Cary Auto Repair

Call Us:(919) 465-4488
Mon - Fri: 7:30 AM - 5:00 PM

Undoing Bad Car Care Advise

Years ago, misinformation and bad advice used to travel by word of mouth.  Now with the presence of the internet and social media, incorrect information can be anywhere.  When reading on the internet it is often difficult to discern what is truth and what is fiction.

That can certainly be the case with the proper ways to care for and maintain your car.  Even after owning a vehicle for years, many people only know the basics of car care, and some of that may be forgotten or misconstrued over time.

With so much misinformation and bad advice out there, we wanted to share some popular pieces of advice, often designed to help save time or money, and tell you why you should not follow those recommendations.

To save money, fill your windshield wiper fluid reservoir with water or heavily dilute it with a mixture of water and wiper fluid. On the surface, it may sound logical.  Why not save some money, and just put water in the windshield washer fluid reservoir and reduce the amount of wiper fluid you use?  Windshield washer fluid is a mixture of solvent, conditioners, detergent and antifreeze agents. The solvent can help break down the oil, dirt and grime on your windshield. The conditioners keep all of the components of the system working properly and prevents corrosion. The detergent is what cleans your windshield. And possibly the most important part, the antifreeze. If you put water in, and the temperature plunges, that water is going to freeze and expand and break the reservoir, pump and lines. Putting water where the windshield wiper fluid belongs will not save money and won’t even clean the windshield very well.

 

To save time, instead of scraping ice off your windshield, pour hot water on the glass to instantly remove ice.

Common sense probably tells you where this is headed.  But people don’t always think logically, especially when they must spend time each morning scraping ice off their windshields and windows in the freezing cold, day after day.

At some point, someone likely poured warm water on a frosty windshield and it was successful in melting the ice.  Very likely, someone tried the same method and it resulted in a cracked or shattered windshield.

The contrast of the hot water on the cold windshield is a recipe for disaster.  Glass expands from the heat applied with the water and then quickly contracts again in the frigid temperatures.  It sounds simple, but people understandably hate taking the time to scrape ice off their cars every morning in the winter. However, you’ll need to break out the ice scraper if you don’t want to break your window.

To keep your car’s factory warranty valid, you should get all of your regular maintenance done at the dealership.

That is not the case. Some people swear by their dealership and don’t mind paying inflated prices. We once mentioned this in another blog post, but it’s worth repeating. Going to a mechanic like Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary for your auto care will not invalidate your factory warranty. This Consumer Reports article also addresses this issue. If you still have concerns, you may want to keep your receipts and any documentation to demonstrate that you’ve had regular maintenance, in case your dealership ever does object to something you want them to fix for free. If you are ever missing any of your maintenance records, we keep copies of all completed work orders and can print you copies at any time. But unless your Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary  mechanic advises you to go to your dealership for service, you don’t need to get regular car maintenance done at a dealership and pay those “stealership” prices.

 

Driving very aggressively and gunning the engine isn’t going to hurt your vehicle. Sorry. Gunning your engine or very aggressive driving where you are using Wide Open Throttle can hurt your drivetrain components, which are a collection of parts that transfer power from the transmission to the wheels. That would be the driveshaft, CV joints, the differential, the axle shafts and the U-joints.

If somebody tells you aggressive driving and/or gunning your car isn’t going to hurt anything, they may be correct in the short term.  You probably won’t be taking it in for service a week after revving up your engine.

But if you do it a lot, you could be courting trouble. Aggressive driving and/or gunning the engine wastes gas, and by doing it in heavy traffic, you also increase the odds that you may have to slam on the brakes, which can also be bad for your car.

You can ignore your “Check Engine” light. Many people do not give the “Check Engine” light the proper sense of urgency it deserves.  A lot of the time the car runs and drives exactly the same with the light on or the light off. The thought process is, “Can’t be too serious of the car is still running great.” Then you figure you can get a few more miles or a few more days before you really “need” to bring in your car. The longer this goes on, the less serious the light becomes, until, in some cases, you put black tape over the light.

But you shouldn’t ignore the warnings. That’s how these things become a big deal.  Those lights are there for a reason.

With newer cars, if you have a check engine light that is blinking that is a warning of an urgent problem that with continued driving will likely cause serious damage to your engine or transmission. If that happens to you, you should come into Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary  as soon as you can. If the light isn’t blinking, and you’re driving fine and all seems well, you aren’t off the hook. You probably can put off a visit for a couple days, but we wouldn’t necessarily suggest that. To be safe, you should come in soon as possible.  A “check engine” light means what it suggests – your engine or transmission has some sort of issue, and it should be checked out.

With so much misinformation and bad advice out there, we can say taking your car into Milex Complete Auto Care / Mr. Transmission of Cary  if something is wrong is always good advice.

Categories:

CAR CARE

Tags:

Cary , North Carolina , NC Fuel Economy , Tune-Up , Fuel System Service , Check Engine Light , transmission , complimentary , diagnosis , safety , wipers , fog , defrost , maintenance interval , filter , Wipers , battery , air filter , oil change , sounds , smells , leaks , Oil Change , lubrication , clean , shocks , struts , poor braking , unstable ride , affected by wind , Maintenance Light , reset , air conditioning , HVAC , Cooling , blower , fan , motor , tires , pressure , tread , blowout , inflation , spark plugs , catalytic converter , Oxygen sensor , advanced , scanner , diagnostic , hidden codes , referral , clean and friendly , certified , charity , sponsorships , specific brand and model training , Up-To-Date Equipment , Warranty , estimate , recommendations , nationwide , locally owned , Brake fluid , brake pads , brake rotors , brake caliper , brake master cylinder , brake lines , ABS controller , quality parts , additives , conditioners , bypass , dusty roads , dirt road , off-road , NC , Steve Sargent , Penny test , alignment , tire pressure , tire wear , mpg , fuel economy , gas mileage , tire rotation , tire balancing , alternator , engine misfire , heavy steering , heavy braking , electronics , cell phone , Car window breaking tool , flares or reflective triangles , flashlight , jumper cables , first aid kit , Water and snacks , blanket , spare tire , AUTO REPAIR , MILEX , MILEX COMPLETE AUTO CARE , TIRES , auto care service , auto maintenance , Winterizing Vehicle , Winterizing your auto , Auto Care Services , mr transmission , winter car care , auto care , car care , car maintenance , car , vehicle maintenance , car care tips , cold weather car care , autumn , fall , October , car care month , gasoline , trump , Health Condition Test
Mr. Transmission - Milex Complete Auto Care - Cary #585 is committed to ensuring effective communication and digital accessibility to all users. We are continually improving the user experience for everyone, and apply the relevant accessibility standards to achieve these goals. We welcome your feedback. Please call Mr. Transmission - Milex Complete Auto Care - Cary #585 (919) 465-4488 if you have any issues in accessing any area of our website.