11 Car Myths That Are NOT True!

If you own a car, you might have heard many tips from the people you interact with daily. Some may tell you to warm up the engine before driving on a cold day, while others might advise you to change your oil every 3,000 miles.  While there’s no harm in listening to such statements, most of them are rarely accurate.

Except for qualified mechanics and other automobile experts, most people that you interact with know little about how cars work. There are several car myths that car owners believe, despite having been discredited many times. Some have become outdated because of technological advancements, while others are entirely false. View our new inventory today, or If you have any questions give us a call at (817) 663-7404.

Here are the typical car myths that you need to stop believing.

• SUVs Are Safer Than Small Cars

Image via Flickr by David Villarreal Fernandez

From a layperson’s perspective, it is easy to see why people argue that bigger cars are safer during crashes than smaller cars. After all, size does matter. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, a bigger and heavier vehicle provides better protection during accidents than smaller and lighter vehicles, assuming there are no other differences. While this is true, the high center of gravity means less stability for bigger cars. This makes them more susceptible to rolling.

Moreover, larger vehicles require longer braking distance than their smaller counterparts, even though they have more powerful brakes. Shorter braking distance can make a huge difference in a situation when emergency braking is needed.

Luckily, car manufacturers are continually devising ways to improve on the shortcomings of SUVs. Some of the notable improvements include increasing brake power and equipping them with traction and stability systems.

• Ignition Consumes More Fuel Than Idling

This statement was substantial when cars used carburetors to blend air and fuel to propel the engine. Now that most vehicles use modern fuel injection, ignition doesn’t consume more gas than idling. This means that the best way to save on petrol costs is turning off the engine if you plan to stay stationary for more than 30 seconds.

• The Bigger the Engine, the More Powerful the Vehicle

In the past, powerful cars had big, naturally-aspirated V8 engines. Although their performance was impressive at the time, it was mostly inefficient.

Due to technological advancements, car manufacturers are now making smaller engines with higher efficiency. Instead of increasing engine displacement, most carmakers are integrating turbochargers. The result is smaller, more powerful, fuel-efficient, and eco-friendly engines.

• Regular Tuning Extends Your Car’s Life

Engines require regular maintenance to ensure that all the internal components are in good working condition. However, the need to go for a complete tune-up doesn’t apply to modern cars.

Older vehicles depended on precision tuning to check if all the components were working as the manufacturer intended. Contrarily, newer models rely on computers to assess the engine’s condition, eliminating the need for regular tuning.

• You Need To Warm up the Engine Before Driving in Cold Conditions

Although cold conditions reduce your engine’s efficiency, it isn’t mandatory to warm it up before you start driving. An idling engine runs at the least power, meaning that it generates a negligible amount of heat. If you want to warm up your engine and other parts of the car, the fastest way to do it is by driving.

• Electric Cars Are More Susceptible To Fires

It is a common myth that electric cars are more likely to catch fire than petrol-powered vehicles. Electric automobiles usually catch fire when heat causes the battery to explode. That said, gasoline is more flammable than lithium, the material used to make batteries for electric automobiles.

According to Tesla, a company renowned for making electric cars, gas-powered cars are 11 times more likely to go ablaze than electric vehicles. This statistic is based on the number of car fires per one billion miles driven.  Though people are yet to warm up to the idea of electric cars, they look to be the safer option.

• You Should
  

  Change Oil Every Three Thousand Miles

Most dealerships advise car owners to change the oil when the mileage hits the 3,000 mark. However, this isn’t always necessary. In the past, frequent oil and filter changes were useful in keeping the engine in great shape. Nowadays, engine durability and oil quality have improved significantly, and you can drive for over 7,000 miles without needing oil replacements. Better yet, engines that use synthetic oil can drive safely for over 15,000 miles.

• Manual
  

  Cars Have Better Fuel Economy Than Automatics

When the automatic transmission was still a new technology, this was true. The pioneering automatics used a lot of fuel and broke down more frequently than manuals. More modern automatics are a significant improvement on the older versions and much better than manual cars. Their gearboxes shift faster, they have better fuel efficiency, and their engines last longer because of sensibly calculated gear aspect ratios.

• Performance Chips Increase Power

Some car dealers sell performance chips claiming that they can increase your car’s power. In reality, these chips don’t have any impact on your vehicle power. The best way to increase horsepower is by reprogramming your Engine Control Unit. Alternatively, you can invest in mechanical upgrades.

• All SUVs Have Excellent Off-Road Capabilities

In the past, most SUVs performed well on all terrains. They were the perfect blend of standard road cars and off-road vehicles, making them ideal for people who want to drive on roads and off the beaten track.

Modern SUVs are significantly different – they have bigger wheels, smaller chassis, and many luxurious features. Manufacturers are no longer prioritizing off-road capabilities, so it would be best to stay on the road if you don’t want to damage your car. However, there are a few exceptions.

• You Can Fill More Gas in the Morning

Some people believe that you can get more gas in the morning because petrol is dense during cold weather. Although petrol expands when it gets hot, this is a myth. Outside temperature doesn’t affect fuel density at filling stations since it is stored in underground tanks.

Top Car Myths That Are Not True

A car is a costly investment, which explains why every car owner wants the best for their vehicle. However, it would help if you didn’t always listen to advice from anybody, as it could be false or end up ruining your automobile. Only seek advice from qualified professionals. If you are in need of services related to Mazda vehicles, feel free to call our service department at 817-367-4000