We all have our own ideas about car maintenance, but many of those ideas are completely wrong. Here are 15 common myths about car maintenance and what you should do instead:

These Car Maintenance Myths are a LIE! – YouTube

Takeaways
Car maintenance myths can be costly and dangerous if you believe them.
Regular car maintenance is essential to keep your vehicle running smoothly and safely.
Don’t believe everything you hear about car maintenance – do your research and consult your owner’s manual.
Basic car maintenance tasks like changing your oil and replacing your filters are easy to do yourself.
Following proper car maintenance guidelines can save you money in the long run.

Table of Contents

Myth #1: Change your oil every 3,000 miles

While the 3,000-mile oil change recommendation is a popular one, it’s not required by law. In fact, there are no laws about changing your car’s motor oil at all.

Some states and countries require that you change your oil every 5,000 miles or more frequently (like every 3 months) but most do not.

It’s best to consult with your vehicle manufacturer for details on what type of oil your car needs and how often you should get an oil change.

They can give you information specific to the year and make of your vehicle as well as any recommendations they have regarding maintenance intervals or mileage requirements for changing fluids in general (i.e., cooling system).

Good car maintenance is essential to keep your vehicle running smoothly. Check out our article on 15 Expert Car Maintenance Tips for Maintaining Your Vehicle’s Health to learn how to keep your car in top condition.

Myth #2: Check your oil regularly

This one is short and sweet. The oil in your car should be changed every 3,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. There are a few exceptions to this rule:

If you use synthetic oil in your vehicle (which costs more than regular oil), then you can go longer between changes.

If you’ve had the car for over 100,000 miles and still have the original engine, then it’s OK to change the oil less frequently (even though it may still say “3,000 miles” on the sticker).

If you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing for extended periods of time, then you’ll want to change your car’s oil more often than 6 months/3k miles because extreme cold wreaks havoc on engine parts by making them brittle and prone to breaking down quickly without proper lubrication from an adequate amount of fresh motor oil

Myth #3: Engines should warm up before driving

This myth is one of the most common misconceptions held by drivers. It’s easy to fall prey to this idea because it sounds like solid advice: “warm up your engine before driving.”

However, this statement is usually used in the context of an engine that has been sitting for a while, and it doesn’t reflect what actually happens when you start your car.

You should know that there are two things happening when your car starts for the first time each day:

The oil gets warm enough to lubricate critical engine components (about 20 seconds after starting).
The engine reaches its normal operating temperature range where everything has been warmed up sufficiently (about five minutes after starting).

Want to avoid costly repairs and breakdowns? Regular car maintenance is the key. Read our article on The Top 10 Car Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Vehicle Running Smoothly for some easy-to-follow tips.

Myth #4: Synthetic oil is always better than conventional

You’re not going to believe this, but synthetic oil is not always better than conventional oils. Though they do work differently and have different properties, they achieve the same goal: lubricating your engine.

That said, if you have an older car that runs on a carburetor or a newer vehicle with an electronic fuel injection system, then using synthetic may make sense for you because it can help preserve the life of these parts by keeping them clean and free from carbon buildup.

However, if your car has been converted from carburetion to electronic fuel injection (EFI), there’s no need for switching over to synthetic unless you want to save money in maintenance costs down the road and even then, it may not be worth it depending on how much longer your current engine will last before needing replacement anyway.

Myth #5: Your car needs premium fuel.

As a driver, you’re likely to hear this myth repeated over and over again. But the truth is that your vehicle doesn’t need premium fuel at all.

In fact, most manufacturers recommend regular unleaded gasoline for their vehicles as they can run more efficiently on it than on higher-end grades of gasoline like “91” or “93,” which are often labeled as “premium.”

The reason behind this misconception is simple: if you’re using regular gas in your car (which has been manufactured and tested for use with this type of fuel), it’s going to perform at its best without any problems whatsoever and there isn’t much difference between the performance levels of different brands of regular unleaded fuels anyway!

So save yourself some money by sticking with what works best for your vehicle and stick with regular unleaded gasoline whenever possible!

Car maintenance can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. If you have any questions about car maintenance, check out our article on The Most Common Car Maintenance Questions Answered for some answers and peace of mind.

Myth #6: Only use the highest octane level you can buy.

You should use the octane that is recommended by your car manufacturer. If you use a higher octane than recommended, you will not gain any performance benefits but you might experience engine knocking (a rattling sound from inside the engine).

This can reduce power and cause expensive damage to your engine if ignored.

Myth	Reality
Premium gas is always better for your vehicle than regular gas	False
Use the octane level recommended by the manufacturer for your vehicle	True
Using a higher octane level than recommended by the manufacturer provides no additional benefits	True
Using a lower octane level than recommended can cause engine knocking and reduce performance	True

Note: Always check your vehicle owner’s manual to determine the recommended octane level for your car. Using the recommended level will provide optimal engine performance and fuel efficiency, and will save you money at the pump. Using a higher octane level than recommended provides no additional benefits and can be a waste of money.

Myth #7: If a light’s on, it always means something’s wrong.

False! Most of the time, you can ignore these lights. For example, your power steering light will come on if you’re going over 20 miles per hour and because of low pressure or high temperature in the system.

It doesn’t mean that something is broken you just need to fill up your power steering fluid reservoir (which can be done easily with a funnel and some new-ish oil) and go about your business.

There are also lights that help you make sure everything’s working properly while driving—like when your blinkers are on but they’re not blinking fast enough to let people know what direction you’re going in.

Or when your fuel gauge is below empty because there’s no way for anyone else driving behind you to know where their tanks need filling up at an upcoming pit stop.

