The top 10 biggest mistakes motorists make, according to the technicians who were queried, are:
1. Putting off recommended/scheduled maintenance;
2. Ignoring the check engine light;
3. Not changing the oil, or not having it changed on time;
4. Not checking tire pressures;
5. Neglecting coolant, brake, transmission and other fluid services;
6. Continuing to drive when the vehicle is overheating;
7. Not changing fuel and air filters;
8. Having unqualified shops service their vehicle;
9. Using generic aftermarket parts instead of OEM-quality parts; and
10. Trying to service their own high-tech vehicle.
The third item on the list, failing to change oil, was listed by technicians as the single most damaging car maintenance item that customers neglect.
"Dirty oil ruins today's high-tech engines," the CarMD.com report said. "Camshaft actuators can freeze when restricted by dirty oil, and a faulty camshaft actuator can in turn cause the check engine light to illuminate, resulting in complete engine failure if ignored for too long."
Ignoring the check engine light can escalate into an expensive repair, CarMD.com said. According to the website's Vehicle Health Index, the most common reason for a check engine light to illuminate is a faulty oxygen sensor. A dirty air filter can result in the failure of the oxygen sensor, which can result in substantial gas mileage reduction, cause the vehicle to misfire and eventually require a catalytic converter replacement.
CarMD's Master Technicians recommended that consumers service their vehicles according to factory requirements and suggested they avoid what they called "gimmick purchases" such as injector flushes and filling tires with nitrogen.
