Car maintenance myths busted

April, 2019

A car is one of the most cherished material possessions for a person. After spending careful thought and hard-earned money on your favourite car, it certainly is a problem when the car's performance begins to dip. The lowered level of happiness with the car can be attributed to maintainence problems. However, before you think of horrible long drawn bills in your hand, we help you with what you need to be doing actually.

First thing we have to keep in mind is, when in doubt never hesitate to ask. Even if you may think it may sound silly. End of the day it is your car and if there are any damages you have to pay for it. Even the best of intentions may make you spend money or, worse, compromise the safety of your car. After all when it comes to in-car maintenance, misconceptions are something that take place more often than not. Everyone believes he is an expert in car maintenance, so we checked out the following myths.

1. Wax can remove scratches

This is false. Scratches can only be necessarily removed from paint finish when the thickness of the paint is reduced down. Scratch removers do this by buffering hairline scratches as it acts as a non-abrasive paint cleaner. The wax solution only manages to cover the scratches for a short time and if it rains then the solution wears out.

2. Wash car with detergents

This is also false as dish cleaning solutions and washing clothes detergents do clean the car but they also strip waxes and other protective coatings off the paint finish. Initially the car may appear all shiny and clean but in the long run it will speed up the oxidation process and shorten the life of your car’s paint.

3. Car idling is necessary

Wrong again! Modern engines do not need more than a few seconds of idling time before they can be driven safely. That too only in extreme cold temperatures. Therefore, the best way to warm up a car is to drive it, since that warms up the catalytic converter and other mechanical parts of the car, in addition to the engine. Also, if you are idling longer than 10 seconds, you should switch off the engine as the only thing you are achieving is wasting fuel and burning a hole in your wallet.

4. Jump-start equivalent to full charge battery

False. It could take hours of driving to restore a battery’s full charge. The reason for this could be power accessories such as the air conditioner, which draws a lot of electricity. The best solution is to switch off the AC and drive to a service station where the experts can determine whether the battery can still hold its charge. Don't take it for granted that the battery is okay after a jump-start as the next morning you may again face starting problems.

5. Dealer's service station is the best

There is absolutely no data to back this claim. This is more of the false sense of security we have in our minds that the dealer from whom you have bought the car will automatically give it the best servicing possible. Just keep one thing in mind that your warranty will remain valid as long as car has gone to an official recognised service centre. We suggest try two-three different service centres so that you will know exactly which one gives your car the best service. Always refer to the owner's manual to know when what specific service is required. Also keep accurate records and receipts so that you can back up claims in case your warranty comes under dispute.

6. Brake fluid solves it all

False. The level in the brake-fluid reservoir reduces a bit when the brake pads wear out. So don't just blindly top up the brake fluid and think all is fine. Of course if the fluid level drops to or below the Low mark on the reservoir, then you should top up the fluid. But also be aware that spongy brakes can be induced by wearing of brake pads. In either case get the braking system checked immediately.

7. Inflate tyres according to side wall

Absolutely false. The figure molded into the sidewall is the tyre’s maximum inflation pressure. Instead, follow the inflation pressure recommendations outlined in your car owner’s manual or placard, typically located on the door post or fuel-filler flap. The pounds-per-square-inch (psi) figure on the side of the tyre provides the best balance of braking, handling, fuel mileage, and ride comfort. Perform a monthly pressure check when tyres are cold or after the car has been parked for a couple of weeks.

8. Use extra coat of wax

Totally senseless. A capital NO. There is absolutely no need to apply more than one coat of wax to a car. Too much wax can leave the finish with a dull look instead of a clean and shiny one. Not to mention your vehicle will have a greasy, old worn out car look. When you wax a car you have to buff it off with a clean soft cloth. So if you are already taking off the excess wax so please explain to us the logic of adding extra wax coat only to wipe it off the car's body.

9. Flush out the coolant

Replacing or flushing out the coolant has no relation with engine oil change as they both have different life cycles. So don't fall for it if your mechanic tells you that we might as well change the coolant as we are changing the engine oil. Unless it is extremely hot or there is a leak in the tank the coolant should not be flushed out before three years or the recommended time cycle. You can top it up during the coolant's life cycle. However if colour changes to brown replace at once.

10.Higher octane better fuel

Not true. Most vehicles run perfectly alright on regular-grade (87 octane) fuel. Using premium in these cars won't hurt, but it won't improve performance, either. A higher-octane number simply means that the fuel is less prone to pre-ignition problems, so it's often specified for hotter running, highcompression engines. So if your car is designed for 87-octane fuel, don't waste money on premium.

Also read: 7 ways to protect your car from the summer heat

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