Car

10 myths about cars that you've heard and believed.

Did you know that tires shouldn't be left standing for too long? Check out this and other myths about cars that have been spread around and that many people ended up believing out of naiveté or simply due to lack of information!

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Discover the biggest myths about cars you've ever been told.

Saiba quais são os principais mitos sobre carros e fuja deles. Fonte: Unsplash.
Learn about the most common myths about cars and avoid them. Source: Unsplash.

Did you know that there are many myths about cars that many people believe?

Although much of the information is passed on with the best of intentions, there is a lot of misinformation when it comes to the cars out there. 

However, unfortunately, misinformation has taken hold in many areas around the world, and this is also common in the automotive sector.

With the goal of keeping you informed and away from fake news that could damage your vehicle, our experts have compiled the main myths about cars that you've certainly heard and, worse, believed.

So, the time has come to organize a series of automotive information and bring to light quality information about your car and the entire automotive universe.

So, let's debunk the main myths about vehicles?

Let's go! 

Discover where to find the cheapest cars in the country.

Find out which states and cities offer the best prices for a car and save thousands of reais when choosing your vehicle!

Top 10 myths about cars and the truths behind them.

To keep you informed about your car, the experts at Senhor Carros have debunked the main myths about cars.

Therefore, when you come across any of them, you will be able to refute them with maximum autonomy. 

Shall we begin?

10. Three-cylinder engines are cheaper for manufacturers.

Many four-cylinder engines are being replaced by three-cylinder engines lately. 

This change gave rise to a series of myths surrounding engines, including the one that the car would become cheaper for the manufacturer.

However, this is one of the main unfounded myths about cars that are spread around.

Older engines are profitable, and have already provided all the research and development return they could for the brands. 

So, you're probably wondering:

But then, if four-cylinder engines are cheaper, why aren't they still being produced?

The answer here is logical:

Because the automotive sector needs more energy-efficient engines to comply with PROCONVE – the Program for Controlling Air Pollution from Motor Vehicles.

This program goes into effect in 2022 and needs the most efficient engines possible running!

9. Parallel parts are bad.

Here we have one of the most powerful myths about cars that exist. 

The aftermarket for parts is huge. 

In this market, there are brands with tradition and certification, as well as brands known for their poor quality. 

Therefore, myths about the lack of quality in non-original parts make sense, but they don't apply to all parts. 

Although few people know it, many manufacturers operating in the parallel market are also suppliers to automakers. 

Therefore, ideally you should always research and choose companies with a good reputation when replacing any component of your car. 

It's true that original parts have guaranteed quality, however, they are not always available, especially in the case of vehicles that are no longer in production.

So, don't come here saying that all aftermarket parts are bad, okay?

8. Mixing diesel fuel with gasoline is a good idea.

There are a number of myths about the improper use of fuels with the aim of benefiting a car's engine.

However, caution and, above all, common sense are needed when talking about fuel.

One particular myth gained a lot of traction after being posted on TikTok:

Add 10 ml of diesel to each liter of gasoline.

According to the publisher, the mixture would bring benefits to the engine, such as cleaner fuel injectors, as well as fuel economy. 

But that's actually a myth! 

If your car runs on gasoline, we urge you: Please don't do this to your car!

Mixing diesel with gasoline will generate waste and increase your car's fuel consumption.

Furthermore, the chances of damaging various engine components are immense. 

In other words, here we have another one of the great myths about cars that many people have seen and believed. 

7. Brazilian gasoline is bad.

Another widespread myth on the internet is that Brazilian gasoline is bad. 

In the past, Brazilian fuel was indeed of very poor quality, however, that has changed. 

Over the last 20 years, Brazilian fuel has made a leap in quality. 

Today, Brazilian fuel has a high octane rating, low sulfur content, and excellent density. 

So, if you want to complain about the gasoline, complain about the ethanol content where the index is 27.5%.

This index even surpasses what is adopted in other countries.

However, it is important to point out that blending with ethanol, in smaller quantities, is common in many other countries around the world. 

At this point you might be wondering: but what if the gasoline is adulterated?

In this case, the problem is a crime, where gasoline is adulterated manually and has nothing to do with industrial refining. 

Therefore, our experts assure you: although it is expensive, Brazilian gasoline is of high quality! 

6. Fuel economy reducer

Economizador de combustível é grande mentira. Fonte: Unsplash.
Fuel saver claims are a big lie. Source: Unsplash.

Most myths about cars are directly related to fuel consumption and fuel economy.

Thus, one of the items that became popular, especially during times of expensive fuel, were fuel savers. 

