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Owning a car brings comfort and opens a world of opportunities for people. It is considered an asset but it requires regular maintenance to keep it functional.  

However, the world of automobiles is filled with myths. As cars become more complicated and sophisticated, so many myths and misinformation about car maintenance have come up. 

If you’re an inexperienced driver, it's easy to fall prey into these misconceptions. You may think you’re doing the wrong thing based on what you heard or read but that may not be true.

This article will walk you through a list of some common car maintenance myths. This can help you save a lot of effort, money and unnecessary maintenance

1: Changing oil every 3,000 miles is mandatory

It’s not necessary to change oil every 3,000 miles. In general, most engines can last up to 5,000-7,500 miles before needing an oil change. A high quality synthetic oil can even last up to 10,000 miles. It really just depends on the type of oil and your vehicle’s brand.

Some repair shops would recommend getting the oil changed every 3,000 miles to get more profit. That’s why it’s best to refer to your vehicle's manual as the best and most accurate guidance for oil change frequencies.

2: Warming up is necessary before driving in cold weather

We often hear that warming up the car’s engine should be done before driving, which is untrue. Doing this may be recommended for older engines but not for modern cars. The engine of modern vehicles tends to warm up faster when you start driving instead of keeping it idle.

Sometimes, letting your car stay idle for too long may affect the vehicle’s performance. Consider reviewing your manual to see whether it’s okay to warm up your car or not before driving.  

3: Servicing anywhere other than the dealership voids the warranty

Many people believe that taking your vehicle to an independent repair shop for service will void the manufacturer’s warranty. The warrant is valid until it expires. 

It’s actually illegal for a company to void your warranty for going to a different shop to have your car fixed. Still, you should not take it to just any service or shop. Go to someone you know and trust. 

4: All tires need replacement at the same time

Some people believe that if one tire gets damaged, all four tires should be replaced to maintain efficiency. It’s not necessary to replace all four, rotating the tires or replacing one tire is enough to make them last longer. 

Your mechanic can take a closer look at the tires and recommend whichever is best for the tires and your vehicle’s condition.

5: Flush transmission fluid every 50,000 miles

Some experts recommend flushing the transmission fluid after every 50,000 miles. However that’s no longer true for modern cars. You can expect it to last 100,000 miles, or even the lifespan of your car.

It’s still recommended to check the owner’s manual for transmission fluid flush intervals because it can vary depending on the car’s model and brand. 

6: Rolling windows down saves more fuel than blasting the AC

A lot of people really believed this car maintenance myth.  While it may be true that turning on the AC means that your car uses fuel slightly more quickly, rolling down the windows adds wind resistance so your car may need to burn more fuel too. 

So whether you turn on the AC or roll your windows down, your engine will still use the same amount of fuel and energy. 

7: Wash a car with dish/laundry soap for better cleaning

Using a dish or laundry soap to wash your car is simple and affordable. However, this may cause more damage to your car since dish or laundry soaps ingredients are strong and can strip the car of its wax, making it more prone to rust. 

Just to be sure, use a car-wash liquid or a car shampoo. 

8: Maintain the sidewall pressure listed on the tires

Most people believe that the tire pressure listed on the sidewall of your tires  is the recommended pressure for your tires and should be maintained all the time. However, the tire sidewall indicates the maximum pressure your tires can handle for safe driving but is not always the best option. 

The recommended tire pressure is most commonly listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door. If there’s no sticker on the door, you can usually find the specs in the owner’s manual. 

9: Fill up your vehicle every morning for best fuel economy

There is a common belief that refueling your car in the morning can help you save money since fuel pumped in the morning would be cooler, allowing you to get more fuel in your tank for a lower cost.

This is simply untrue. The gas is stored in larger tanks underneath the ground so there won’t be any substantial temperature change. 

Therefore it does not matter what time you fill your gas tank because the amount of fuel you receive will remain the same.

10: You will need a new tire every time you run over a nail

It’s extremely dangerous for tires to run over a nail but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to change and install a new tire. 

If this happens, visit your trusted mechanic. Expert mechanics know plenty of ways in resolving this issue without having to replace the entire tire. 

11: Your battery will recharge with a quick drive after a jump start

Many people believe that a short drive will bring your battery back up to full charge after it has completely drained. The truth is it can take hours of driving to bring a dead battery back to full charge following a jumpstart. 

It’s recommended to drive around for a few hours to fully recharge your battery following a jumpstart.

12: Your vehicle should use premium gas

Premium gas is for high performance and high compression engines which is mostly found on modern and expensive cars. But if you have an average vehicle, average gasoline is better.

Sometimes filling up an older vehicle with premium gas may even cause significant damages to the engine.

Conclusion

All these car maintenance myths can be a little confusing. After all, it’s really hard to determine what is true and what is not when you have car experts telling you different things.

After reading the myths and a few expert advice, you will now feel more confident about car maintenance. 

When in doubt, check your owner’s manual and seek professional help.