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Car myths: Fact or fiction?

We’ve heard it before: warm up your car in the morning before you drive and put your gear into neutral when you’re at a traffic stop; the list goes on. Do these stories hold any truth? We list a few car myths and old tales that have been floating around and find out the truth behind them.

 

Using mobile phones at petrol stations

The myth: The use of mobile phones at petrol stations will cause a fire because the microwaves emitted from a mobile phone could generate a spark. 

The truth: According to Dr. Chandima Gomes, an electrical engineering professor from University Putra Malaysia in an article published by The Star, while microwaves can generate sparks when in contact with metal, the waves emitted from phones are too weak to create an explosion. This myth was even put to test by Discovery Channel’s MythBusters and debunked as false.

Despite scientific evidence proving this otherwise, the use of mobile phones is still prohibited at the station and you should follow the law.

 

Warming up your engine before driving

The myth: Driving your car without warming it up will damage the engine.

The truth: This myth is partially true. Carburetors in older cars need to warm up to work well. Without it, the carburetor won’t be able to get the proper mix of air and fuel in the engine, resulting in the engine stalling. 

However, modern cars now feature electronic fuel injection which does not require the wait. If you need to warm up your engine, drive off slowly for a minute or two before picking up speed.

 

Putting your gear into neutral at a traffic light

The myth: Putting your gear into neutral at every traffic stop will increase wear and tear on the transmission.

The truth: Unfortunately, there isn’t a definitive answer but experienced individuals like Jason Fenske from YouTube channel Engineering Explained have said that although there isn’t much wear since the vehicle isn’t moving, there really isn’t any reason to shift to neutral at all. Comparably, an article written by Joey Bernadez, Technical Editor of Top Gear Philippines mentioned that he does it personally and has a car over 200,000km without any transmission issues. 

 

Your car value is lower because it’s an e-hailing vehicle

The myth: You will get a lower resale value for your e-hailing vehicle because it isn’t a private vehicle.

The truth: No, you will not. The belief that you will get a lower price because it was previously used as an e-hailing vehicle is false. When it comes to selling your car to Carsome, your vehicle value will be subject to its condition and mileage as any other passenger vehicle. However, you will be required to change your vehicle status before coming to Carsome for inspection. To find out more, click here for a step-by-step guide on what you should do before selling your e-hailing vehicle to Carsome

 

Read below for more stories!

Your car tires are more important than you think. Click here for basic knowledge on car tires all car owners should know! 

Learn more about car batteries, the myths, and how to improve its lifespan.

Looking to clean and disinfect your vehicle? Click here for tips and types of disinfectants to use!

 

Selling your car is now easy and straightforward. Carsome professionally, conveniently, and fast for you!

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