Common Car Myths People Still Believe Today

Car Myths That Turned Out To Be Fat Lies – 40 Common Car Myths That Are So Wrong - Brake For It
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Car Myths That Turned Out To Be Fat Lies – 40 Common Car Myths That Are So Wrong
Rose Reilly | Trending | 2 Mar 2026
You should let your engine warm up before driving, especially in winter. Using premium gas will clean your engine. SUVs are safer than small cars. We have all heard similar car tips, but have you ever wondered whether they are true? As it turns out, many of them aren't.
There are a lot of car myths that have been around for decades and are still popular among car owners, despite having been debunked countless times. Some of them originate from the past, whereas others are just completely false. Have you heard any of the myths listed here?
SUVs Are Safer Than Small Cars
Michael Kovac/WireImage
This popular myth has been the center of discussion for years, so it is easy to see why the answer still remains unclear. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) states that "a bigger, heavier vehicle provides better crash protection than a smaller, lighter one, assuming no other differences." Although this is true, SUVs' higher center of gravity means they are more likely to roll over on tight turns or during a crash. SUVs also require a longer braking distance than smaller cars, even despite having larger brakes.
Car manufacturers are, however, working hard on improving their SUVs' safety features by equipping them with all kinds of traction and stability systems as well as adding powerful brakes.
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Muscle Cars Can't Turn
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This is yet another myth that was true in the past. Old American muscle cars are infamous for their understeer and overall less-than-ideal handling. A big V8 engine combined with a tremendous amount of understeer was fast in a drag race but not on corners.
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Luckily, times have changed. The majority of new muscle cars still have a big V8 under the hood and are faster than ever, both in a straight line and around the track. The 2017 Dodge Viper ACR went around the Nürburgring in just seven minutes, beating cars such as the Porsche 991 GT3 RS and Nissan GTR Nismo!
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All SUVs Are Good Offroad
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Initially, SUVs were built to perform well on roads as well as off the beaten tracks. They had elements combining standard road cars and off-road vehicles, making them a middle point between the two.
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Today's SUVs have changed a fair amount. Their wheels became bigger, they got smaller in size and equipped with all sorts of futuristic gadgets, massaging seats, and eco-friendly systems. Manufacturers stopped focusing on off-road capabilities, so it's best not to take your brand new SUV into rough terrain. There are some exceptions though, such as the new Mercedes G Class, which remains unstoppable in mud, sand, or snow.
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4WD Is Better Than Snow Tires In Winter
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While a 4-wheel drive system does help a lot when driving in snow, it is definitely not a replacement for snow tires. 4WD improves acceleration in snow but proper tires are crucial in order to steer with control and brake in time. Summer tires simply won't grip during emergency braking with snow and the car could slide out of control.
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Next time you head up to the snowy mountains, make sure you have good snow tires. They will do wonders, even if your vehicle doesn't have 4-wheel drive.
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Convertibles Are Unsafe In A Crash
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Most convertibles are coupes or hardtop versions, so it seems fair enough to assume that removing the roof weakens the car's structure and has a negative effect on safety. This is the reason that manufacturers take extra measures to be sure that convertibles are just as safe as hardtops. What does that mean, exactly?
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Convertible cars have a stiffer chassis, reinforced pillars, and special roll hoops behind the seats, which drastically improve the driver's safety even in a rollover crash. Some convertibles, such as the 2016 Buick Cascada, even come with active rollbars that automatically deploy when the car is flipped.
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You Should Change Oil Every 3,000 Miles
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Car dealers usually recommend performing oil changes every 3,000 miles. This has become common practice among car owners. But is that really necessary?
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Years ago, frequent oil and filter changes were necessary in order to keep the engine properly maintained. These days, thanks to advances in engine durability and oil quality, most vehicles can be safely driven with oil replaced every 7,500 miles. Some manufacturers, like Ford or Porsche, recommend changing the oil every 10,000 miles. If your car is running on synthetic oil, you can even drive up to 15,000 miles without an oil change!
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Performance Chips Increase Power
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If you had ever thought about making your car more powerful, you probably came across some cheap performance chips guaranteed to increase horsepower. As it turns out, most of these chips don't do anything. These plug-and-play chips will supposedly increase your power instantly. How is that possible? Well, it isn't.
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You will be much better off having your ECU (Engine Control Unit) reprogrammed or even getting mechanical engine upgrades in order to increase power. Either way, it is best to just ask your local tuning shop for advice rather than wasting money on a performance chip.
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Premium Fuel Will Clean Your Engine
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There is a bit of truth to this myth. Premium gas does have a higher octane level than regular gas, that's why high octane fuel is commonly used in motorsport and recommended for high-performance cars. Using premium gas in a car such as the BMW M3 will noticeably improve the vehicle's performance compared to regular fuel.
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That said, high octane fuel will only affect powerful engines. Contrary to popular belief, a higher octane level does not make premium gas "cleaner" than regular petrol. Unless your vehicle has a very powerful engine, it is completely unnecessary to fill it with high octane gas.
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Manual Cars Are More Fuel-Efficient Than Automatics
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During the days of early automatic transmissions, this myth was true. The first automatics on the market were far worse than manuals. They used more gas and would break down a lot.
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Modern automatic transmissions don't have much in common with the ones from the first half of the 20th century. Gearboxes in sports cars, for example, can shift faster than any human ever could. Automatic transmissions in most cars today have become better than manuals in practically every single way. They shift quicker, offer better fuel efficiency, and extend the lifetime of your engine thanks to carefully calculated gear aspect ratios.
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Using Your Phone While Pumping Gas Can Lead To An Explosion
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Do you remember the early days of mobile phones? They were bulky and had long external antennas. Back then, from a scientific point of view, this myth could have been true. A phone's external antenna could have a small discharge that would ignite the fuel and lead to a fire or a spectacular explosion. There aren't any documented cases to support this theory, but it wasn't impossible.
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Phones these days are equipped with internal…

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