It is not what you don’t know that can come back to bite you; it is what you know for sure that is not true.

 

Misconceptions abound when it comes to maintaining your car. And even, the best intentions can lead you to spend more money than necessary or even compromise your safety.

 

Below, find common myths that can do more  havoc  than good as reported  in Consumers Union 2005-2009:

Myth: Engine oil should be changed every 3,000 miles.

Reality:  It is usually not necessary.  Stick to the service intervals in your car‘s owner’s manual. Under normal driving conditions, most vehicles are designed to go 7,500 miles or more between oil changes.

 

Changing oil more often doesn’t hurt the engine., but it can cost you a lot of extra money. Automakers often recommend 3,000-mile intervals for severe driving conditions, such as constant stop-and-go driving, frequent trailer towing, mountainous terrain or dusty conditions.

 

Myth: Inflate tyres to the pressure shown on the tyre’s sidewall.

 

Reality: The pounds per–square–inch figure on the side of the tyre is the maximum pressure that the tyre can safely hold, not the automaker’s recommended pressure, which provides the best balance of braking, handling, gas mileage, and ride comfort.

 

That figure is usually found on the doorjamb sticker, in the glove box, or on the fuel–filler door. Perform a monthly pressure check when the tyres are cold or after the car has been parked for a few hours.

 

Myth:  If the brake fluid is low, topping it off will fix the problem.

 

Reality: As brake pads wear, the level in the brake-fluid reservoir drops a bit. That helps you to monitor brake wear.  If the fluid level drops to or below the Lo mark on the reservoir, then either your brakes are worn out or the fluid is leaking. Either way,  get the brake system serviced immediately. You should also get a routine brake inspection when you rotate the tyres about every  6,000-7,000 miles.

 

 

Myth: If regular-grade fuel is good, the premium must be better.

 

Reality: Most vehicles run just fine on regular fuel. Using premium in these cars won’t hurt, but it won’t improve performance, either. A higher–octane number simply means that the fuel is less prone to pre-ignition problems, so it’s often specified for hotter running, high–compression engines. So if your car is designed for 87-octane fuel, don’t waste money on premium.

 

 

 

Myth: Flush the coolant with every oil change.

 

Reality: Radiator coolant doesn’t need to be replaced very often. Most owner’s manuals recommend changing the coolant every five years or 60,000 miles.  Of course, if the level in the coolant reservoir is chronically low, check for a leak and get service as soon as possible.

 

 

Myth: After a jump–start, your car will soon recharge the battery.

 

 

Reality: It could take hours of driving to restore a battery’s full charge, especially in the winter. That’s because power accessories, such as heated seats, draw so much electricity that in some cars, the alternator has little left over to recharge a run-down battery.

 

A ‘’load test’’ at a service station can determine whether the battery can still hold a charge. If so,  some hours of battery charge might be needed to revive the battery to its full potential.

 

 

Myth: Let your engine warm up for several minutes before driving.

 

 

Reality: That might have been good advice for yesteryear’s cars but less of today. Modern engines warm up more quickly when they are driven. And the sooner they warm up, the sooner they reach maximum efficiency and deliver the best fuel economy and performance. But don’t rev the engine high over the first few miles it’s arming up.

 

 

 

Myth: A dealership must perform regular maintenance to keep your car’s factory warranty valid.

 

 

 

Reality: As long as the maintenance items specified in the vehicle owner’s manual are performed on schedule, the work can be done at any auto-repair shop. If you are knowledgeable, you can even do the work yourself. Just keep accurate records and receipts to back you up, in case of a warranty dispute on a future repair.

 

 

Myth:  Dishwashing and laundry detergents make a good wash.

 

 

Reality: Detergent can strip off a car’s wax finish.  Instead, use a  car-wash liquid, which is formulated to clean without removing wax.

 

By TheInterviewsNigeria

Publisher/Editor -in Chief with more than a decade of working in the media production industry, Our preoccupation is Development News and rooting for innovation locally and internationally. We are British trained Business English PRO. We edit manuscripts for book publication, translation(English/Yoruba/French). We cross your 't's' and dot your 'i's. We are also into speech draftsmanship and photography; Business reports, and proposals, with minimal cost. Meeting the deadline is our watchword. We would cover your Social /Public events with precision. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Call-08144956897, 08057355037 E-mail- theinterviewsng@gmail.com, akintunde.idowu@gmail.com

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