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Car Care Quiz

Test your mythical car care knowledge

With the sheer number of automobiles in the world, it's only natural that a number of myths, untruths, and misconceptions surround modern motoring. Some of these myths are harmless, while others can actually be dangerous! A blowout caused by an under-inflated tire can cause an accident. Other mistruths can result in neglect and end up as expensive repairs.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Either way, knowledge is power—and it can pay off to test your car care knowledge by following along with this true or false quiz. The answers are already in there, so there's no need to cheat.

You can tell if a tire needs or has too much air just by looking at it.

FALSE: A tire can be as much as 10 pounds per square inch low on air pressure and not show any outward signs. Tires will lose about one pound of pressure per month all by themselves. Not only will the correct tire pressure help tires last longer, it can also save money in fuel costs. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance, which will use more fuel. Checking tire pressure is easy and takes just a few minutes.

Changing the oil and filter can help an engine last longer.

TRUE: While changing the oil too frequently is not required, the difference between an engine that lasts for the life of a vehicle and the one that wears out too early is based on following the vehicle manufacturer's oil and filter maintenance schedule. Trust that the people who built your car know the most about what its engine needs.

If an air filter looks clean it's still okay.

FALSE: An air filter traps dirt and junk so small that it cannot be seen. Even if an air filter looks OK, it can be clogged with crud. Once the small passages in the filter designed to catch dirt get clogged, the engine can have trouble breathing. Replacing an air filter is easy and inexpensive. The owner's manual will contain a maintenance schedule. Tip: air filters can get clogged quicker than normal in cities and dusty areas.

A good coat of wax can help keep paint looking good.

TRUE: A coat of quality wax not only keeps in the good stuff that keeps paint looking new, but it also repels the bad stuff. That thin layer of wax repels all manner of things that want to harm paint. Which wax to use is not as an important choice as actually using wax, any wax. Wax application is clearly a case of something is better than nothing.

Brake fluid lasts forever.

FALSE: Brake fluid is hygroscopic, which means it has great ability to absorb water from the air. Over time this moisture can cause damage to the brake system, and dangerously lower the brake fluid boiling point. Brake fluid should be clear and transparent. Cloudy brake fluid means its time for a change.

If engine coolant is bright green, it's still okay.

FALSE: Over time the chemicals in engine coolant can become corrosive. Coolant that looks OK can in fact be causing unseen and expensive cooling system damage. Checking engine coolant condition with an inexpensive tool is easy, and can prevent both overheated engines and empty wallets.

When working on a car or truck, it's always a good idea to tighten nuts and bolts as tight as possible.

FALSE: Almost every fastener that can be tightened on a modern motor vehicle is designed only to be tightened to a specific torque. Measuring this twist is what a torque wrench is for, making one an indispensable tool in the do-it-yourselfers toolbox.

It takes more fuel to stop and start an engine then it does to leave it running.

FALSE: This may have in certain cases been true in the olden days of carbureted engines, but modern fuel injection systems have put a permanent end to this myth. While turning the car on and off all the time may not be the best idea for the starter, letting it idle away any longer than three minutes is simply a waste of fuel.

The tire pressure listed on the sidewall of the tire is what the tire should be inflated to.

FALSE: Tire pressure runs with the vehicle itself, not the tires it rolls on. Always inflate tires to pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. These pressures can be found on the inside pillar of the door, or sometimes on the inside of the glovebox door. Note that the pressures are different for a fully loaded automobile. Tip: check the pressure in the spare tire now and again.

Putting premium gas in the tank will return a premium in performance.

FALSE: Unless the engine under the hood was designed and built to take advantage of the extra octane in premium fuel, there is no point in paying the extra money per gallon. The numbers of high performance cars and trucks that actually require premium fuel is very small. Keep it regular unless the owner's manual calls for premium fuel.