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Some car myths seem to have taken on a life of their own on the Internet. They might sound logical, but if you believe these myths, you could waste time and money. Keep the following car myths in mind, and you will be much better off.
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Cheap Gas Will Hurt Your Engine
This might sound like it makes sense, but there is no evidence supporting the claim. For most car industry products, you indeed get what you pay for; if your car costs more, it usually is built by a more reliable manufacturer with better parts. More expensive motor oil usually provides better protection than the cheapest oil. And it’s also true that gas from a significant gas producer can be of higher quality than a no-name brand because it contains more cleaners and protectants.
But less expensive gas isn’t going to hurt your car actively. All gas sold in the United States must meet federal quality standards. So you never have to worry that cheaper fuel bought in the US will hurt your engine.
Change Your Oil Every 3,000 Miles
This advice has been around for decades and was correct at one point. But today, you don’t need to change your oil this often. Most vehicles made in the last 10 years only need the oil changed every 5,000 or 10,000 miles, depending on the car and driving conditions. Today’s engines have better designs and oil has improved chemical composition, so the oil can last longer without needing to be changed.
You Don’t Need To Change Your Oil
Today’s oil is better than that of decades ago, but that doesn’t mean you never need to change your oil! However, when some people hear you only need to change your oil at 10,000 miles, they think they can stop changing it altogether.
It’s true that modern oil and engines are better than ever and can take a lot of use and abuse, but your engine will fail much sooner if you never change the oil. And it’s always a good idea to change your oil before you go on a long road trip.
You Don’t Need to Perform Regular Maintenance
Many things can go wrong with your vehicle, from a tire having too little air to wheels getting out of alignment. These small problems won’t have a significant effect on your car’s performance. But if you ignore them for years, they can damage your vehicle. This is even more true for safety items such as brakes and significant moving parts.
That’s why it’s vital to have your car maintained regularly. Catching minor issues early will save you a lot of money in the future.
Using An Unauthorized Mechanic Will Void Your Warranty
Dealerships push this myth so consumers will continue to service their cars at the place they bought them. Dealerships like to imply that you only can service your vehicle with them, and going to an outside mechanic voids your warranty. This isn’t true.
Any repairs that almost any mechanic can do your warranty covers. You just need to keep your receipts to prove that services were performed and what you paid.
Manual Transmissions Are More Fuel Efficient Than Automatic Transmissions
This used to be true. Older automatic transmissions were not well designed and inefficient, and almost any manual transmission was more fuel-efficient. But automatic transmissions have gotten better and more advanced over the last 20 years, and their fuel efficiency now can exceed that of many manual transmissions.
Getting a manual transmission today is more a matter of driver preference, and they also cost less than automatics. But buying a manual for better fuel efficiency is a myth you should ignore.
It’s crucial to maintain your vehicle, but the myths mentioned above will cost you in the long run.
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