5 Common Car Maintenance Myths

We don't think about it often, but the automobile is a complex jigsaw puzzle. Tens of thousands of components are meticulously bolted together to allow it to perform a truly impressive feat of engineering, that is the very synchronisation of all its oily bits. It is this mechanical orchestra that affords you luxury of your everyday commute. General fear of this complexity means that myths and misconceptions about keeping a car on the road are rife. Worry no more, as we break down the 5 common misconceptions about keeping your car running in tip-top shape!

Yes, fresh engine oil has never hurt an engine. But modern oils are hardier than you think, which is why manufacturers often recommend far less frequent oil changes. Sure, there was a time that engine oils weren't all that robust, which meant 5000km oil change intervals weren't all that uncommon, but that time was a long time ago.

Excessively changing your engine oil when your car doesn't really require it can be an unnecessary drain on your finances. Consider, consulting your owner's manual for the recommended oil change interval, which is 10,000km for the average car, so you don't drain your engine oil, and your wallet, when there simply is no need to!

Manufacturers of these additives have more than upped their graphical skills in recent years. Packaging has been made to look real fancy on display shelving, often adorned with wild and unrealistic promises of improved economy and running of your car. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and these products are no exception.

In fact, independent testing has revealed that these products do not actually result in reliable and repeatable improvements to one's car and can actually negatively impact your car's running instead. It's highly probable that any perceived enhancements to running or economy is just a placebo!

To understand why many have the misconception, we first need to understand what the octane ratings are. These ratings are given based on the saturation of hydrocarbons in the petrol. The more saturated it is, the higher the rating, which in turn means the fuel can handle more compression before combustion. Therefore, logically speaking, if it can take higher compression, the engine can produce more power, right?

Unfortunately, unless you daily a souped up Subie, or perhaps any car from Affalterbach or Maranello (insert relevant place of manufacture for suitable high performance cars here!), your car simply cannot extract the extra oomph offered by higher octane petrol.Using a higher-than-recommended grade of petrol will mean that you're literally turning your cash into dust, as the unburnt fuel will be pushed out through the exhaust manifold and into your catalytic converter, potentially clogging it and reducing its efficacy. Whatever that it can't filter out will be exhausted into the air, and that really isn't good for anyone!

If you're running stock wheels and a similarly-specced set of tyres as per OE recommendations, consider referring to your owner's manual, or check your tyre pressure information sticker located on the door sill, for the optimum tyre pressure for your car. Do not refer to the figures printed onto the side wall of your tyre, as they do not accurately reflect the best tyre pressure settings for optimal fuel economy and operation.

The aforementioned figures refer to the maximum permissible tyre pressure figure, which often is significantly higher than what your car should be running. Sounds innocuous enough, but tyre pressure plays a critical role in tyre performance and tyre life; over or under-inflation can cause issues such as the excessive and premature wear to the tyre, with the possibility of not improving, or worse, reducing, the car's contact patch with the road as well.

As with so many myths and urban legends, there used to be elements of truth with this misconception. Advancements in engine design and engineering mean that this is no longer the case. Modern engines reach optimal running conditions more quickly once you're on the move - idling in a carpark does nothing more than burn excess fuel without actually bringing anything up to proper operating temperature.

Being on the move doesn't mean bouncing off the rev limiter immediately after setting off though. Go easy for the first couple of kilometres to allow fluids to be circulated through all of your car's ancillaries, enabling all of the oily bits to receive ample lubrication and cooling, before heading up to expressway speeds. This should reduce engine wear in the long run!

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Credits: Jek Ray Low