Proper maintenance can help reduce your overall costs of vehicle ownership and extend the lifespan of your automobile. However, certain maintenance recommendations are unnecessary and could even be dangerous for your car. Here are a few of the most common car maintenance myths:
1. You Must Change Your Car’s Oil Every 3,000 Miles
Convenient recommendations used to state that cars had to have their oil changed every 3,000 miles, regardless of the car, its condition or its age. Fortunately, most newer cars have advanced engine technology that requires less frequent oil changes when the vehicles are driven under normal driving conditions.
Instead of sticking to the 3,000 rule, go with the guidelines in your owner’s manual. Most likely, you really only need your oil changed every 5,000 or 7,000 miles; some cars can even safely go 10,000 miles between oil changes.
2. Fluid Flushes are an Essential Maintenance Task
The recommendation to do regular fluid flushes is one of the car maintenance myths that is rarely necessary for your vehicle; in fact, in some cases, they can even do more harm than good. When you flush your fluids, this is a different process than changing your vehicle’s fluids. A fluid flush uses water or some type of cleaner in hopes of removing dirt and grime from your car’s systems.
However, this can actually damage your car. During the flushing process, the water or cleaner can cause dirt to break loose, which can cause harm to nearby systems and components. Instead of having the vehicles flushed, drain them by removing your car’s drain plug and replace them according to your car’s owner’s manual. During the draining process, your mechanic should avoid using any water or special cleaner to flush out any remaining fluid.
3. You Have to Replace at Least Two Tires at a Time
It is a fallacy that you must replace at least two tires at a time. The reasoning behind this guideline is that replacing two tires at a time helped them wear down more evenly. However, if one of your tires needs to be replaced well before the end of its lifespan, it is okay to only replace a single tire as long as the others have ample tread and are in good condition.
Although these car maintenance myths are simply that, there are some best practices you should follow to keep your vehicle running properly. Check out some of them here: