Maintaining a clean and organized car can be challenging. It’s important to keep your car in good condition, but there are many falsehoods and misconceptions surrounding this topic. Some of them are outdated, while others are just plain wrong. It can be challenging to differentiate between accurate and inaccurate information. That’s why we’re here to debunk some of the most common myths and misconceptions.
If you’re looking for ways to improve your car’s fuel efficiency, you may have heard that turning off the AC and opening the windows can help save gas. However, this is actually a myth, as confirmed by the show Myth Busters. Gas prices have been high lately, so it’s important to find accurate information about how to save money on fuel.to save money on fuel.
It’s true that opening your windows instead of turning on the AC can marginally enhance gas mileage on low-speed roads — yet it may compromise your vehicle’s aerodynamics, offsetting any fuel savings. On high-speed roads such as highways, this myth is completely untrue, and you’ll have more fuel efficiency by just using your air conditioning.
Remember that opening your car windows can let humidity in and may not fully alleviate the heat, causing foggy windows and decreased visibility and alertness. We recommend avoiding this risk completely by using your AC/heater properly.
This is a myth that comes from an older time in auto history. Back in the day, premium gas would essentially flush out the engine of buildup caused by low-grade gas. Today, technology has advanced to the point where this is no longer required. Some cars may still require premium gas, but this would be mentioned in your car’s manual or your car would knock when filled with 87-octane gas.
Just because premium gas costs more money, it won’t necessarily benefit your car. It shouldn’t harm it either, but you’ll be spending money on something that isn’t really needed. If you’re unsure whether your car requires premium gas or not, check your car’s manual for guidance on your car’s fuel needs.
During the winter season in Southern California, there are some chilly days, even if it doesn’t snow. Many people idle their cars to warm up the engine, but this is actually an unnecessary practice. The engine doesn’t require warming up before driving.
In fact, leaving your car idle for extended periods of time can significantly deplete your gas tank. If it is a bit cold out, all your car needs is about 30 seconds before you start driving. As you drive, your car will actually begin to heat up more than it would have by just sitting.
One of the only things “warming up your car” will do is allow heat to circulate so that you can enjoy your car’s heating system; however, with the drain of battery and consumption of fuel, we recommend you bundle up and wait it out until the heat kicks on.
Between light rain, smog, fog and dusty conditions keeping your car clean can feel like an impossible task and an expensive one when you go to professional car washes. One tip that’s been shared to save money is to wash your car at home with your household dish or laundry soap. Unfortunately, this myth can actually harm your car’s paint coat.
Dish and laundry soap will eat away at the wax on your car, making your car more susceptible to rust and scratches. It can even begin to pick away at the paint itself which could mean a costly repainting job. If you want to save money and wash your car at home, we recommend spending a bit of money on a car-safe soap that will keep your car’s wax intact and protect the paint.
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