Tag: myths
44 Posts

May 01, 2003
Is it true that by placing a fist on your windshield you can prevent it from shattering?
I am a Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon in Africa Maybe you've never been to Africa but generally despite romantic images of dirt roads leading off into dark forests most of the highways in Africa are paved Except in Gabon...

Jan 01, 2002
Kitty litter as a traction device? It's a myth, folks.
Please advise your readers Winter is here and I've heard this advice again Carry kitty litter in your car as a traction aid I assume the idiot giving this advice doesn't live in the North like I do With a...

Nov 01, 2001
Fact or fiction: breaking a new engine at slow speeds will lead to long-term sluggish performance.
My dear departed daddy told me that if you broke in a new car engine at slow speeds it would always be slow and sluggish Is this true What's the real skinny Is there a preferred break-in protocol -- Susan...

Feb 01, 2000
Fact or fiction: Humid climates can cause batteries to go bad.
A friend of mine visiting New Orleans had his battery go bad He was told by the service technician that in the humid and warm climate of Louisiana an electrical connection could establish itself across the battery terminals and cause...

Nov 01, 1999
Fact or fiction: It's OK to set your battery down on a concrete garage floor.
This business of batteries and concrete floors needs to be explained and put to rest Years ago everybody knew that you were never supposed to put a car battery on a concrete floor because it would be quickly ruined That...

Oct 01, 1997
Myth buster: There's no need to worry about sludge in the bottom of your gas tank.
I am looking to you to validate or refute a family myth My father-in-law and mother-in-law believe in the phenomenon of sludge at the bottom of the gas tank The family myth goes that you should never allow your tank...

Feb 01, 1997
Fact or fiction: Adding mothballs to your gas tank increases the octane.
I have been told that adding seven or eight naphthalene mothballs to a tank of gasoline increases the octane Is this true If it is true what will it do to the engine of the vehicle -- Donald RAY That's...

Sep 01, 1996
Once you use one brand of oil in an engine do you have to stick with it?
I change my own oil and filter in my cars every miles I try to buy the oil and filters when they're on sale to economize I have always heard that once you start to use an oil you should...

Aug 01, 1996
Should I turn off the AC before turning off the engine?
We've just purchased a new Ford Ranger pickup The salesman told us the air conditioner should be turned off before turning off the ignition when we park the pickup He said something about it making the O-rings last longer We...

May 01, 1995
Fact or fiction: One should never mix motor oils?
I have tried to maintain my own cars for about years Now about all I can do is change the oil and I'm even having second thoughts about that One of the first things I was told was NEVER to...
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