5 Things Your Car Probably Doesn’t Need
By Eric Peters, Automotive Columnist
Owning and operating a car is a major expense — second only in many people’s lives to the cost of rent or a mortgage. But it’s the little things that can really nickel and dime you into the poorhouse.
The good news is a lot of it is stuff you can skip altogether. For example:
1) Gas additives
The gas you buy — whether unleaded regular, mid-grade or premium — probably already has the additives your car’s engines needs.
People often confuse quality with octane — and believe that higher-cost “premium” fuel is better gas than “regular” — but these terms refer to the octane rating of the fuel, not its quality.
You pay more for high-octane fuel than you do for regular, but unless you car’s engine needs high octane “premium” fuel, buying it over “regular” (or “mid-grade”) isn’t getting you better gas. Just more expensive gas. All grades of gas usually have the same additive packages (with some exceptions, such as off-brand fuels). If you stick with name-brand gasoline, buying pour-in additives is an unnecessary expense — like buying salt to go with Saltines.
2) Oil additives
As with fuel additives, buying bottles of additive to mix with your oil is usually not necessary and may even lead to problems. For one, if you stick with the type/quality of oil specified in your owner’s manual, that oil will meet (or exceed) the requirements laid down by the engineers who designed your car’s engine. You’d only need to add something if the oil you bought was missing it to begin with — and if you buy the type/quality of oil recommended by the people who built your car, it won’t be.
For two, additives may cause problems; do you really know what’s in that stuff you’re about to pour into your crankcase? It may be a completely harmless money-waster. But it might be more than that, too — if the stuff gunks up your engine or contains solvents that dilute the oil and ruin its ability to lubricate/protect your engine’s internals. Also, be aware of the capacity issue. If you’ve added a quart (or even a half-quart) of additive to an already full crankcase, your engine is now over-filled. Too much oil in the crankcase can cause numerous problems, some of them serious. It’s very important not to overfill your engine with oil — or additives.
3) High speed tires
In the United States, the highest legal speed limit is 80 mph (In Texas). In most states, it is 65 or maybe 70. Nowhere is it legal (or even realistically possible) to cruise at speeds much above 100 mph for extended periods of time without risking a huge ticket, or more likely, jail time.
Yet many cars come equipped from the factory with tires designed for safe travel at continuous speeds in excess of 130 mph (or more). On Germany’s unrestricted speed Autobahns, such tires are not just useful, they’re essential. Here, they’re expensive overkill.
While it’s true that high-speed performance tires also offer better handling “at the limit” (e.g., on a race track or under severe high-performance use) in 99 percent of real-world driving that most of us do, less aggressive (and expensive) tires are perfectly satisfactory. Just be sure the tire you’re looking at meets the minimum load rating specified by the vehicle owner’s manual.
And don’t worry to much about those speed ratings. Keep in mind that they are a measure of a tire’s capacity to safely operate for sustained periods of time at the specified speed. So it’s ok to briefly run to a higher speed than a given tire is rated for. In other words, you can do a furtive burst of speed to well above the legal maximum — “just to see what it’s like” or to execute a quick passing maneuver — and still be safe… as far as the tires go, anyhow.
4) Extended warranties
These things can go either way — and sometimes, not your way — so it’s smart to do some math before you commit.
The cost of the extended warranty may be more than the cost of some down-the-road repair that might never happen anyhow. For example, let’s say the cost of an extended warranty is $2,000. Two years down the road, your vehicle needs a new transmission and the cost is $1,800. You’re $200 poorer than you would otherwise have been. Keep in mind, too, that extended warranties (like health insurance) sometimes have deductibles or “pro rata” partial payment coverage.
Some people like the peace of mind that comes with knowing “they’re covered” by an extended warranty. But you can get the same thing by just setting aside the money you’d otherwise have spent to buy the warranty. Put it in an interest-earning savings or checking account. You may not earn much, but you will earn something — and if the car never suffers a breakdown, that money will still be in your proverbial pocket. If you bought the extended warranty and the car never has a problem, you get literally nothing in return for your “investment.”
