Auto Reviews, Tips and Guide

Get some car care myths exposed. Learn what’s true among all those false ideas you have about taking care of your car.

(ARA) – Knowledge may be power, but that’s only the case if you put what you know into good use. Sure, it’s a common phrase that can be used in many different situations, but when applying it to car care, weeding through the myths can result in financial savings and longer vehicle life.

Myth: My car’s motor oil should be changed every 3,000 miles

It is recommended that vehicle owners follow their manufacturer’s maintenance intervals while it is still under warranty. However, if your car is no longer under warranty, try using synthetic oil that can extend your oil change intervals. The number of miles you can allow between your oil changes will depend on the way you drive and the oxidations stability of the motor oil.

Oxidation stability can be measured by the American Society for Testing and Materials’ (ASTM) rigorous Thin Film Oxidation Uptake Test (TFOUT). This test is so demanding that it lasts 1,300 minutes. Conventional motor oils typically last less than 300 minutes and Synthetic motor oils typically last less than 500 minutes. One high performance synthetic motor oil, Royal Purple, has been shown to outlast the duration of the test. Royal Purple motor oils are recommended to extend oil change intervals as much as 12,000 miles under normal driving conditions, and have also been shown to improve fuel economy.

Myth: A dealership must handle all maintenance on my vehicle while it is under warranty.

The key to maintaining your factory warranty is that car care items specified in the owner’s manual are performed on schedule. As long as the service is documented, it can be performed by any auto-repair shop. You can also do the work yourself; just make sure you keep accurate records and receipts in case warranty issues arise and for future repair.

Myth: My car engine needs to warm up before driving.

During winter months, it is a common practice for drivers to warm their vehicles up inside, but a cold engine will warm up faster when it is being driven instead of idling. If you use your car infrequently, take a few minutes to warm up your car before you drive away. This allows cold, thick oil to warm up, protecting your engine from damage. For cold weather starts, all you need is 30 seconds to ensure proper oil flow and lubrication. In the event of frigid temperatures, driving at a slower speed for a few miles will give your car enough time to warm up.

Myth: You tires should be inflated to the pressure shown on the tire sidewall.

Because of the wide variety of tires on the market today, tires can be used on more than one vehicle, so inflating your tires based on the PSI number on the sidewall may not be ideal for your specific vehicle. Car owners should follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for cold weather and normal conditions tire pressure. That number can be found on a doorjamb sticker in newer cars, or in the glove box or fuel door on older models.

Myth: Are dishwashing detergents suitable for washing my car?

It is common for people to use dish detergents to wash your car, but do so with some warning. Dish detergents are designed to remove animal or vegetable fat and will equally target the wax on your car. Instead, opt for a product specifically for automotive use. Quality products are based on detergents and not soaps which are made of rendered animal byproduct that contain trace elements that could damage your paint.

Myth: All oil filters are the same

You may think that “an oil filter is an oil filter,” but that’s not true, because there can be significant differences that affect both filtration efficiency and longevity. The oil filter is the engine’s main line of defense against abrasion and premature wear. The more dirt and other contaminants the filter can trap and hold the better.

Inexpensive filters are typically made with the 3,000-mile interval in mind, using low-quality paper media that deteriorates rapidly for filtration. There are a number of new high performance premium oil filters on the market from manufacturers such as Royal Purple, Wix and K&N. These filters are made for extended oil drain intervals.

Having a car is everyone’s dream, but not everybody can take care of their car. Often I find, my friends can only drive their car but can’t look after it. Many times I saw their cars dirty or scratched. It’s very much different with my father-in-law. He always takes care of his car, and thank God, my hubby has this habit too. He learned much of taking care a car from his father when he was a teenager and his father always and always told him to do this, and always reminded him that we should treat our car as our own child. No doubt, his car (and our car now) is always shiny and clean. I want to share some of my hubby’s tips of taking care of the car, which he inherited from his old man. Here they are:

1. After riding your car, always spend some time to wash it. The best time to do this chore is in the early morning. Yes, right in the morning after you use it the day before. This is no exception.

2. If you don’t have time to wash it yourself, you can go to the car wash service nearby. Well, actually my hubby doesn’t like his car washed by them because sometimes they don’t wash it clean enough. Some hidden surfaces like in the corners of the door hinges are sometimes missed. So it’s best if you can wash it yourself (should be very detailed when washing it, though). And bringing in the whole family in this car washing chore, it could be fun too!

3. Choose the right soap for your car. You could buy soap specially made for cars that are available on the market. Or else, you could use liquid soap which is light, and contains no antibacterial or antiseptic formula.

4. After washing it, dry it with sponge or cloth specially made to absorb water residue (plas chamois). This plas chamois is perfect for car drying, because this stuff is not harmful for your car (leaving no scratches to the body of the car). Select plas chamois which is proven as high-quality one.

5. For the interior cleaning, you could use a small vacuum cleaner, or car liquid spray.

6. Tune up or get to the original dealer for check up, service and/or maintenance once a month or two months. This is a very important thing to keep your car a ‘healthy’ one.

7. Always be very careful when driving. You don’t want to get even a scratch on your car, right?

Well, this is not an easy chore but I’m sure if you are determined to get your car always clean, shiny, and in a very good condition, you could do it. My hubby could do it, why couldn’t you? Car is a big asset so taking care of it is a big responsibility for every owner.