That’s Not Your Dad’s Car - February 23rd, 2007
Auto-related myths get perpetuated in the most innocent way. For many people all those things “Dad said” are gospel when it comes to caring for your car. Popular mythology and handed-down advice don’t take into account the tremendous updates to automotive technology in recent years, however and can actually do your vehicle more harm than good. For instance:
- Letting the engine idle on cold days to warm it up just wears out the engine. Modern oil flows just fine regardless of the temperature.
- Using premium gas every few tanks is just a waste of money. Regular gasoline has the needed additives to keep your engine clean.
- Filling the radiator with pure antifreeze can damage gaskets and that much glycol actually provides less cold-weather protection.
And finally, don’t disconnect the battery when a car is to be parked long term. You’ll face headaches Dad never dreamed of like the engine computer reprograming itself and the need to reset the clock and radio. You may even need to punch in the radio anti-theft code, which probably means a trip to the dealership because you don’t have a clue what that code might be. The modern answer? Trickle chargers.
For answers to more traditional automotive myths see: Your Dad Was Wrong! at rismedia.com.
Posted on February 23rd, 2007 by Shorty
Filed under: myths and mistakes |
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