Dispelling Common Car Maintenance and Safety Misconceptions

But how accurate are these pieces of advice? Apparently, not very. Which begs the question: how many of the common car myths below do you still subscribe to?

High-octane fuel, on the other hand, is only a problem for powerful engines. Premium gas is not “cleaner” than regular gasoline, contrary to popular misconception. It is entirely unnecessary to fuel your vehicle with high octane gas unless it has a very powerful engine.

Although a broken lithium-ion battery might generate heat and cause a fire, gasoline is much more flammable. Based on the rate of car fires per one billion miles driven, Tesla claims that a gasoline-powered car is 11 times more likely to catch fire than an electric car.

To enhance power, you’d be far better off having your Engine Control Unit modified or even getting mechanical engine improvements. In any case, rather than squandering money on a performance chip, ask your local tuning shop for guidance.

Most vehicles can now be safely driven with oil replenishments every 7,500 miles, thanks to developments in engine durability and oil quality. Oil changes are recommended every 10,000 miles by several manufacturers, such as Ford and Porsche. If you use synthetic oil in your car, you can go up to 15,000 miles between oil changes!

Still, automobile manufacturers are working hard to improve the safety features of their SUVs by installing various traction and stability systems as well as powerful brakes.

Although there are no documented incidents to back this up, it wasn’t impossible. Internal antennas are now standard on most phones, and it has been demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that wireless signals from modern phones do not ignite gasoline.

As you can see by the picture above, if the nail is on the outside of the tire, you just may be in luck. An auto repair shop may be able to simply patch your tire and send you on your way. However, if the nail is more in the center, you need to get a change. Your best bet is to take it in and see what the professionals tell you.

Instead of large engine displacement, manufacturers now opt for turbochargers. The brand new Mercedes A45 AMG, for example, produces 416 horsepower with only four cylinders and a 2-liter displacement!

Automakers utilize more aluminum to compensate for the density difference by increasing the thickness of the vehicle. Various sites, notably Drive Aluminum, claim that an aluminum body is safer than a steel body. Aluminum has a higher crush zone than steel and absorbs energy better on impact.

The legend was debunked, as you might expect. Because dirt decreases aerodynamics and alters airflow, dirty cars are up to 10% less fuel-efficient than clean cars. If your car has been laboring under the weight of this dogma, you should take it to the carwash as soon as possible.

Fortunately, things have changed. The majority of new muscle cars with large V8 engines under the hood are faster than ever, around the track or in a straight line. The 2017 Dodge Viper ACR clocked a seven-minute lap around the Nürburgring, besting cars like the Nissan GTR Nismo and Porsche 991 GT3 RS!

Engineering has progressed over the last century, as you might expect. Modern batteries are covered in plastic or strong rubber, making this myth dead in the water. A battery will not be drained if it is placed on concrete.

Hybrid batteries are now more fuel-efficient, powerful, and speedy. The SF90 Stradale is Ferrari’s fastest automobile and the world’s fastest hybrid. It has a top speed of nearly 210 mph and can accelerate to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds!

Manufacturers these days no longer focus on building their SUVs with off-road capabilities. However, a few outliers, such as the new Mercedes G Class, remain unstoppable in snow, sand, or mud.

Modern automatics bear little resemblance to those used in the first half of the twentieth century. In almost every regard, automatic transmissions have surpassed manual transmissions in today’s autos. Thanks to carefully adjusted gear aspect ratios, they shift faster, offer improved fuel efficiency, and lengthen the life of your engine.

Modern fuel injection systems are extremely efficient, requiring far less gasoline than is required to keep the engine running. Unless your vehicle has a carburetor, turn off the engine the next time you’re stopping somewhere for more than 30 seconds to save petrol.

Customer satisfaction is measured by the ACSI Automobile Survey, which considers reliability, driving performance, and a variety of other factors. Hyundai was ranked among the top 20 automobile manufacturers and is also ranked in the top ten automobile brands by J.D Power. 

Insurance companies examine a variety of things when determining a rate. The age of the driver, the make of the car, the driver’s insurance history, and many other factors are considered. The color of an automobile has no bearing at all.

If you do decide to fish for a discount, it may not be as significant as you had hoped. Having the cash ready to hand over leaves less space for negotiation. If you are certain that you will pay cash for your new car, it is better not to mention it until the price has been agreed upon.

However, this is not true. Consumers can have regular maintenance and repairs done at whichever facilities they choose. Consumers always need to document any work that is done by another facility other than the dealer or manufacturer in order to maintain the warranty.

Downsizing has had a significant impact on fuel efficiency. Most SUVs currently have smaller engines than in the past, and aspirated engines are unusual nowadays. Large cars have also gotten much more aerodynamic over time, resulting in better fuel economy. The 2019 Toyota RAV 4 is a good example, as it can score over 35 MPG on the highway.

Summer tires simply won’t grip the snow in an emergency brake, which can cause the vehicle to roll out of control. Make sure you have good snow tires the next time you go skiing in the mountains. Even if your car isn’t equipped with 4-wheel drive, the tires should work well enough.

