Top 7 Myths about Cars

Young drivers especially, are the victims of myths about cars, which can be detrimental to the health of a person as well as their car. Bad maintenance advice to mistaken safety tips can have its negative effect on vehicles. The top 7 myths about cars are listed here:

Myth #1: Keep your doors unlocked so you can be rescued easier in an accident:
Unlocked doors are more likely to open during a collision and create opportunities for occupants to fall out. Keeping your doors locked keeps you safe and secure, especially while driving at night, and ensures you car insurance isn’t void if theft occurs.

Myth #2: Let your engine warm up for several minutes before driving:
What was once good advice for cars back in the day, it is less so today because modern engines warm up more quickly when they are driven. When they warmed up, they will deliver the best economy and performance – just be sure not to rev the engine unnecessarily high over the first few kilometres while it is warming up.

Myth #3: Laundry detergents make a good car wash:
You wouldn’t use car-wash to clean your clothes, so you shouldn’t use laundry detergents to wash your car. These detergents can strip off a car’s wax finish. The best option is to go to a car wash service and wash your car with the correct materials that are there.

Myth #4: Premium fuel is the best for your car:
Using premium fuel in your car won’t hurt, but it won’t improve the performance of your car either. Minimum 95 octane rating is just as good as the 98 octane.

Myth #5: You can go a long way on ‘empty:’
Petrol gauges in Australia aren’t exact – they are set up so that they stay on ‘full’ for a long time, gradually creep down to half, then plunge quickly to a quarter, then gradually make their way down to zero. At this point, you don’t have much petrol left for that trip ‘just around the corner.’ When the light goes on, get petrol, to prevent your car from starving for fuel, which can take it a long time to re-pressurise.

Myth #6: Constantly repair your car, even if it doesn’t need it:
The old adage, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ rings especially true here – there is no use repairing your car on things that may need repairing ‘later down the track.’ This is a waste of your precious money. Instead, to plan for the future, put a little bit of money aside should you need to repair your car parts when it needs it, which will be eventually, but not today.

Myth #7: Engine oil should be changed every 5,000kms:
First, this is not only unnecessary; it is also costing you a lot of money that could be better spent on something else. Oil companies and mechanics will tell you that it won’t hurt your car’s engine to constantly get the engine oil changed, but it is always better to stick to the service intervals that are indicated in your car’s owner’s manual.

The most important advice any driver can receive will be to get comprehensive car insurance. This is one piece of information that should not be ignored, as it is crucial for the safety of the driver and their car. Don’t risk being involved in a car accident for which you cannot financially pay for – get car insurance for peace of mind in knowing that you are protected.

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