If you still like the idea of an extended warranty, be sure to closely read and understand all the caveats, Ifs, Ands or Buts. These warranties are often liberally salted with weasel wording designed to let the issuer avoid a payout — and leave you holding the proverbial bag.
5) Car wash “rust protection”
Automatic car washes are a wonderful convenience but some of the extras typically offered are of dubious, if any value.
“Rust protection” spray is one of them.
In the first place, modern vehicles are extensively rust-proofed during the assembly process; all the exposed metal parts have already been coated/treated/painted to keep rust from forming. Spraying any additional “rust prevention” on these parts is superfluous. (This isn’t a car wash issue, but any heavy spray-on “rust prevention” coating applied to a car’s underbody might actually accelerate rust by locking in moisture, etc.)
The basic wash is the best value because it actually gives you something for your money. Most of those extras are just heavily hyped (and heavily marked up) money wasters.
You’re better off putting the money in a cookie jar.
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Fellow Commentators, the only way we can return to a productive forum and a respectful session is to be respectful of all who are deserving of respect.
I realize there are people who are disrespectful, name callers whose seemingly main function when writing on this board is to bad mouth and critize others who they may disagree with.
When these notices are published it serves no purpose to respond in kind.
Be kind and speak in generaliies so that no one takes offense.
I think it is possible to say how you feel without engendering harsh feelings towards others.
Better to ignore someone than start a verbal war.
Why does anone waste time respondng to a person who always takes the opposite side.
The only way to deal with these people is to IGNORE and SHUN them.
Anything else encourages them.
For the most part this blog is presented for people with like minded views that may present possible solutions.
It seems hopeless and counterproductive to argue with a person who seems incapable of change.
There needs to be a moderator, even a very part-time one, to eliminate the trolls.
True that. Moderator who warns once and IP ban’s after that warning. That would make the comment area usable!
I’m not sure a moderator makes sense in Randy’s case (for example)… he certainly has valid questions to ask. The problem is he doesn’t listen to answers, and doesn’t present any data to support his aces. Technically, that’s not really “trolling” per se, though it certainly is annoying.
Besides which, it’s always good to hear counter-points to arguments. It helps us become better and more prepared when other people ask similar questions. Of course, the hope is that people will learn, or present data to their argument… unfortunately, some people don’t… in which case, ignoring them is certainly the only remaining course of action. He can’t annoy someone who’s not listening to him. :)
The fact that Randy has made up another fictional Randy (after some people mockingly used the handle Randy for jocularity) and then attacks him/herself. [multiple identities from same IP is grounds for a ban at other forums]
The Randy, from Illinois, should disambiguate his/her handle. (and get a custom icon)
Randy makes offers misinterpretations, libelous statement, and threats. [which will get you banned elsewhere]
If s/he would provide a counterpoint position, which furthered the discourse, that would be one thing, trolling is another.
@schwinn:
It’s just trolling 2.0
@george: If you look at the image filenames, there are actually four different people who all have the same image, which means that Randy is 4 different people, 3 of which are smart enough to game the gravatar system.
George [C} at least I do not make up things like you do. You flat out lie. Give me one little threat that I made upon you! You are so paranoid you do not know which end is up.
You say that all drivers are very smart and can make up their own mind how they drive. I saw one of your smart friends in the ditch tonight on my way home. I was taking it easy between 40 to 45 mph because of poor road conditions on a two lane road coming home and a car came flying up behind me. I turned on my turn signal and just started to slow down to get out of his way and before I was even able to turn off he passed me. It was not a half mile ahead that I saw a car in the ditch with its lights still on. I do not know if it was the same car or not because of the hills but there are truly idiot drivers out there.
I am sorry that you are mentally ill, or have no memory, or maybe you have multiple personality disorder.
