Parents using their cars to drop off or pick up their children from school are making “the biggest mistake” and risk serious damage, warns a leading mechanic from ClickMechanic.
According to Jason McManus, a master technician at ClickMechanic, short journeys to the school gates and back can cause a range of problems for key car components such as the engine and battery. These small trips do not allow vital car parts to reach optimum performance, leading to long-term issues including failures and rusting.
Mr. McManus emphasizes that taking short trips is the biggest mistake drivers make that causes unnecessary damage. Instead, he advises parents to walk for 15 minutes to the shop rather than taking a three-minute drive. This is because short trips do not allow the vehicle to warm up, preventing the components from reaching the right temperature and lubrication for optimum performance.
He further explains that this can cause damage to the engine as the oil does not reach the ideal heat and density to lubricate the components it’s designed for. Additionally, short distances can result in moisture gathering in the exhaust pipe, which can lead to rusting as it does not get hot enough to evaporate.
This warning comes as school children across England return to classrooms after the six-week summer holiday. While schools in Scotland already opened in August and youngsters in Northern Ireland went back on September 1st, ClickMechanic warns that vehicles were built with longer journeys in mind and key components rely on being warmed up to run efficiently.
However, Mr. McManus highlights that it’s not just vehicles that could be harmed by shorter trips. Environmental concerns also come into play. When the car is started, everything is cold, and it takes more effort to ignite fuel, resulting in a richer mixture of fuel and more emissions. This is why fumes from the exhaust often smell stronger when a vehicle is started compared to when it has been running for a while.
Considering the potential damage to the vehicle and the environment that comes with short trips, Mr. McManus strongly advises against journeys of less than three minutes.
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