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Most drivers dream of hitting 200,000 m,
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but for many, their car doesn't even
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make it to 100,000. Why? Because they
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unknowingly commit deadly car sins that
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slowly murder their vehicle. In this
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video, I'll expose the 13 habits,
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mistakes, and maintenance neglects that
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kill cars before they even hit six
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figures. If you want your ride to
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survive the long road ahead, you must
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avoid these fatal errors. Stick until
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the end because I will also share a
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bonus tip that alone make your car last
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over 5,000 miles. Let's dive in. Mistake
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13: Mixing the wrong coolant. Coolant
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isn't just colored water. It's a
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chemically engineered fluid designed to
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protect your engine from overheating,
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freezing, and internal corrosion.
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Coolant types vary based on chemical
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composition, and they aren't all
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interchangeable. When you mix
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incompatible types, it can cause a
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chemical reaction that turns the fluid
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into a gelatinous sludge inside your
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cooling system. This sludge can clog up
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the radiator, heater core, and water
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pump, leading to overheating. Many
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modern vehicles use specific
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formulations of coolant like hot, oat,
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or silicut free blends, and using the
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wrong one invalidates warranties. Always
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follow the manufacturer's coolant
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recommendation and never top off without
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knowing what's already in the system.
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Mistake number 12, revving the engine
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right after a cold start. Revving your
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engine the moment you start it,
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especially on a cold morning, is one of
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the fastest ways to shorten its life.
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When your engine is cold, the oil has
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settled overnight in the oil pan and
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hasn't yet circulated to the top of the
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engine, where critical components like
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cam shafts, turbochargers, and valves
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desperately need lubrication. Revving it
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early causes these parts to rub together
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at high speeds while still running dry,
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which leads to microscopic wear that
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adds up fast over time. This wear slowly
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erodess the internal engine components
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and shortens their lifespan. To protect
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your engine, let it idle for at least 30
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to 60 seconds so oil pressure can build
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and coat all moving parts properly. Then
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drive gently until the engine warms up.
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Patience here can add years to your
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engine's life. Mistake number 11.
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Hauling extra weight for no reason.
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Carrying unnecessary weight might not
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seem like a big deal, but over time it
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can silently wear out your vehicle
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faster than you'd think. The heavier
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your car, the harder your engine has to
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work to move it, burning more fuel,
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increasing strain on the transmission,
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and wearing out suspension parts
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quicker. That weight also puts more
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pressure on your brakes, forcing them to
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work overtime and heat up faster, which
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leads to premature brake fade or
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failure. If your trunk looks like a
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storage unit, it's time for a cleanout.
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Carry only what you need. A lighter car
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is a healthier car and one that'll thank
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you by lasting longer and performing
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better. Mistake number 10, skipping oil
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changes or waiting too long. Skipping
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oil change is the number one car killer,
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and it's shockingly common. Engine oil
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doesn't just keep things smooth, it
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removes heat, reduces friction, and
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keeps everything from welding together
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under pressure. But when you skip oil
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changes, that fluid turns into thick,
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dirty sludge. This sludge clogs oil
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passages and starves components of
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lubrication. Without proper lubrication,
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metal parts of your engine grind against
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each other and produce excessive
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friction and heat. This wear accelerates
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the degradation of vital engine parts
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like cam shafts, pistons, and bearings.
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Over time, this leads to major internal
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engine damage that's extremely expensive
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to repair, usually from $4,000 to
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$8,000. Most manufacturers recommend
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changing oil every 5,000 to 7,500 m. But
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if you drive hard or in hot climates,
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you may need it even sooner. Mistake
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number nine, overfilling your engine
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oil. Most drivers obsess over low oil
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levels, but did you know that too much
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oil can be just as deadly? When the oil
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is overfilled, the spinning crankshaft
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churns the excess oil into foam, which
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eliminates its lubricating properties.
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This foaming oil can't coat engine parts
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effectively, leading to metal-on-metal
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contact. Excessive pressure from
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overfilling can also blow seals and
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gaskets which lead to oil leaks and
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further damage. It is recommended to
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always check your oil level with the
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dipstick. And if you add oil yourself,
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pour it slowly and stop once you reach
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the max line. A little extra oil might
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seem harmless, but it can destroy your
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engine from the inside out. Mistake
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number eight, never flushing or checking
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the transmission fluid. Your
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transmission is one of the most fragile
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and expensive parts of your car, but
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most drivers don't touch it until it's
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too late. Transmission fluid is one of
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the most vital parts of your
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transmission. It lubricates the complex
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moving parts inside your transmission
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and also serves as a hydraulic fluid to
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engage gears. Over time, it breaks down
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from heat and friction and loses its
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ability to protect internal components.
