10 Car Maintenance Myths that are Actually False

 1. Premium Gasoline is the Best for Cars

People have this idea that the higher the octane rating of the fuel, the better it is in improving engine performance. What they fail to realize is that high octane premium fuel often comes with special formulations. These feature protectants and cleaners that will help keep high-performance engines in tip top shape. The question now is whether you have a high-performance, high-compression engine under the hood of your vehicle. If you don’t, then there is no point using premium gasoline.

To be safe, always check the recommended fuel octane rating of the vehicle manufacturer. Carmakers always put the recommended fuel types and minimum octane ratings in their owner’s manuals. It would be in your best interest to check these vehicle-specific manufacturer recommendations.

2. Always Warm Up the Engine Before Driving in Cold Weather

Everyone knows that the engine needs to reach its optimum working temperatures to run in an efficient manner. That is why many vehicle owners always warm up their engines before they roll out of their driveways. If you lived in the mid-20th century, then this might be true. However, technological advances now allow the modern engine to warm up a lot faster than their 20th century ancestors.

Modern car engines also tend to reach their ideal working temperatures when already running on the road. Moreover, the transmission and wheel bearings also require movement for them to warm up. If you warm up your engine prior to driving it in cold weather, you are only wasting fuel and money. Idling uses fuel without accomplishing anything else.

3.Change the Engine Oil After Every 3,000 Miles

This is one of the car maintenance myths that has some truth to it. Everything depends on the type of oil that your car runs on. Conventional motor oils will often degrade a lot faster than a synthetic blend or a fully-synthetic motor oil. Changing the engine oil after every 3,000 miles may be the norm of the past. In the 21st century, however, motor oils can now withstand prolonged use of up to 7,500 miles.

What makes this a myth is that it generalizes the process of changing the motor oil. It is critical to understand that we now have better automotive technologies. Engines are becoming more efficient than they ever were. With these improvements in engine technology come improvements in the characteristics of motor oils.

4. Flush Transmission Fluid Every 50,000 Miles

Transmission fluid is a very important part of a vehicle’s transmission system. It helps prevent friction among the different mechanical parts of the transmission. This allows them to work at maximum efficiency. It is true that transmission fluid requires flushing and replacement after every 50,000 miles. However, there are modern transmission fluids that have a much longer lifespan.

Many of these newer transmission fluids can last up to 100,000 miles. There are also products that do not need flushing and replacement at all. They may only need occasional topping off every now and then. The point here is that different cars have different specifications as to the type of fluid to use in their transmission. It is best to check the service manual to have a fair idea of when you should flush your transmission fluid or if ever there is a need for it at all. 

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