10 Biggest Automotive Myths

Myth #1: When my brakes squeak it is probably caused by brake dust.

Fact: Brake Dust never causes squeaks.

Brake dust is a natural result of braking caused by the brake pad (or brake shoe) wearing against the rotor (or drum) as you brake. A fraction of the brake pad and rotor wear away with each stop, which is what forms brake dust.

Myth #2: Emission testing is not required where I live, why do I need a catalytic converter?

Fact: Catalytic Converters are required by Federal Law.

If your vehicle came with a catalytic converter on it when it was manufactured, it´s a good rule of thumb it still is required to have one. A catalytic converter is located in the exhaust pipe and its primary function is to remove any unburned air fuel mixture leftover from the combustion process. Besides the benefit of keeping the air cleaner, the catalytic converter is an important part of the information feedback your engine needs to run efficiently. A modern engine samples the exhaust stream to see how efficiently the engine is running and adjusts fuel and timing to compensate.

Myth #3: Cars are so reliable, "If it ain't broke don't fix it"

Fact: This strategy might work in the short term, but over the life of your vehicle it costs less to follow the recommended maintenance schedules.

The reason following the recommended service intervals is less expensive is when a part completely fails it often damages other related or connected parts. It is far better to replace a worn, but still working part, than to wait for the expense of complete failure. Oh, and did I mention parts almost always fail at the worst and most inconvenient times, and often result in a towing charge as well as repairs.

Myth #4: The higher the Octane rating the better the gasoline.

Fact: Use the lowest octane rated gasoline your vehicle manufacturer recommends. (lower octane fuels are less expensive)

Octane rating is defined as the resistance of fuels to detonation (engine knock, or engine ping.) Higher performance engines typically have higher compression ratios and are therefore more prone to detonation, so they require higher octane fuel. A lower performance engine will not generally perform better with high octane fuel, since the compression ratio is fixed by the engine design. If you notice "engine knock" during heavy accelerating such as a long hill or an on-ramp or when pulling a heavy load, change to the next higher octane rated gasoline.

Myth #5: You must have the dealer service your vehicle so you don´t void your warranty.

Fact: By law the dealer cannot require you to maintain or repair your vehicle at their facility.

Where-ever you choose to maintain or repair your vehicle, you must follow the recommended intervals for service the manufacturer requires as outlined in your owner´s manual during the warranty period.

Myth #6: Performance Mufflers are just for kids.

Fact: A free flowing performance Muffler can improve power and gas mileage.

One of the easiest ways to improve the efficiency of an engine is to reduce the restrictions in the exhaust exiting the engine. Larger exhaust pipe diameter and a performance muffler that reduces the restrictions on the exhaust system and lets the engine work easier, especially during heavy acceleration or towing. The benefits are better mileage, more power and reduced engine temperatures. One of the trade-offs is a gain in sound volume of the exhaust, most find this a benefit as well.

Myth #7: Gasoline additives like Techron will keep my engine clean.

Fact: These additives certainly help but the combustion process leaves deposits in your engine especially carbon on valves and injectors.

Each gallon of gasoline contains only a small quantity of these additives. Periodically your engine needs a thorough fuel system cleaning, especially the injectors and valves to remove these deposits and restore efficiency to your engine.

Myth #8: Restarting the engine uses more gas than idling.

Fact: It takes almost no additional fuel to restart a warm engine.

All the new hybrid vehicles are taking advantage of this and shutting down the engine at stop lights. Back when cars had carburetors and were hard to start or flooded regularly there may have been a grain of truth, but no longer.

Myth #9: Oil never wears out, just top it off once in a while.

Fact: Oil, like all other automotive fluids degrade with use and time.

Oil and its additives are designed not only to lubricate but to capture impurities and suspend them in the oil. Most of the bigger particulates are filtered out by the oil filter. It´s actually the additives that make modern oils so effective but also it´s the additives that break down. The dark color of used oil is the captured contaminates that dilute and degrade the oil. Draining the oil and changing the oil filter regularly is the single most effective maintenance you can do for your vehicle to ensure a long life.

Myth #10: Let the engine idle to warm up on cold days.

Fact: Engines run best at their design temperatures.

To get to the ideal temperature sooner, start the engine and drive at moderate speeds. Your engine will be okay, modern oils flow fine in cold weather.

The Possible Causes of Automotive Air Conditioning Problems

Although many people usually take the air conditioning in their cars for granted, until it stops working correctly, of course, the truth of the matter is that this is a rather important part of your vehicle with many vital components that must be maintained on a regular basis. If you've ever sat down in a car that's been sitting in the sun, you are already well aware of just how necessary a functioning air conditioning system really is.