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If the fluid isn't changed regularly,
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debris and metal shavings can
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accumulate, which may clog or damage to
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clutch packs and solenoids. Eventually,
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your transmission may fail entirely, and
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replacing it can cost between $2,000 to
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Many transmissions are sealed for life,
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but this doesn't mean maintenance-free.
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You still need to service the fluid at
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the recommended interval. Keeping that
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fluid fresh ensures the longevity of the
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transmission. Mistake number seven,
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overheating the engine repeatedly.
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Overheating is like a heart attack for
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your engine. Do it once and long-term
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damage is almost guaranteed. A failed
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thermostat, low coolant, a leaking water
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pump, or even a clogged radiator can all
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cause temperature spikes. But what kills
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the engine is ignoring it. Every time
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your engine overheats, metal components
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expand beyond their tolerance, gaskets
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start to fail, and cylinder heads can
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warp or crack. Once that happens, you'll
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need an engine rebuild or replacement.
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Keep an eye on your temperature gauge
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and never drive with a hot engine. It's
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a fast track to engine death. Mistake
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number five, using cheap off-brand fuel.
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You might think you're saving money by
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filling up at that random no-name gas
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station, but cheap fuel is a silent
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killer. Lowquality gasoline often lacks
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detergents that clean the engine. And
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over time, carbon builds up inside your
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injectors, valves, and combustion
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chamber. That leads to poor performance,
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engine knocking, and long-term damage to
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your pistons and spark plugs. If your
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car requires premium fuel and you give
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it regular instead, you're literally
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burning your engine from the inside out.
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Always stick with top tier gas brands.
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It's only a few cents more, but it could
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save your entire engine. Mistake number
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four, neglecting the engine air filter.
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Think of your engine air filter like
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your car's lungs. When it's clean, your
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engine breathes easy, but when it's
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clogged, it suffocates. A dirty air
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filter limits air flow, which forces
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your engine to compensate by injecting
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more fuel. This destroys your car's fuel
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economy and engine power. Even worse,
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restricted air flow causes incomplete
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combustion, carbon buildup, and
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overheating in critical areas. Long-term
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neglect can damage your spark plugs,
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throttle body, and catalytic converter.
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Therefore, it is recommended to replace
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your engine air filter every 10,000 to
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15,000. Replacing an air filter costs
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about $20 and takes 5 minutes, but
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ignoring it can cost you thousands.
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Mistake number three, riding on worn out
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tires or wrong tire pressure. Tires do
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more than roll. They affect your
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handling, braking, suspension, and fuel
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economy. Worn out tire means less grip,
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longer stopping distance, and a much
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higher risk of hydroplaning in the rain.
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And driving with underinflated tires
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makes your engine work harder, burns
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more fuel, and wears the tires unevenly.
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On the flip side, overinflated tires
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reduce your traction and can lead to
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blowouts. Check your tire pressure
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monthly and your tread depth regularly.
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A few minutes of attention can prevent
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accidents and help your entire car last
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longer. Mistake number two, delaying
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brake pad replacement. Brake pads are
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designed to wear down gradually, but
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once they reach the end of their life,
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they expose the metal backing plate.
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This metal-on-metal contact grinds into
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your brake rotors, which may cause
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severe damage. Driving with worn out
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pads also stresses the calipers and ABS
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system and increase the cost of repairs
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dramatically. You may also hear
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squeaking, grinding, or feel vibrations
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when braking, which are early warning
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signs not to ignore. Fixing a set of
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brake pads costs $100 to $300, while
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replacing damaged rotors and calipers
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can exceed $1,000. In extreme cases,
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brake failure can lead to accidents,
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risking your life and others. Mistake
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number one, ignoring dashboard warning
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lights. Those little lights on your
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dashboard aren't just decorations.
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They're your car's way of screaming for
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help. Ignoring a check engine light, oil
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pressure warning, or coolant temperature
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alert can turn a $50 fix into a $5,000
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nightmare. For example, a simple misfire
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code might just need a $100 part, but if
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left unchecked, it can damage your
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catalytic converter, which can cost you
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Worse yet, ignoring an oil light for
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even a few minutes can destroy your
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engine beyond repair. Modern cars are
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equipped with highly sensitive
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diagnostics, and disregarding them is
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one of the fastest ways to ruin your
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vehicle prematurely. There you have it.
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13 car killing mistakes that destroy
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engines, transmissions, and wallets
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every single day. These aren't just
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suggestions, they're survival tips for
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your vehicle. If you want your car to
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last 200,000 mi or more, fix these
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habits now before they kill your ride
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for good. And if this helped you out,
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give it a like and subscribe to the
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channel to fuel up the confidence.