Your threat was an implied threat, innuendo, that I would be ‘removed’ from the road-permanently.
Honesty is my personal virtue. I am a habitual truth teller. (even in social situations were some fibbing would be a mark of grace & tact)
Ok George [C], if you have such a great memory and a person that tells the truth so much what was the threatening statement or statements?
i may have said you should be removed from the roadways if you drive as badly as you say people should but that kind of statement is hardly a threat except for someone that is paranoid and delusional.
I am going to reference Baja Jones most recent statement.
You are now on ‘ignore’
In older cars addittives seemed to make a difference in reducing oil use and burning but with newer cars there seems to be little to no effect,
Anyone care to comment on why this is?
PS. I am talking 1960-1970 even 1980 model cars with oil reducing addittives
that seem to reduce oil use.
Oil technology has improved GREATLY over the years. New oil formulations already include the necessary additives to improve performance and mileage… so additives are no longer necessary.
In addition, motors have become more efficient, and have also been designed to run with tighter clearances and lighter oils. Both of these activities help to improve efficiency and reduce oil consumption, overall.
I beg to differ on the tires. You’re right; 90+% of people don’t drive their cars (even performance cars) anywhere near ‘the limit’. Unfortunately, in our sue-happy society, if you install tires with a lower-than-OEM speed rating, then crash the car due to ANY sort of tire-related reason, the tire installer has opened himself up to a serious lawsuit. In the years I spent in tire shops, we, by company policy, would not install anything with a lower rating for that reason.
Also, your tires are the only thing holding you to the road; they make the single biggest difference in ride, handling, comfort, etc. Save money in other areas, but spend as much as you can on tires.
Agreed – although you may not need the speed-capability of the tire, the sidewalls and other features of the tire can improve its handling and grip over a lower-speed-rated version. For this reason, speed-rated tires DO make a difference in overall performance.
As JBT mentioned, many people don’t drive at the limit, but even those who don’t can benefit from better tires. Tires should be the most important place to spend extra money, in order to get a quality product.
Also, driving “at the limit” can be done on non-public roads (racetracks, private roads, etc) for extended periods. So high performance tire are needed.
Yes Jef you are right if you take you car to the race track you may need very high speed tires but 99.99% of cars have never been on a race track and never will. The only one that needs very high speed tires is George because he dreams and reads about going fast and also Randall for driving through school zones.
Did you have tires in the showroom that were rated lower than what you would install?
Bill I can answer that question. Cars have different speed rating requirements for tires and are usually conservative. Cars that top out at 80 mph usually do not require tires rated at 149 mph. For that matter few cars require that rating or higher. Lower powered 3 or 4 cylinder cars would probably only require the minimum speed rating in the shop except for things like lawn mower tires and some trailer tires.
Oh yeah Randy cause I always speed a thousand miles an hour through school zones jerk. Just because I don’t agree with photo enforcement in school zones or anywhere for that matter dosent mean I speed through them dick.
Supersonic, so they won’t hear you coming! :)
Randall I seem to remember that you said it was fine to drive over the limit in school zones and you said you do it all the time. It must be fine for you to be able to say you drive fast in a school zone but if I say you do it then you call me names.
Great Article Thank you. I have often thought additives were something you should do. Your article makes a lot of sense.
I wrap diapers around my car’s tailpipe so it does not drip dirty water (i.e. pee) on roadways. Everyone should do that. George how about starting with you?
Thanks Randall for the impersonation again. You are a real kindergartner at heart.
nah-uh
HAHA! Awesome!
And for a second there, I thought RR (“Real Randy”) snapped from a sudden sense of logic and reading comprehension, and had “lost it”. I was starting to feel bad for him!
I’m just glad to see that’s not the case, and that RR is still here, ready to continue spreading misinformation. After all, who needs science and logic when we have the RR’s common sense to guide us?
Thankfully, I can still join the Church of RR! Deliver me from the evils of science, oh RR-the-great and all-knowing! Teach me to believe!