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The Most Popular Automotive Myths – What's True and What's Not?
You know the saying that false information repeated many times is often considered the truth? In this way, over the years, many automotive myths have been created, in which a wide group of people believe. Knowing them will have a positive impact on your wallet and driving comfort. Which myths are the most popular?
- Automotive myths are common. They come from old mechanic practices, outdated advice, or incomplete knowledge of car users.
- Such myths can be harmful to cars, increase repair costs, and even negatively impact safety.
- Often, such automotive myths are repeated without checking whether they have anything to do with the truth – e.g. those about electric cars.
- Check how much fuel your car burns. Use our fuel calculator!
- Automotive myths – where do they come from?
- Myth 1: Driving freely means saving money
- Myth 2: Electric cars have a short range
- Myth 3: In winter, you should warm up your car before driving.
- Myth 4: A partially filled tank should be topped up with fuel of the same octane number.
- Myth 5: Electric cars often catch fire
- Myth 6: High-octane gasoline is best
- Myth 7: You can wash your car with dishwashing liquid.
- Myth 8: Manual transmission provides better performance
- Myth 9: Manual transmissions break down less often.
Automotive myths – where do they come from?
There are many myths about motoring, which often lead to bad decisions, damaging cars, generating expensive repairs and affecting the safety of drivers and passengers. Many of these beliefs come from old mechanic practices or outdated advice that does not fit modern automotive technologies. They also often result from incomplete knowledge of users, who treat heard opinions as universal truths. It is therefore worth separating facts from myths to avoid unnecessary expenses, take care of the vehicle and ensure safe driving.
Myth 1: Driving freely means saving money
Once easy going could actually contribute to reducing fuel consumption. However, this solution no longer works today – in new cars, the fuel management system only cuts off the fuel supply during engine braking. In such vehicles, freewheeling can pose a significant risk to the car, the driver and other road users. Control over the car is reduced.
Myth 2: Electric cars have a short range
The first models of electric cars had a very small range (less than 150 km). However, new technological solutions appear on the market every year, which currently allow you to travel up to 300 km without charging. There are also premium cars that, in favorable conditions, provide up to 700 km of range. It is worth remembering, however, that in fact the range of electric cars decreases in winter.
Myth 3: In winter, you should warm up your car before driving.
Many drivers still leave home a few minutes earlier to warm up the car before setting off. In most cases, however, this is a mistake. Such a practice, repeated regularly, can lead to damage to important components of the car. It is better to get into the vehicle immediately, drive calmly for a few kilometers, and only then increase the speed more intensively.
Myth 4: A partially filled tank should be topped up with fuel of the same octane number.
If you already have fuel in the tank but want to fill up your car, you don't have to fill it with the same octane rating as before. In the case of unleaded, this parameter has no significance. You can mix fuel with different octane ratings without any problems.
Myth 5: Electric cars often catch fire
The media regularly mentions electric car ignitions. Such situations do indeed happen, but very often they result from a collision with another vehicle and damage to the battery. After looking at statistics from a report prepared by the website Wysokienapiecie.pl you can notice that combustion cars burn with similar or even greater frequency.
Myth 6: High-octane gasoline is best
High-octane fuel is not necessarily the best for every vehicle. It all depends on the components used in a given car model. There are many cars that are designed to run on standard petrol, so you won't notice any difference if you use a higher-octane fuel. Always follow the car manufacturer's instructions.
Myth 7: You can wash your car with dishwashing liquid.
This myth about motoring is popular among older people who are not used to modern detailing products or ubiquitous hand car washes. They treat dishwashing liquid as a universal cleaning agent that can be used to clean any surface. However, such a product can completely remove the protective layer from the bodywork.
Myth 8: Manual transmission provides better performance
Among the most popular myths, it is worth mentioning those concerning gearboxes. Manual versions once provided better performance. However, today the technology is much better. What is more, in some car models, automatic gearboxes are more efficient. They change the clutch position much faster than a human could do.
Also read: A guide to the different types of gearboxes – automatic and manual
Myth 9: Manual transmissions break down less often.
Manual gearboxes are simple in design. Many people believe that they break down less often. However, this is not true, especially if the user does not know how to use a manual gearbox correctly. In its case, repeated mistakes can lead to rapid wear - this problem does not occur in automatic components.
Some myths about motoring have a grain of truth to them, but they are usually the result of habits and information repeated for years – especially those that have long since ceased to be relevant. It is worth remembering this and verifying such knowledge.
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