car to car wash actually injure your car more compared to washing at home!
Its better to wash your own car. I do it all on my own incl polish and wax. I sent my car to a proffessional car wash to do the whole thing and I have a few complaints – 1 being they promised to deliver in 3 hours but ended up finishing in nearly 4 only; if I can do it all on my own in 3 or so why not a whole team with automated machines?
I only sent my car once and never again…
xin and PinknPurpleLizard – OK, there are 2 sides of the argument here, when you do it on your own, sometimes you get carried away in polishing and cleaning every detail that there’s a chance of you damaging it and wasting the effort in the process.
As for carwash, well, find one that’s pretty reliable and stick to that company – make sure it’s not a fly by night company, you can just by the cars that come by and the amount of cars that come by.
I only waxed my car ONCE in my life and I think that’s an overrated business.
PinknPurpleLizard – So you did it only once and swore never again? Why? Do you think that all car wash or waxing companies are the same?
I have helped family members send to other places but still the same crap. The product they use is not even good. Water doesn’t even bead consistently and the sheen is inconsistent. They have damaged engines (during an engine wash) and the black rubber detailing in the cars I have helped sent incl my own.
Polish and waxing keeps the paint nice, the car cleaner (as less dust will settle on surfaces) and can even take off scratches. But one needs to know the correct way b4 doing so. Any idiot can polish with polishing machine but it still takes an experienced/learned person to do it well. These machining idiots usually miss out spots around the joints, fender, pillars and bumper.