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Good driving habits by Jason Pearce
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Sometimes the best maintenance is good driving habits. Well this isn't to say you can stop changing your oil just because you've been good, but proper maintenance and a little attention to your daily driving habits can go a long way. I once had a customer come in with a worn clutch at 60,000 miles. He said to me this would be his third clutch, and was curious as to what was Saab's problem with clutches. I told him this was unusual and quizzed him on his driving. Everything seemed normal by his explanation so I told him I would pay extra attention while doing the job as to any mechanical problems. When the car was done I went out on a test drive with him and let him drive. As we drove down the street we had a conversation about his work I soon noticed as he became preoccupied in conversation he would never put the car in first gear from a start. Every time starting in second gear. I said" that's it" he said "what" well once he realized what he was doing I haven't put a clutch in his car since. This case is a bit extreme, but there are many little things that can give your cars parts longer life.
.......Here is a list of simple yet effective habits to get into.
1. Put your transmission
in neutral and take your foot off the clutch when at stop signs.
(This will save
wear on your clutch disc. When your clutch is depressed the flywheel and
pressure plate still spin around the disc at a great speed)
2. Before selecting
`R' gear on manual trans always select first gear.
(This
stops all shafts from spinning inside your gear box allowing you to select
reverse without grinding. This is especially important on 1993 900 and
back where there is no syncro for Reverse. Chipped reverse gears cause
early bearing
failure leading to trans overhaul.
3. Don't use full
throttle until your engine is up to normal temperature.
( This will ensure your turbo and engine bearings are getting good
lubrication also you engine is made to certain specifications of expansion
due to heat this will ensure everything is in it's place.)
4. Fill up your tank
when you get to ¼ full.
( This helps keep any dirt or metal shavings at the bottom of your
tank ,at the bottom of your tank. Running low can always dredge up junk
and feed it through your fuel system.)
5. Don't rev your
engine in neutral.
( It is harsh on your connecting rod bearings to rev your engine with
no load on it. This isn't something that will hurt once and awhile but
done as a regular thing will lower engine life. This means your Saab engine
will only go 250,000 miles instead of the 300,000 we all expect.)
.......Combine these habits with regular maintenance and some knowledge on how your Saab works can lead to years of happy motoring.
(This article is meant to educate a consumer,or as a guideline for professionals. You can cause serious damage to your vehicle and/or cause yourself injury. Only those qualified should attempt repairs. I do my best to assure that the above info is correct but take no responsibility for any damages incurred.)
Feel free to e-mail with any tech questions