True or False: Debunking auto maintenance myths

If you’ve driven a car long enough, you’ve probably heard some of these maintenance tips from the grapevine. Some are true, some have a touch of truth and some may be downright wrong. Here, as a means of separating fact from fiction, are some of the more common auto repair maintenance myths debunked.

Myth: You need to change your engine oil every 3,000 miles.
Truth: You’re better off checking your Owner’s manual and following the prescribed frequency for oil changes. This can also change if you use synthetic oil, which generally doesn’t require changing as frequently.

Myth: You shouldn’t worry about changing your oil filter every time you change the oil.
Truth: The oil filter is an inexpensive part. Considering the benefits of a clean oil filter, it doesn’t make sense to skimp when changing the oil. The oil filter’s job is to clean particles out of the oil. Those particles can cause damage and wear to your engine. A new filter will do a better job of keeping the dirt out of your engine oil and engine.

Myth: Your car’s engine burns more gasoline when you run the air conditioning.
Truth: Running the air conditioning has a negligible effect on how hard your engine has to work and how much gasoline you’ll use. Don’t worry about the gas mileage; run the air conditioning and be comfortable.

Myth: A clean air filter can improve gas mileage.
Truth: Not significantly. If you want to improve your gas mileage, make sure that your car is well tuned, the air pressure in the tires is proper and don’t make jack-rabbit starts and stops.

Myth: You should allow your car to warm up for a minute or so before you start driving.
Truth: If this was once true, it’s not a serious concern today. Cars today are designed so you can start them and go. This may change a little in the winter when you want to let the oil warm up a little so that it thins out and reaches the upper oil passages thoroughly but, even then, it’s not the same concern as it once was.

Myth: You should change your spark plugs every 30,000 miles.
Truth: Once again, while this may once have been true, it’s not the case today. Today, you can probably count on getting 100,000 miles out of a set of spark plugs. Likewise, you don’t need to have your car tune up as often.

Myth: You need to bring your car back to the dealer for service to maintain the warranty.
Truth: As long as you keep a documented record of auto service, and maintain all the service as prescribed by the warranty, any qualified auto repair shop can do the service of your vehicle.

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