Avoiding car maintenance mistakes is important to keep your vehicle running smoothly and prevent accidents. Learn about The Most Common Car Maintenance Mistakes and How to Avoid Them in our helpful guide.

Myth #8: Cleaning your car will damage its finish.

You may think that washing your car will damage its finish. That’s because you’ve heard that it’s the soap and cleaning products that can harm a vehicle’s paint job.

But this isn’t really true. It’s actually the waxing that causes damage to your car’s finish, not because of what you’re using but because of how frequently you use it.

The reason for this can be summed up in one simple term: water spots! If left untreated, small droplets of water on your painted surface can quickly turn into larger ones as they dry out and set into the paintwork over time.

The more often these droplets are allowed to form and subsequently evaporate the more they’ll etch away at layers beneath them until eventually parts start peeling off completely!

Myth #9: You should inflate tires to the maximum pressure shown on the sidewall

It is true that the maximum pressure listed on the sidewall of a tire is a maximum limit, and you should not exceed it.

However, this number should only be used as a guide for your tire pressure. It’s important to realize that different tires have different rolling radii, meaning they each have varying amounts of tread width and contact patch area.

The vehicle manufacturer will generally have recommended pressures for your specific car or truck; these figures should be followed.

When inflating tires, it’s also important to consider weather conditions and driving habits—a vehicle with lots of highway miles may warrant higher inflation levels than one driven primarily in urban environments or rural areas with lower speed limits (the same goes for winter driving versus summer).

Finally, don’t forget about load: A fully loaded pickup truck will require more air than its unloaded counterpart

Myth	Reality
The recommended tire pressure level is equal to the pressure level mentioned on the tire’s sidewall print	False
Always refer to the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure level for proper inflation	True
Overinflated tires can cause poor handling, less traction, excessive wear, and blowouts	True
Underinflated tires can cause poor gas mileage, tire wear, and reduced handling	True

Note: Always check your vehicle owner’s manual or the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb for the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure level. This will ensure safer handling, better gas mileage, and longer tire life.

Myth #10 You should fully deflate your tires for off-road driving.

You’ll also want to avoid underinflating your tires when you’re going off-road. While it’s true that tires lose traction when they are underinflated, overinflating them can cause the tire to explode (a risk especially with older vehicles).

If you’re driving on roads and need more traction, it’s best to keep your tires at the correct pressure level for driving on roads.

Myth #11 You don’t need to worry about tire wear until it becomes excessive or the tread wears away entirely.

There are three things you need to know about tires:

They wear out.

They have a tread depth indicator, which is printed on the tire for your convenience. Tires should be replaced when they have less than 2/32 of tread remaining (for light trucks and SUVs), less than 4/32 (for large sedans), and less than 6/32 (for small sedans).

It’s important to recognize that this measurement is taken from the center of the tire; if you own a car with wide rims, it’s possible that they’ll show more wear even though there’s plenty of meat left on those puppies!

Tire maintenance can save you a lot of money over time—and make sure your safety isn’t compromised!

Even if you’re short on time, you can still take care of some basic car maintenance tasks yourself. Check out our list of 15 Easy DIY Car Maintenance Tips for the Busy Person to keep your car in tip-top shape without spending a lot of time or money.

Myth #12 To avoid rollover, you should always keep weight distributed towards the bottom of your vehicle when load carrying

You should always keep weight distributed towards the bottom of your vehicle when load carrying.

This is a myth because it is not always safe to do so. If your vehicle has a high centre of gravity, there’s a good chance that applying pressure to one side or another could cause it to tip over.

For example, imagine you’ve got a load in the back seat area which can shift around easily; try pushing down on that side with all your strength and see what happens!

The best way to distribute weight evenly across a car is by using tie-downs and strapping down cargo tightly with ratchet straps (and not bungee cords).

If you’re worried about uneven distribution from loose items in the trunk area then make sure they’re secured properly before hitting the road.

Myth	Reality
Keeping weight low in your car can reduce the risk of rollover	False
Weight distribution in load carrying should be according to manufacturer’s recommendation	True
Failure to maintain proper distribution can cause poor handling, excessive wear, and damage to the vehicle	True

Note: Always refer to the manufacturer’s guidelines for the recommended weight distribution when carrying loads in your vehicle. Failing to follow these guidelines can not only cause poor driving performance but also put you and others on the road at risk.

Conclusion

And now you know. The truth is that these myths can lead to bad driving habits and even dangerous situations.

You don’t have to be an expert mechanic, but if you’re going to spend money on your car and take care of it, then it’s worth making sure that you’re doing everything right.

FAQs

Do I really need to change my oil every 3,000 miles?

No, this is a common myth. The recommended oil change interval for most vehicles is actually much longer than 3,000 miles. Consult your owner’s manual for the recommended interval for your specific vehicle.

Should I warm up my engine before driving?

Not necessarily. While it was once recommended to warm up your engine before driving, modern engines don’t need as much warm-up time as older engines. As a general rule, you should wait about 30 seconds to a minute before driving.

Is it true that premium gas is better for my car?

Not usually. Unless your car specifically requires premium gas, using it won’t provide any benefits. In fact, it can actually harm your engine if it’s not designed for premium gas.

Can I replace my own brake pads?

Yes, you can replace your own brake pads if you have some basic mechanical knowledge and the right tools. However, it’s important to make sure you do the job correctly and safely, or you could be putting yourself and others at risk.

Do I need to replace all four tires at once?

Not necessarily. If only one or two of your tires are damaged or worn out, you can just replace those instead of all four. However, it’s important to make sure that the new tires are the same size and type as the ones you’re replacing to ensure proper handling and safety.