Top Five Myths For Improving Your Vehicle’s Performance

Top Five Myths For Improving Your Vehicle’s Performance

Most of us are always trying to squeeze a little bit of extra performance out of our vehicles, but we need to debunk a few vehicle myths before we start doing things that may harm our cars and trucks.

How to replace your alternator

How to replace windshield wipers

From the frequency of your oil changes to whether you should use premium fuel, here are a few tactics you may never want to try again.

Warming your car before driving

Warming your vehicle before driving was sound advice when vehicles needed carburetors to operate, but the fuel injection system eliminated the need for a lengthy idle. Now, when you’re warming up your engine, you’re simply making enough warmth to heat the inside of your vehicle. Beyond that, you’re doing absolutely nothing to increase vehicle performance. If you’re more comfortable warming up for a minute or two before driving, feel free, but just know the best way to warm your vehicle—even in the winter—is to drive.

Premium gas is better

Does your automobile feature a high-compression engine? No? Then premium gas won’t improve your vehicle’s performance. For ordinary commuters who never tweak anything under the hood, premium fuel is going to do absolutely nothing for you other than cost you more at the pump.

Inflate tires as shown on tire’s sidewall

Have you ever inflated your tires according to the pounds-per-square-inch number, or PSI number, on the sidewall of your tires? Not only are you not improving your vehicle’s performance, you’re actually inflating your tires wrong. The PSI number on the tire is the maximum amount of pressure your tire can safely hold; find the proper PSI via a sticker either on the fuel-filler door, glove box, or driver-side doorjamb.

Change your oil every 3,000 miles

Unless you haul a trailer, don’t change your oil every 3,000 miles. Getting your oil changed that frequently used to be applicable for everyone, but not in today’s vehicles. Most vehicles will need an oil change at 7,500 miles; some can go up to 10,000 miles. Consult your owner’s manual to see when your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends changing your oil.

Cruise control gets you better gas mileage

At first glance, using cruise control to save gas seems to make sense. Unfortunately, it may not always work that way. Most of the time when there’s even a slight incline in elevation your vehicle rapidly accelerates. This burns up lots of fuel in a hurry. To ensure you’re getting the best gas mileage for your automobile, only use cruise control on flat terrain and turn it off when you anticipate an elevated incline.