If you are like most individuals, when you finally reached the age where you could drive, your father would take you aside and explain a few important pieces of information about owning and operating a car. He’d tell you when to change the oil, how to change a tyre, and even what the most common problems with the car might be.
If you are like most individuals, when you finally reached the age where you could drive, your father would take you aside and explain a few important pieces of information about owning and operating a car. He’d tell you when to change the oil, how to change a tyre, and even what the most common problems with the car might be.
As a teenager, you took these lessons to heart, and made sure to follow his instructions not only then, but all through your adult life. While at the time his advice may have been honest and sound, today things are much different when it comes to cars and car parts. Today, many of the ‘lessons’ we learned as teenagers are nothing more than urban myths that continually spread through the generations.
While some urban myths may be harmless, (as long as you don’t get lost searching for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow) when it comes to your car, believing in these myths can leave your wallet empty. Chances are, in this economy, that’s the last thing you want.
Common Car Repair Myths
- Change the Oil Every 3,000 Miles- Wasn’t this pounded into your head, over and over again as a teenager? “When you own a car, you have to take care of it, and that includes changing the oil every 3,000 miles or three months, whichever comes first.” I can almost hear my dad’s voice in my head. While this may have been true for older vehicles, new models from 2010 on have the capability to travel 7,800 miles before needing an oil change. Premature oil changes can not only cost you additional money, but can also shorten the lifespan of your car.
- Dipstick Check- How do you change the oil? Do you wait the recommended mileage or do you rely on the dipstick check? This check involves looking at the oil on the dipstick, and if it is black, changing it. This myth has cost car owners a ton of cash throughout the years and has no basis in reality. Oil is meant to become black; this colour indicates that it is doing its job properly. In addition, additives that are often used today can change the oil’s colour significantly.
- Blame the Gas Cap- In recent years, whenever the “check engine” light would go off, most everyone blamed the gas cap. And this might have been the case in older models. Today, however, this isn’t the most common reason behind that flashing light. In most cases, a check engine light is related to other car parts that need to be replaced. Some of those car parts might be the O2 sensor, spark plugs, mass airflow sensor, or the catalytic converter.
- Brake Fluid- When you check the brake fluid on a car and it is low, what do you do? In most cases, individuals are told to simply add more fluid. This isn’t the best method however. Instead of simply replacing the missing brake fluid, get the car to an auto repair shop and have a mechanic take a look at the brakes. Most often, missing brake fluid indicates a problem with these car parts that needs to be evaluated and fixed immediately.
- Charging the Battery- Battery dead? Most car owners have, at one point or another, had to ‘jump’ their car’s battery. In most cases, they have been told to only let the battery charge for a few minutes before taking off the jumper cables and getting behind the wheel. These days, however, cars do more than just get us from point A to point B. They power televisions, “hot” seats, power our iPods, and allow us to use GPS devices. Leave the charge running for up to a half hour. If the charge still doesn’t hold, the battery may need replacing.
Have you fallen victim to these types of car repair myths? Save some money and time by making sure you understand the truth behind these myths and take the best care of your vehicle.
