28th Mar 2019

10 Myths You Need to Stop Believing About Your Car

There are many myths out there related to our cars. But these common myths may actually be making things worse for your favorite grocery-getter. So the next time your mechanic or friend recommends one of these things, you will know better than to listen to them.

1. Premium fuel will increase my car’s performance

That's a myth! Although this gas costs more, it doesn’t mean it’s cleaner than regular gas or that it will make your car faster. The difference with this gas is that it’s less combustible and needs to be used in higher compression engines, think cars with turbos. So if your car actually requires premium gas, then yes you will need to use it. If it doesn’t, then don’t waste your money on it.

2. I should replace all of my tires at the same time

It may sound logical, but it’s not necessary. You don’t need to replace all four tires just because one is bad. Just replace the one tire with the same brand, model, and size, that’s all!

3. When changing oil, might as well change air filters and coolant fluid

When going in for an oil change, the mechanic will likely recommend to change these out. But the truth is you may not need to change them yet. They don’t get changed as often as your oil does, so instead, check the owners manual to see how often they should be changed.

4. Electric cars are more likely to catch fire compared to conventional cars

That’s a myth! The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigated this in 2012 and found that electric cars don’t pose an increased risk of fire when compared to gasoline-powered cars.

5. You must change your oil every 3,000 miles

This used to be true a long time ago. But with advances in modern synthetic oils, modern cars can go up to 10,000 miles before needing an oil change.

6. I don’t actually have to change my oil after all

It’s surprising that some people believe this. Some have tried to prove this point, but it will certainly lead to a catastrophic engine failure! Old and dirty oil will lose its lubricating properties and will cause the engine to wear and fail.

7. I need to warm up my car before driving in the cold

Again, this was true before but doesn’t apply to new lease cars. Allowing your car to idle for extended periods of time is actually bad for it. You should wait a mere 30 seconds in normal temperature before driving, and maybe a minute in winter months.   

8. Jet Fuel will make my car more powerful

It may sound logical that this fuel is more powerful but it won’t do your car any good. In New Jersey, one gas station made this mistake and it resulted in many cars stalling out!

9. You’ll get more gas if you fill up in the morning

Since mornings are colder than midday, it makes the gas denser, right? In truth, the temperature of fuel doesn't change that much when the air is colder, so you won’t really be saving any money when filling up in the mornings.

10. If you’re about to collide with a moose, speed up so the moose can go over the car and save those inside the vehicle.

This is just insane! It’s even harder to believe that this myth was actually tested and was busted! The faster you go, the more damage will be caused, shouldn’t that be common sense? Plus you can do some major damage to your roof.