5 Car Maintenance Myths That Will DESTROY Your Engine!

[@paulfleming757]

I'll add another myth, needing a wheel alignment when you get new tyres (tires), if they have even wear and the steering doesn't pull to one side you DON'T need a wheeel alignment. You would be better off having the suspension components inspected than paying for an un-needed wheel alignment.

[@JourneyAuto]

"Great point! It's definitely a myth many people fall for. If the wear is even and there’s no pulling, skipping the wheel alignment makes sense. Plus, inspecting suspension components is a smart move for long-term safety and performance. Thanks for sharing this valuable tip!"

[@VincentScales]

2016 Toyota Camry's schedule maintenance is 30,000 miles or 36 months for replacing the carbin & engine air-filters. It also recommends Top Tier gasoline, 87 octane/regular gas. Last when I was in the Army we did "Motor Stables", it is a preventive maintenance, checks and services done by the driver before they drove everywhere! We all should do a "Do-It-Yourself maintenance" checks like making sure all your lights are working!

[@JourneyAuto]

Thank you for sharing this valuable information! Following a maintenance schedule like the one for your 2016 Toyota Camry is a great way to ensure longevity and performance. The concept of "Motor Stables" from your Army days is a fantastic reminder of the importance of preventive maintenance. Simple DIY checks, like ensuring lights are working, can make a big difference in safety and efficiency. Great advice for all drivers!

[@juliuskevinclarina7962]

"Idling for too long can do more harm than good" well not much you can do if its traffic for about an hour.😅😅

[@JourneyAuto]

"You're absolutely right! Traffic jams can be unavoidable 😅, but as long as your engine is in good condition and properly maintained, it should handle idling just fine. Regular maintenance and using high-quality oil can go a long way in minimizing any potential harm. Thanks for pointing that out!"

[@LarryGlick-e3v]

Conventional oil change every 3,000 miles and synthetic oil change every 5,000 miles. New car 1st oil change 500-1,000 miles. I don't care what the owners manual says as it's only to make the annual cost of ownership look less expensive.

[@JourneyAuto]

"Great advice! Early oil changes, especially for a new car, can help flush out any initial debris and keep the engine in top shape. Regular intervals like 3,000 miles for conventional and 5,000 miles for synthetic are solid practices for long-term engine health. Thanks for sharing your insights!"

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

I do the same . 2006 Subaru sti every 3000 miles due to turbocharger. 5000 miles conventional on normally aspirated engines

[@romanc.5074]

In my experience, it is better to use up-tier gas even when it is not recommended. It will keep the system cleaner.

[@JourneyAuto]

Thank you for sharing your insight! Using higher-tier gas can indeed help keep the system cleaner by reducing deposits and improving overall performance. It might be a great preventative measure for those looking to maintain their engine’s health in the long run. Appreciate your valuable input!

[@romanc.5074]

@@JourneyAuto You welcome. 👍

[@romanc.5074]

My car's manual recommends a 10k oil change interval. No way Jose. Not in a million years.

[@Bercilakdehautdesert-yt1gd]

Som examples - Alfa Giulietta 2011 JTDM oil changes every 18k miles, now on 162k and running fine, Saab 9-3 Tid, oil changes every 19k miles, now on 190k and running fine, Citroen C5 Hdi, oil changed every 25k miles, sold on at 250k miles, still working fine. The only car I've owned that got oil changes under 10k miles was a TVR that wasn't driven much. That's out of 75 cars and 45 years of driving. Not a single vehicle failed on me, ever.

[@PeterHernandez-lg2eh]

Oil is cheaper than engine replacement

[@krod2162]

Another big myth is rotating your tires to frequently.If the manufacturer says there's good for 60000 miles, I do them at 30000 miles front to back because the fronts wear more than the backs do and by the time they reach right around 60000 miles.The wearbars are all even on all the tires

[@JourneyAuto]

Great point! Over-rotating tires can sometimes be unnecessary if the wear is already balanced. Rotating them halfway through their lifespan, as you do, makes a lot of sense to ensure even wear by the end. It's a smart approach to get the most out of your tires while saving time and effort. Thanks for sharing this tip!

[@krod2162]

Another big myth people fall for is rotating your tires Frequently. I only rotate my tires once in their normal lifespan. If the manufacturer says the tires are good for 60000 miles, I do it at 30000 miles because the fronts tend to wear a little more than the rears once I switch them front to back. They now end up wearing evenly and they're done. All the tires hit their warebars at the same time

[@anthonyatkinson7619]

I've seen many statements that engines need to fully reach operating temperature to prevent deleterious results from the byproducts of combustion. I only live 2.5 miles or 10 minutes away from work, so I let my car warm up 5-10 minutes when the temperature is below 50. Also most of my driving involves short trips of about 2.5 miles. I also have heard that shorts trips are hard on engines. So I am thinking that warming up my engine (at least in the mornings after the car has been sitting all night) might actually be a good thing in my case because it gives my car a longer period of time to run at full operating temperature which would be less if I just hopped in and started driving a minute or two later. Opinions anyone?

[@JourneyAuto]

Thank you for sharing your detailed perspective! Warming up your car for a few minutes, especially in colder weather, can indeed help the engine reach its optimal operating temperature, which is particularly beneficial for short trips like yours. While modern engines generally don't require extensive idling, your approach of giving it 5-10 minutes when it's cold ensures proper lubrication and helps reduce wear and tear from frequent short drives. It's a thoughtful practice, especially for maintaining engine health in your specific circumstances. Great insight!

[@barbarafleece377]

Very good informational video. All five points that you brought up are valid. However, I beg to differ on the reasons why it is not always good to switch to synthetic oils. Natural petroleum-based oils are somewhat of an irritant to rubber seals and parts. They will cause these seals to swell slightly. Synthetic based oils are less of an irritant to rubber parts and seals. If you take an engine that has lived most of his life or at least for several thousand miles on natural petroleum-based oils and then switch to a synthetic the seals will shrink back often causing oil leaks. Additionally, both oils provide very adequate cleaning properties with detergent, additives and so forth as long as the oil is changed on regular intervals. With that thought in mind, you should not extend oil change intervals even when using synthetic oils. Oil and filter changes should occur at least every 5000 miles if not sooner under severe use conditions with either type of oil. Synthetic is not necessarily better in this regard. Some synthetic oils have additives in them that are specific to combat acids building up in the oil for example by the use of E85 fuels. Also, many new automotive engines use rubber belts currently that are submersed in the engine oil that drive such vital things such as the oil pump and camshafts. The use of petroleum-based oils will rapidly deteriorate these belts and cause premature engine failure. In a nutshell, it is very important to follow manufacturers recommendations for the type of oil as well as the viscosity to be used in your particular vehicle.

[@JourneyAuto]

"Thank you for sharing such a detailed and insightful perspective! You make an excellent point about the potential effects of switching from petroleum-based to synthetic oils, especially regarding seals and additive compatibility. Following the manufacturer’s recommendations for oil type and viscosity is indeed crucial, and regular oil changes remain the cornerstone of engine health, regardless of the oil type. Your input adds valuable depth to the discussion-much appreciated!"

[@NsnsnsNsnsnss]

Define "modern vehicles" in this context

[@JourneyAuto]

i will