There are many models today that operate based on different principles.

However, none of them are effective, and some may even contribute to fires in your car. 

No matter how far-fetched the stories salespeople make up about this item, think about it with us:

If they were truly effective, cars would come with them from the factory, wouldn't they?

The money saver myth is one of the biggest myths ever invented, so avoid this lie.

5. Additive-enhanced fuel improves car performance.

Filling up with premium gasoline has advantages.

Ultimately, this type of fuel contains detergents that produce a cleaner burn, preventing carbon deposits in the engine.

But don't expect better performance because of that. 

There are some additives called Boosters. 

They promise higher performance, but they are ineffective with Brazilian gasoline due to the percentage of ethanol in our gasoline.

Even worse, they cause damage to spark plugs and catalytic converters. 

And since we're talking about ethanol, there are distributors that offer ethanol with additives. 

However, because it has a low carbon content, ethanol leaves almost no residue when burned.

Therefore, the detergent action will not make much difference. 

The advantage in this case is that the additives increase the lubricity of the product.

In other words, additive-enhanced fuels help clean the engine, but they don't increase performance.

We then proceeded to debunk the myths about cars that many people still believe.

4. Fuel injectors need to be cleaned periodically.

Let it be very clear:

On certain occasions, the car's fuel system may require a cleaning service.

This happens when the nozzles become so carbonized that they no longer function properly.

But when this cleaning is necessary, the engine will exhibit a series of malfunctions and stalls.

And with that, the electronic injection warning light will stay on in the dashboard.

Moreover, these problems only occur in older vehicles with tens of thousands of kilometers accumulated.

But what really doesn't exist is preventive cleaning of fuel injectors.

This is yet another myth about cars that many dishonest repair shops offer to people as a precaution.

This is a procedure that is "pushed" onto the customer, guaranteeing easy profit for the workshop.

So, don't fall for that line! 

3. Lowered suspension provides more stability.

Of all the car myths we've covered so far, this is the only one that makes sense.

Ultimately, in theory, the closer the vehicle is to the ground, the higher its center of gravity will be.

However, that is not what happens. 

Because it's impossible for an adaptation to achieve better results than the original factory design.

It's important to remember that your car's handling is directly linked to the suspension system.

Thus, during development testing, manufacturers evaluate stability in curves, changes of direction, braking, and many other situations. 

Furthermore, the operation of electronic safety systems, including ABS brakes, stability controls, and other devices, is developed for the original design.

It's the same case with "economizers". 

If the lowered suspension were any better, it would come standard from the factory, wouldn't you agree?

But there's more:

In addition to not producing the expected result, any and all modifications to the suspension must be legalized so that the vehicle does not become illegal.

So, don't lower your car's suspension thinking you'll get more stability, because you won't!

2. A tire that has been sitting for a long time is still new.

Os pneus ficam velhos com o tempo! Fonte: Unsplash.
Tires get old over time! Source: Unsplash.

Several vehicle components, such as fuels and oils, have an expiration date. In other words, they degrade over time.

And it's no different with tires. 

So, don't believe stories that claim tires are like new after several years of not being driven on. 

That's because rubber oxidizes over time.

Humidity, temperature, and lack of use all contribute to tire aging.

An old tire loses grip and makes driving the vehicle more dangerous.

Furthermore, tire drying out causes cracks that make it more likely to burst during use. 

Generally, manufacturers set a maximum lifespan for tires. 

In general, a tire can maintain its original characteristics for 5 to 6 years, but they can be used safely for up to 10 years. 

From there, the replacement is necessary, including the spare tire. 

1. Cars from auctions are bad. 

And the last myth about cars is that vehicles sold at auctions are bad.

This is one of the myths about cars that persists to this day, but which is gradually being debunked. 

Because they are cheaper, many people assume that vehicles from auctions need to be repaired after purchase. 

But that's nonsense!

Most vehicles at auction are the result of defaulted loans or debts to the Internal Revenue Service.

Therefore, they are usually in excellent condition!

In fact, buying vehicles at auctions is one of the best ways to guarantee owning a car these days. 

The 10 best auction sites in Brazil

Now that you know the top 10 myths about cars, how about discovering where to find a vehicle at an affordable price and in excellent condition?

After extensive research and data analysis, our experts have selected 10 vehicle auction websites for you. 

In each of them, there are vehicles of all kinds, in excellent condition, waiting to be purchased.

So, we ask you:

Looking to buy a vehicle in excellent condition at a fair price? Then just click the link below!

The 10 best auction sites in Brazil

Discover the 10 best auction sites in Brazil and secure a great copy to call your own today!

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