There are a lot of maintenance tips out there that are generally believed to be good for your vehicle, but that is not always the case.
MotorHappy, a supplier of motor management solutions and car insurance options, debunked five of the most common car maintenance myths which when avoided may help you save time, money, and effort.
Warming up your car
Idling in neutral to let your car warm up is an outdated method and may cost unnecessary fuel burning as modern engines warm up and cool down much quicker than old ones.
According to MotorHappy, the best way to warm up the engine is to start driving slowly and gently and not revving the engine too high within the first few minutes on the road.
Changing your engine oil
A well-known myth is that owners must change their car’s engine oil every 4,000-5,000km but this may be too frequent and therefore unnecessary.
The owner’s manual will guide you as to when the best time is to change the oil.
Using the correct fuel
The majority of car motors are built to run on regular fuel and stretching for the more premium grade when refilling may not bring any tangible benefits.
“In most cases, using a higher-octane gasoline than your owner’s manual recommends offers absolutely no benefit. It won’t make your car perform better, go faster, get better mileage, or run cleaner,” said MotorHappy.
Once again, the owner’s manual will guide you on which grade of fuel is the best for your particular model of car.
Finding the correct tyre pressure
The tyre pressure (psi) that is printed on the sidewall of the tyre is believed by many to be the recommended air pressure to fill it to, but instead, this is the maximum psi that a particular wheel can handle.
The recommended psi can be found on a sticker in the door jam, glove box, or fuel-filler door, and will depend on the load and number of passengers the car must carry.
An incorrectly-inflated tyre can significantly affect the handling, braking, and overall wear of the wheels.
Washing your car
Plenty of owners use dishwashing liquid or laundry detergent to wash their vehicles but this can be damaging to the paint.
These types of soaps were designed to strip grease and fat from surfaces and could remove the protective wax or clear coat that is applied to the body which is there to keep it from rusting and the paint from fading.
“Stick with car washing liquids even if it means paying extra,” said MotorHappy.
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