Let’s face it, we’ve all heard our fair share of car care tips from family members and friends. However, there are many car care myths out there! The reason these myths spread is that each one contains an ounce of truth. Thus, it can be difficult to separate the truths from reality because they are completely believable. While most myths aren’t dangerous, they can cost you money that you otherwise could have been saving! Here are some of the biggest car care myths that have circulated over the years.
5,000 KM Oil Changes
The rule of thumb that’s been around for generations is that your oil should be changed every 5,000 km, while others say every 10,000 km. The truth is, neither of these is accurate. Your best bet is to get your oil changed when your car needs it. No two cars are alike, and neither are their driving conditions. This is why you should pay close attention to what your specific car requires. A Ford F-650 will have different oil change requirements than your average Honda Civic. Regardless of what you drive, you should regularly check whether your oil needs changing, rather than only doing so every 5000 km.
Premium Fuel
Out of our list of car care myths, this one is simple: If your car runs on regular fuel, using premium fuel is much more beneficial. People tend to alter this myth slightly, treating premium gas like a “treat” for your car. However, the truth is that most cars are designed for regular fuel, and running premium will do absolutely nothing to change that. Premium fuel experiences fewer pre-ignition problems, making it ideal for high-compression engines. However, your standard engine won’t have these problems, so it isn’t exactly necessary. You can use premium if you prefer, but it won’t change anything other than the cost at the pumps.
Warming Up Your Engine
The reason this car care myth continues to spread is that it was once true. However, today’s modern cars, and those made over the last couple of decades, no longer need long warm-up periods in cold weather. 10-20 seconds is more than enough time to get your engine properly operating. However, longer times won’t hurt and will benefit the driver by simply warming the interior. Few things are worse than a cold steering wheel and seat. Remember, as we said before: Don’t rev a cold engine!
Special Maintenance When Winterizing
We have written in the past about winterizing your car, which may play into this myth. Winterizing your car involves a series of tasks that you can perform (and have an expert perform). There are no special skills required, and it’s not much different than any other maintenance. If a mechanic tells you that you need to winterize your car, they aren’t selling you anything tangible. All they will do is perform their regular services during the change of seasons!
Replacing All Four Tires at Once
While it is generally advised to replace tires in pairs or quads, it is definitely not a requirement. A common car care myth is that your tires wear down equally. In reality, your tires will wear down differently based on usage. For example, if you make lots of left turns, your front left tire will wear down faster than the other three. Therefore, it is recommended to regularly rotate your tires by swapping your front left with your rear right. This allows the tires to be balanced for use. Now, when you decide actually to replace your tires but only have the budget for one, you should replace the most worn tire first. It is more beneficial to replace two, but one will do just fine.
Using Dish Soap To Wash Your Car
It can be understandable why people believe these car myths, especially this one! Car manuals always suggest using a “mild” soap when washing them, and dishwashing soap does, in fact, say mild on it. However, this is not advised. Dishwashing soap will actually leave your car too clean by washing away the protective wax from the vehicle’s exterior. This will, in turn, speed up rusting! You should only use a washing liquid specifically designed for your vehicle, so it’s worth the research.
Raising Your Wiper Blades
When it comes to car care myths, this one is similar to the idea of starting your car to warm up the engine, since raising your wiper blades was once a popular winter trick. However, doing so can actually do more harm than good. This is because keeping the wiper arms raised for long periods can weaken the wiper arm springs, leading to poor windshield contact and streaky wipers. Instead, try using winter-rated wiper blades to clear any ice buildup! Alternatively, you can use a windshield cover.
Small Windshield Cracks Aren’t a Big Deal
When you receive a small chip or crack in your windshield, it can be easy to brush it off as nothing serious. Though this is sometimes the case, leaving a minor chip or crack untreated can sometimes lead to more serious issues. When the temperature changes or roads are rough, these small cracks can become much bigger. To prevent this, get any chips or cracks fixed as soon as possible. This will be much cheaper than a full windshield replacement!
Car Care Myths: Conclusion
Remember, do not believe everything you hear about caring for your car. Many of these car care myths will actually result in you spending money that you could have otherwise saved. Speaking of saving, one of the biggest myths is that you can’t save on car insurance. Get a quote from isure in minutes to see how much you could save on your insurance policies.
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