Car maintenance myths that do more harm than good (Photos)

Engine oil flushes aren't necessary, Octane boosters do nothing, Don't put your auto in neutral at stoplights and brake rotors often don't need resurfacingEngine oil flushes aren't necessary, Octane boosters do nothing, Don't put your auto in neutral at stoplights and brake rotors often don't need resurfacingEngine oil flushes aren't necessary, Octane boosters do nothing, Don't put your auto in neutral at stoplights and brake rotors often don't need resurfacing4 photosView the full slideshow »
Engine oil flushes aren't necessary, Octane boosters do nothing, Don't put your auto in neutral at stoplights and brake rotors often don't need resurfacing

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Car maintenance tips have been passed down from father to son and friend to friend ever since cars became affordable to the common working man. With car ownership comes the pleasure of working and maintaining your pride and joy. But along the way, there have come a few maintenance tips and tricks that actually do more harm than good to the modern automobile. Below I’ve listed 4 of the most common myths that have popped up over the years in my experience.

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View slideshow: 4 Common maintenance myths

It is not necessary to use engine oil flushes. Commonly you’ll find this service offered at quick oil change lube places, but you can also find bottles of engine oil flushes available at your local auto parts store. Modern oils certified by the API (American Petroleum Institute) already come chock full of detergents to keep sludge from building up and forming on your engine. If anyone insists that it is absolutely necessary to perform an engine oil flush, take no heed as they are just trying to beef up profits.

Octane booster doesn't boost octane. Octane booster is just mostly Xylene (an aromatic hydrocarbon) or other high carbon chain. An 8 oz bottle of 116 octane booster plus xylene will NOT raise a 12 gallon tank full of 87 Octane gas significantly enough for you to feel any difference.

Putting an automatic car in neutral at stop lights doesn’t help prevent wear and tear. It actually CAUSES undue wear and tear. Shifting into neutral constantly actually ruins the transmission a LOT more than people believe. Its called AUTOMATIC for a reason, it does any shifting it needs to do. The undue wear and tear will happens when you shift from drive> neutral >drive>press the gas.

Brake rotors don’t warp as often as people think they do. Usually the problem is pad build up stemming from a period of hard braking, heating up the rotor and pad, leaving the brake applied after coming to a stop which transfers the pad material to the brake rotors. This creates a bump on the brake rotor. Do this enough and the rotor will seem warped. Having worked at a Ford/Lincoln/Mercury dealership and observing hundred’s of cars and trucks coming and out, turning the rotors is not needed nearly as often either.

Hope that cleared up a few myths that have popped up over the years.

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, Fresno Car Buying Examiner

Paulo Acoba studied at the University of California Merced. He also interened for Magnaflow Performance Exhaust in Southern Califonia.He enjoys the import car scene and frequents car meets, events and local autocrosses and is interested in highlighting innovations in the car industry specifically...

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