Common Car Myths
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Most of us have experience driving and riding in vehicles. Everyone has different opinions on how to take care of vehicles, which vehicles are the best and much more. We’ve all heard various opinions about vehicles throughout our lives and while some are factual others might be myths. Here are a few common misconceptions about vehicles:
Premiums Gas will Make Your Car Perform Better
Premium gas costs gets you better gas mileage and makes your car perform better, right? Not usually. Buying premium gas will not when your car only requires regular unleaded does not make it run better or improve fuel efficiency. If your vehicle requires premium gas and you use regular unleaded, it will make your engine work harder and you'll have reduced fuel efficiency and power.
You Should Let Your Car Warm Up Before Driving
Decades ago, it was a good idea to let your car warm up for several minutes before driving. This is because older engines needed time to let the carburetors mix air and fuel. In addition, cars used thicker oils. If you didn't allow your car to warm up it could stall or oil might not lubricate the engine properly. Today, most cars have a fuel injection system to adjust the air-fuel ratio instead of a carburetor, and today's engines require thinner oils that don't need time to get moving. Now you only need to warm your car up for 30 seconds to a minute before driving it.
You Should Wait Until You're Out of Gas to Fill Up
This is actually a bad idea--it can damage your fuel pump, so do it when you have about a quarter of a tank left. Gas acts as a coolant and driving on low fuel regularly risks overheating the pump. Refill when you have about a quarter tank left.
Using Your Air Conditioner Decreases Fuel Efficiency
Running your AC does use some extra fuel, but usually not as much as people think. In many cases, especially at highway speeds, using the AC is actually more efficient than driving with the windows down, since open windows can create drag and reduce fuel economy.
You Can Wash Your Car Using Dish Soap
This is a bad idea because dish soap can strip wax and clear coat from your car. Always use soap made specifically for washing cars.
Oil Should be Changed Every 3,000 Miles
Untrue. Cars built in the last 15 years can go anywhere from 5,000-7,500 miles without being changed due to lubricants and additives in today's oils that help extend your car's life.
Hopefully this article will help you understand some of the most common car myths. What isn’t a myth is how your AmShield agent can help you understand your car insurance coverage options. Talk to them about what you need.
