Myth or Fact? Common Misconceptions About Cars

(Photo Credits: Pexels)

Have you heard of the notion that duck quacks don’t echo? How about the one about ostriches sticking their heads in the ground when afraid or stories about killer pennies dropped from the top of the Empire State Building?

The world is full of popular myths and misconceptions, and the automotive industry isn’t any different. Today we’ll be covering some of the more popular misconceptions about your car!

Revving your engine is the best way to warm up your engine

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

The revs will cause abrupt changes in temperature in your engine. This will result in your engine not being able to lubricate itself properly and cause friction between its components, potentially causing damage over time. Unfortunately, it has become a disturbingly common habit amongst drivers and riders.

Myth: Busted

Dirty cars are more fuel-efficient

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

The rationale is that dirt and grime will cause the dimple effect like those you see on golf balls, making it more aerodynamic. However, research has shown that your vehicle would actually become less fuel-efficient instead. This is caused by the added resistance from the grime sitting on top of your vehicle surface. The dirt may also add weight to your vehicle, thus worsening its fuel efficiency.

Myth: Busted

Rocking your car when pumping petrol will let you pump more petrol

(Photo Credit: Unsplash)

We’ve seen our neighbours doing this at petrol stations in JB. Why, even some drivers here in Malaysia have begun to partake in this "ritual". An army of rocking cars with S plates is certainly a comedic sight to behold... But is their behaviour in any way valid?

The answer is no! People used to do this with old cars to remove any potentially trapped air in their filler pipe or the tank itself and consequently, be able to pump more petrol. But cars these days are built well enough that the chances of getting any air stucked is low and negligible.

Myth: Busted

Speed up, don't slow down when you're about to hit an animal

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

The rationale here is that if you speed up instead of slowing down, you will be able to send the animal you’re about to crash into over your vehicle, protecting you and your passengers from any harm. Again, the good people at Mythbusters have tested this out and uncovered that you risk sending the animal into your windscreen or crashing on top of you, as the car bonnet may get ripped off upon collision. So please slow down!

Myth: Busted

Premium fuel will help my car perform better

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

This myth reeks of kiasu-ism. We all want the best for ourselves, so choosing what we feed our vehicle is no different. However, premium fuel does NOT magically turn your 12-year-old Proton Saga into a new Ferrari Roma. The difference in performance when using premium fuel is only noticeable when your car requires it. Otherwise, it’s just a big ol' waste of money!

Myth: Busted

Charging your phone via car USB will lead to drainage of the car battery

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

Here we see our first plausible myth. This one is generally busted as most petrol cars have an alternator that helps keep the battery charged as you drive. However, electric cars run on… well, electricity. And any use of this energy source can theoretically drain its battery. However, key functions such as air-conditioning use up way more energy than a measly phone charger.

Myth: Technically plausible

Paint protection causes more harm than good to your car

(Photo Credit: Pexels)

Some vehicle owners looking to protect their paint job might opt to get a layer of paint protection applied to their vehicle exterior. The myth revolves around the idea that the glue used to apply this layer will damage the paint job when taken off. But it’s really about the degree of workmanship here. Any job done on your vehicle comes with the risk of it getting damaged if the workers are incompetent. So no, this mythshould not be taken as the gospel truth.

Myth: Busted

Myths come about due to a multitude of reasons, be it as entertainment or as a way for companies to market solutions that would be deemed unnecessary otherwise. So it’s always best for us to do our due diligence before blindly believing in everything we hear!

Read more: Choosing the Most Suitable Car For You