Ten car myths dispelled
When it comes to car buying, maintenance, and ownership, there are a lot of myths. We know that kicking tires does absolutely nothing to determine the quality of a vehicle. But people actually believe in plenty more myths that do not amount to much when driving, or maintaining, your car.
Premium Gas Will Make Your Car Faster: False
High performance engines require premium fuel for their refined engine mechanics. That is to say, premium fuel keeps a fast car fast. If you put regular fuel in a car that requires premium fuel, it can result in engine knock, and detract from the vehicle’s performance. The inverse is not true for more “pedestrian’’ engines. Premium fuel is not designed to improve the performance of more common engines. As always, check your manual.
You Can Buy Something to Outsmart a Police Radar Gun: False
There have been many wives’ tails about radar blockers, license plate films, and more to mess with a radar gun. The short answer: There is no sure-fire way to outsmart a radar gun, and many of the methods that have been suggested are not exactly legal.
Tire Pressure Should Be Filled to Sidewall Specs: False
This is less a myth and more a reminder of best practices. The tires on your car have likely been designed for application on dozens of different vehicles. Each car almost certainly has a different curb weight, different cargo capacity, and different dimensions. There is no magic tire out there that can handle 10-plus different applications with the same tire pressure. Check the inside of the driver’s door jamb or door frame. There should be a sticker with appropriate tire pressure specs. If not there, you can always check the manual.
Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles: False
New cars do not require an oil change every 3,000 miles. New cars with new types of synthetic oils can last much longer. Always refer to your manual, but as a rule of thumb, the 3,000-mile oil change is so you can keep old clunkers lasting forever.
Changing Your Own Oil Is Cheaper (and other maintenance myths): True and False
I’m a huge proponent of do-it-yourself, so it pains me to say it, but changing your own oil is not always cheaper. With the promotions that some local tune-and-lube places offer, it can sometimes be less expensive to take your car in than to change it yourself. Local auto parts stores have fought back with DIY deals, offering oil and filter combinations for less than the price of the oil change. Do your homework, and weigh how much your time is worth.
Things you should do on your own include replacing wipers, air filters, and head-and-taillight bulbs. Those items take a few minutes and some local shops try to gouge you on labor.
Driving with Your Tailgate Down Improves Fuel Economy: False
Some drivers are convinced that by putting down their pickup’s tailgate, it will create some sort of aerodynamic anomaly that improves the fuel economy of a 5,000-pound, V8 behemoth. The fact is, pickup trucks are designed for optimal aerodynamics with the gate up. Indeed, most new trucks have some form of spoiler designed into the top of the tailgate. In a wind tunnel, the slipstream drifts off the top of the cab of the truck, and gently skims the spoiler before leaving the truck.
Cop Cars Are Secret Supercars: False
Police cruisers are certainly fast. They have upgraded suspension and brakes designed for a decade of hard driving. There are no secret police tuner engines; they are just driven by individuals who have been trained to drive average vehicles very, very fast.
Bigger Cars Are Safer Than Smaller Cars: False
You might think putting little Billy behind the wheel of a big, old SUV as his first car is a safe bet. But large vehicles like that are top-heavy and make that young driver a danger to others. Meanwhile, a new compact car is designed with an assortment of front and side impact airbags, front and rear crumple zones, side impact door beams, and active safety tech like stability control and traction control to help Billy get out of trouble the first time he hits a stretch of black ice.
You Should Let Your Car Warm Up Before Driving: False
There are plenty of myths about what can happen to your engine if you drive your car before the engine warms up. Some say it hurts the mechanical innards of the engine and will detract from your car’s performance in the long term. That is simply false. It is true that you should not floor it at every light until your engine is up to operating temperature. The only thing you have to worry about with old engines is that the heater core will actually not blow warm air until the engine has warmed up. If personal comfort is your priority, then sure, wait for your car to warm up.
Automotive Snake Oils Work: All False
You’ve probably seen the ads for fuel additives. Or perhaps you’ve seen the ad for the “Vortex,’’ a funny little fan that you install in your car’s air induction system. These automotive snake oils are simply false. While the additives claim that gasoline is full of dirt and that it cleans deposits, since 1995 it has been law that gasoline includes ingredients that prevent buildup. The additives are a waste of money. And the Vortex, and tools like it? Well, there’s that saying about a fool and his money parting.
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