Common Myths About Cars

It seems older drivers (meaning those older than 30 or so) have always been taught that you must warm up a car in winter before taking off, but this is actually not true. This is the first driving myth we—at Berlin City Toyota of New Hampshire—are going to debunk. When you idle your car, the transmission and wheel bearings don’t get any lubrication; this doesn’t occur until the car is actually moving. The longer you warm your car up before driving, the more likely it is that you are releasing ozone-depleting emissions into the environment, which is not very “green.” Even if you live in cold areas of New England like Berlin, Gorham, Jefferson, Milan, Bethel, Stoneham, and Newry, just start your car and in a few seconds, you’re ready to go.

Another myth is that an oil change is necessary every 3,000 miles or 3-6 months, but this just isn’t true, especially with all the advanced technology found on cars manufactured today. Check your owner’s manual or the service advisor at Berlin City Toyota to know when your car’s oil should be changed.

Another myth is that automatic transmissions are more fuel-efficient than standard transmission. Major changes in engine design and construction have recently debunked this myth. The continuously variable transmission (CVT) has no gear teeth and a limitless number of shift points, so it has just about every advantage that a manual transmission used to have.