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EnCompass®
The AAA Companion |
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November | December 2004
Volume 78 Issue 6
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Auto Talk
Car Tales or Truths?
Tale: Using a premium grade of gas (higher octane level) will improve car performance.
Truth: Using a gasoline with more octane than the engine requires will not increase power or engine performance. According to AAA experts, an engine designed to run on regular gasoline (87 octane) should run well on that fuel grade. Only engines specifically designed to take advantage of higher octane will benefit from premium fuels. If your engine knocks when pulling up a steep grade or keeps running after the ignition is shut off, upgrading your gasoline may help temporarily. A better, more permanent solution is to consult a technician who can do a diagnostic check of the engine's spark timing, emission control system, and other potential problem sources and repair them.
Editor's Note: The EPA allows refineries to lower the octane up to two points in each grade at higher elevations without effecting engine performance. There fore in Colorado regular grade has 85 octane, mid-grade 87 octane and premium 91 octane. While manufacturers recommend at least 87 octane in most vehicles, AAA Colorado recommends checking with your technician to determine which grade level would work best for the type of vehicle you have and your driving needs.
Tale: It is necessary to change your oil every 3,000 miles.
Truth: The frequency of oil changes depends on the make and model of your vehicle as well as your personal driving habits and typical conditions. AAA recommends that consumers change their oil every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, depending on the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations and whether the vehicle is operated in "normal" or "severe" conditions. Severe mileage requires more frequent oil changes. Consult your owner's manual to determine the appropriate oil change intervals for your specific vehicle and driving conditions.
Tale: Regular maintenance must be done at a new car dealer in order to keep the vehicle warranty in force.
Truth: The services required to maintain a vehicle warranty can be performed by anyone, including the vehicle owner. Warranty claims will be honored provided the factory maintenance schedule has been followed and there is written documentation that the work was done. If you perform your own services, be sure to keep receipts for all parts.
Tale: The only critical maintenance services are changing the engine oil and filter, inspecting the brakes, and rotating the tires.
Truth: While these services are indeed important, there are many other routine maintenance items that are just as vital to safe driving — belt and hose inspections are a good example. If a hose fails, coolant will be lost, causing your vehicle to overheat and possibly damage your engine. Proper maintenance involves performing all of the services listed on the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations in your vehicle owner's manual.
Tale: Vehicles require a "tune-up" once a year or every 12,000 miles (whichever comes first).
Truth: On late-model vehicles, the traditional tune-up operations have been eliminated, or reduced in frequency to the point where the traditional tune-up has ceased to exist. Today's tune-up, if it can be called such, consists of little more than changing the spark plugs at the manufacturer specified interval. The few remaining tune-up operations, such as filter and PCV valve changes, are performed today as part of a lubrication service or on an "as needed" basis. To ensure that you are not paying for unnecessary services that your vehicle's manufacturer does not recommend, AAA advises that you always follow the periodic maintenance schedule that came with your vehicle.
Tale: Fuel additives increase the amount of energy in the fuel.
Truth: The amount of energy in a gallon of gasoline is essentially fixed. Additives cannot increase the amount of energy sufficiently to recover the cost of the additive itself. Certain types of additives, such as fuel injector cleaners, do provide real benefits — they just don't provide any additional energy.
Tale: Oil additives reduce internal engine friction.
Truth: All engine oils are carefully formulated with additive packages that reduce friction to maximize fuel economy. If aftermarket additives were truly effective, oil companies would already be using them. The best way to reduce internal engine friction is to use the lowest viscosity oil recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for your car's operating conditions.
Tale: Low tire pressure is no big deal.
Truth: Not only does improper tire inflation reduce fuel mileage, it diminishes vehicle handling and causes a tire to run hotter, making it more likely to fail. Last year, AAA responded to 3.8 million roadside service calls to help members with flat tires.
Tale: As long as antifreeze has a bright, strong color it's still good.
Truth: Even if your car's antifreeze has a bright color, the additives that protect your cooling system could still be worn out. This can cause the inside of your radiator and engine to rust or corrode. Also, if you just add water when the coolant level is down, your antifreeze mixture may have lost some of its ability to withstand freezing temperatures. A good rule of thumb is to replace yellow-green antifreeze every two years. The orange DexCool antifreeze in many newer cars requires replacement every five years. The freezing point of your antifreeze can be easily checked with an inexpensive tester available at any auto parts store. Testing the condition of the antifreeze requires special test strips or a hydrometer to measure the Ph of the coolant. If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, have your antifreeze checked at a quality repair shop that is equipped with the knowledge and equipment to make an accurate assessment.
Tale: When the time comes to have your brakes replaced, all brake products are created equal.
Truth: Be skeptical of bargain brake jobs. Cheap parts equal cheap quality and questionable performance — and performance is not something you want to skimp on with brakes. The safety of you and your passengers is at stake. Your sanity, too, may be taxed since economy brake pads can be very noisy. Premium disc pads must pass extensive performance tests to meet Federal guidelines for original equipment classification. Tests show that in stops from 60 miles per hour, premium brake pads can result in up to 20 feet shorter stopping distances than economy products. In addition, since premium friction formulas are designed specifically for each vehicle, tests show that premium pads can last up to 25 percent longer than economy parts.
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