While the push of a button is all it takes to turn the air conditioner on in your car, there are many different components working in tandem behind the scenes to produce the cool air we've come to rely upon, and any one of these may cause the system to not work properly. Fortunately, the air conditioning in cars made today are usually highly reliable systems with very little problems occurring, however, the most common difficulties are either no cool air or simply not enough cool air flowing from the vents.

No Cold Air

No cold or cool air at all coming from the air conditioner's vents may mean any one of the following problems:

- A blown fuse

- A broken drive belt

- A clog in the expansion valve

- A clogged refrigerant line

- A clogged receiver-drier line

- An existing defect in the expansion valve

- A slow leak in the hoses or seals

- A loose drive belt

Not Enough Cold Air

An insufficient flow of cool air coming from the A/C may signal another set of problems, including:

- A clogged condenser or evaporator

- A loose drive belt

- A low refrigerant charge

- A partially clogged expansion valve

- A partially clogged filter

- A problem with the compressor clutch slipping

- A slow leak somewhere in the system, such as in the hoses or seals

While it is completely normal for some refrigerant to leak from a car's air conditioning system, larger leaks may indicate a bigger problem with the compressor's seal or damage to one of the components.

Caring for Your Car's Air Conditioner

Although most repairs for air conditioning systems in cars will require special tools and equipment that many of us do not own, there are still several things you can do to keep your car's A/C running at its full capacity. Regular maintenance checks, according to the recommendations in your car's owner's manual, are important as the system contains many moving parts and components that must be checked for damage or disrepair.

Many newer makes and models of cars come equipped with filters within the duct portion of the air conditioner that are in place to trap dust and pollen before it reaches the air in the car. Although these may be rather beneficial for those people who suffer from allergies, depending on where you live and the air quality and pollution levels, the filters may fill up quickly and cause a reduction in airflow.

While there may still be enough refrigerant in place to cool the air, the clogged filter will impede the flow, making it too weak to cool down the inside of the vehicle. Directions for changing this filter and where to purchase new ones should also be in the owner's manual.

Even air conditioning systems without this special filter in place can experience reduced airflow because of trapped dirt, pollen, and moisture that may eventually turn to mold, further aggravating allergies.

If there is a musty odor coming from the A/C vents just after turning the system on, this may indicate the presence of mold which could be blocking the system's evaporator. The air might feel cool, but the flow won't be strong enough to cool off the entire car. A mechanic will be able to remove the parts necessary to clean, such as those leading to the evaporator, with certain chemicals needed to dissolve the build-up.

Even if you live in a cold climate and don't need to use your car's air conditioner very often, many mechanics recommend running the system for at least ten minutes per month to keep the moving parts within the compressor properly lubricated. The compressor is also used in many types of cars when the defroster is used, so you may not have to actually run the air conditioner at all.

A Closer Look at Automotive Engine Parts

If you own a car or truck then chances are you need good automotive engine parts for servicing your vehicle. There are hundreds of different parts for your car, and your engine can be a very complicated machine to work on. That being said having proper knowledge of what goes where and how it works is very important.

Vehicles of all kinds need maintenance and the first type that comes to mind is an oil change. Typically you want high quality oil for your car but that's not all that's needed. You also need a good oil filter in order to ensure proper oil flow. Having this routine operation done on schedule can keep your vehicle running for a very lone time.

Next operation that comes to mind is a tune up. This requires some of the most basic automotive engine parts and many people can do it themselves. The parts needed for this are spark plugs, spark plug wires, a distributor cap, and an air filter. The operation is simple, and does not take very long to perform.

Aside from the smaller simpler operations many complex repair and maintenance procedures require expensive and heavy duty automotive engine parts. Anything pertaining to the cylinders, valves, water pump, and belt system can be very expensive. If you need work in any of these areas it's generally not a good idea to put it off. Of course this is true for most repair procedures but especially in these categories.

Alternators are one of the more pressing automotive engine parts to take care of. They can also be one of the most infuriating as poor quality models will continually go out. These can also run quite a bit of money and you don't want to have one replaced more than once every 3 years. Unfortunately they aren't something that you can simply ignore and deal with until they fail.

The alternator is what keeps your battery recharged when the car is running. If it is damaged or not working properly it won't recharge your battery properly and this can result in your car not starting. It can also do some damage to your cars electrical system as well. Having your cars wiring replaced is a very expensive and time consuming operation.

The most important part when talking about an engine is the engine block itself. This is essentially the main part that everything else fits inside of, plugs into, or runs off of. A cracked block can lead to severe performance problems and eventually a destroyed motor. It's best to get these serviced right away as the longer you leave the crack the worse it can get.

Automotive engine parts are some of the most complicated products to shop for. There are many different brands and models for the myriad of different automobiles on the market. For the first time shopper it can be immensely confusing and overwhelming. If you have to shop for parts make sure you go to a reputable store and ask for help. Most auto parts stores will be happy to help you find what you need and recommend the right model for your car.