Cars have been the source of old wives’ tales for years. This has led to the circulation of hundreds of car myths, most of which are considered as facts due to their perpetuation by “professionals”. These myths range from the color of the car, to its performance and maintenance. You will find that these myths make you spend your time, money and energy unnecessarily. In this article we will be talking about and debunking 6 car myths.
1. Premium Fuel Will Make Your Regular engine “Premium”
Fact: A high-compression engine needs premium fuel to give life to its speed. If regular fuel is used in such a car, there might be engine knocking or pinging – noises that are heard when fuel-air mixture combust unevenly. This can in time lead to engine damage. Premium fuel, however, is not designed to better the performance of a regular engine. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) states, “using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit.”
2. Filling the Fuel Tank in the Morning Will Get You More for Money
Fact: According to consumerreports.org, many believe that since the air is cooler in the morning, fuel will be denser and give them more for their money. However, fuel is already stored in underground tanks and when it comes out of the nozzle, only a very small temperature change will occur. Hence buying extra fuel in the morning in the hope of getting extra is useless.
3. Red Cars Cost More to Insure
Fact: 46% of 2000 licensed drivers questioned about this myth believed that red cars cost more to insure because they are more visible and have a higher chance of getting a ticket for speeding. However, Loretta Worters, vice president of communications with the Insurance Information Institute (III) states that, “the color of your car has no bearing on your premiums.” Insurers are only interested in your driving history, claims history, and the make and the model of your car when determining rates.
4. Your Car Engine Needs a “Special” Oil for the Winter
Fact: In older days, there was a need to use oils of different grades for summer and winter but in modern days engine oil has been engineered to be used during both hot and cold climates. There are two types 5W-30 and 10W-30 (W stands for “Winter”, not “Weight”). Mechanics consider 10W-30 to be the “one size fits all” oil and it is specifically recommended for older models. 5W-30 works best for winter months, but even during then, using 10W-30 won’t cause any disasters. Read your manual and find out which oil is recommended for the engine. If it is 5W-30, you can use it even during the summer.
5. Using Engine Oil Additives Will Improve Engine Performance
Fact: Media has created a hype about using engine oil additives to improve engine performance. However, they won’t tell you that engine oil already has additives to improve viscosity and to keep your engine sludge-free. When you add “performance enhancing” additives to engine oil, they will clash with the already present ones and decrease the effectiveness of the oil. Also, the particles present in them can clog the fuel system.
6. Washing Your Car at Home is More Eco-Friendly than Taking it to a Car Wash
Fact: Washing your car at home with organic auto detailing products may seem ec0-friendly. However, it can use up to 140 gallons while an automatic car wash will take 40 gallons. Also,car washes have water reclamation systems in place to recycle water while most of the 140 gallons you use at home will be wasted. If you still want to wash your car at home, there are responsible ways to do it. It is best if you can use steam which is the most eco-friendly and effective method.
Read our blogs to learn more about reliable car care tips so you won’t fall into the trap of believing car myths that might damage your car, jeopardize your safety and waste natural resources.
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