Although it takes some time for an engine to attain its proper operating temperature, idling to do so is absolutely unnecessary. A modern car has the technology to automatically warm up the engine and will reach the appropriate running temperature faster when driven rather than standing still. Doing this simply wastes fuel and emits an excessive amount of carbon monoxide.

It’s a unique gear that makes the car run more effectively and saves money on gas. It effectively allows the car to cruise at a high pace while maintaining a low RPM. Overdrive will not make your automobile louder, quicker, or more exciting, though.

Consumer Reports put this idea to the test and found that the density of gasoline is unaffected by the ambient temperature. This is due to the fact that gasoline is stored in deep underground tanks and its density remains constant throughout the day.

Cars.com produced an American-Made Index, which ranks the cars that are made in the United States. The outcomes are unexpected. While the Jeep Cherokee takes the top spot, the Honda Ridgeline and Honda Odyssey round out the top three. Even more shocking is the fact that four of the top ten automobiles are produced by Honda/Acura.

Unlike distilled water, tap or bottled water contains minerals. These minerals are beneficial to your health, but they are not beneficial to your radiator. Mineral deposits in the radiator and cooling channels of the engine can cause overheating and eventually, catastrophic engine damage. To top off your coolant use only pure, distilled water.

Coolant should be changed every 60,000 miles, or once every five years, according to most manufacturers. Check your coolant level on a regular basis; if the level drops suddenly, there could be a leak somewhere.

Airbags are a good way to protect belted passengers because their location is strategically determined by the position that the seat belt keeps them in. If you’re not fastened up, you may slide under the airbag landing zone or perhaps miss it entirely when it deploys. This could result in a collision with the dashboard or ejection from the vehicle.

The difference in viscosity between vegetable oil and petroleum diesel is what causes the problem when using it to power a modern diesel engine. Because vegetable oil is so thick, the engine will be unable to atomize all of it properly, resulting in an excessive amount of unburned gasoline. 

This is not true. Cars with a start-stop system can save up to 15% more petrol than cars that do not use the system, according to testing. Because a start-stop system reduces emissions and is completely safe for the car’s battery, you should throw this misconception out.

Police stop drivers based on their actions on the road, not on the type or color of vehicle they drive. Exotic cars, it could be argued, are more prone to traffic offenses and, as a result, are stopped more frequently. 

Cars with paint damage will need to be repainted, which can set you back at least $500 for a single coat of low-quality paint. Paint jobs of higher quality will almost certainly cost you more than $1,000. Think long-term and spend a little extra money on excellent car care now.

Front-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive vehicles typically require two tires to be replaced. However, all-wheel-drive vehicles require the full set to be changed. Differentials in all-wheelers transfer the same amount of torque to each wheel, therefore a different size tire can cause the differential to work too hard, potentially damaging the powertrain.

The battery is used to power accessories like the car radio and lights, which lengthens the time it takes to fully recharge the battery. For a depleted battery, using a car battery charger is a better option.

Low tire pressure causes more of the tire’s surface to contact the road, resulting in more friction. Overheating occurs, which results in early tire degradation, tread separation, or even rupture. Underinflation does not increase the smoothness of your ride. Try turning on the radio instead. 

That isn’t to say that using non-branded gas will harm your engine. A blend with fewer ingredients must still meet regulatory criteria and will not cause damage to your vehicle.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, cars with an ABS had a 14 percent shorter braking distance on wet roads than cars without the technology. The braking distance between a non-ABS car and a car with an ABS is basically the same in normal, dry conditions.

It actually has the opposite effect. When the tailgate is closed, a vortex forms around the truck bed, which enhances ventilation. Driving with the tailgate down generates more drag and has been shown to be somewhat less fuel-efficient, but the difference is negligible.

The braking distance of a vehicle is unaffected by an AWD or 4WD system. The braking distance, particularly on a wet surface, comes down to the type of tires used. A car with summer tires will need a longer distance to come to a stop on snow.

However, turning up the air conditioning puts additional strain on the engine, which uses more gasoline. When it comes down to it, opening your windows saves you a little more gas than using air conditioning. Ultimately, driving with the windows closed and the A/C turned off is the most efficient option. 

Instead, after you fill your filter with oil, be sure to spread a bit of excess oil around the filter’s seal before you install it.

Convertible automobiles have a sturdier chassis, reinforced pillars, and unique roll hoops behind the seats, all of which improve the driver’s safety in the event of a rollover. Some convertibles, like the 2016 Buick Cascada, include active rollbars that deploy automatically when the vehicle is flipped.

Your tires are the only thing keeping you connected to the road and driving with worn tires puts you at unnecessary risk for a crash, especially in wet weather.

Brakes are the most important safety system on your vehicle. It is very important to schedule your required fluid changes, as brake fluid attracts and absorbs water which can then corrode internal brake system part which will lead to failure or other costly damage to your vehicle.

According to AAA, 42% of people believed that a battery can automatically last five years, which is a dangerous assumption to find yourself on the other end of if it is wrong. The only way to truly know how much is left in your battery is to get it tested at the three-year mark.