These are five bad habits to ditch if you're switching from manual to an automatic car

Switching from a manual to an automatic car? These bad habits could ruin your ride.

While automatic cars are generally easier to drive, they still require some new techniques, as well as the right mindset.

Many drivers bring over habits from their manual-driving days, without realizing they can do serious damage in an automatic.

To make your transition smoother (and cheaper), here are five things to stop doing right now.

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Bad habits that hurt your automatic car

While some automatic drivers have no clue how to drive stick, stick drivers often bring bad habits to their automatic cars, and this can be really harmful in the long run.

The first thing you need to stop doing is driving with both feet.

It might feel natural to put your right foot on the gas and your left foot on the brake, but this is a no-go because it increases the risk of pressing both pedals at once.

This can confuse the car’s electronics, and lead to dangerous stops.

Since automatic cars don’t need a clutch, your left foot can take a well-deserved break.

Another common bad habit is coasting in neutral.

While doing it might seem like a fuel-saving trick in a manual car, it’s both unsafe and unnecessary in an automatic.

You lose engine braking and have less control, especially in sudden-stop situations.

And despite what you might think, coasting doesn’t really save fuel.

In fact, it can actually wear down parts faster.

The next thing you should avoid is ignoring water pressure.

Automatic transmissions rely on fluid to work properly, and water is their worst enemy.

If your car’s exposed to heavy rain or floods, moisture can seep into the transmission and ruin it from the inside out.

Always check for leaks, and avoid driving through deep water, or getting your car entirely submerged.

Extra mistakes that can be really costly

Speaking of fluid, transmission fluid is vital in an automatic, just like oil is important in a manual car.

Transmission fluid cools, lubricates, and protects moving parts.

If it’s old or low, your car won’t shift properly.

Check your owner’s manual for the right service schedule, and don’t skip it.

Of course, if you’re not very mechanically inclined, you should probably leave this work to the professionals.

Otherwise, you could end up like this man, whose $2 attempt to fix his Chevy Silverado’s transmission backfired on him.

And finally, the piece of advice most people won’t like to hear.

Punching the gas may feel exciting, especially if you drive something like the Tesla Plaid, which can reach 0-60mph in less than two seconds.

However, rapid acceleration strains the engine, transmission, and tires, especially in automatics.

Over time, this leads to expensive wear and even breakdowns.

In a nutshell, if you want to preserve the longevity of your car, leave the floor-it moments to the professionals.

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