When it comes to talking cars with anyone and especially when scouring the internet for useful car repair related advice, you have to take a Russian proverb approach to what you hear and read---“Doveryai no Proveryai” which essentially means “Trust but Verify.”
Reagan at His Best
“Trust but verify” became a part of the American lexicon in the 1980’s reputedly after a Russian scholar coaching then-President Ronald Reagan for his Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty talks with then-President Mikhail Gorbachev, after Reagan famously stole from the Russians the proverb “Trust but verify.”
Reputedly, Reagan used the phrase so often whenever dealing with Russia in the context of nuclear disarmament discussions with the Soviet Union that Gorbachev complained of Reagans’ overuse of which became irritating.
Imagine if you will Gorbachev replying “Sticks and stones” in response all the time as well.
Take it With a Grain of Salt
Another related phrase of Latin origins is that of “Cum grano salis” meaning “Take something with a grain of salt” to make it more palatable. Taking it a little further, you could interpret it as advice to swallow the info to keep conversation civil, but let your digestion determine the veracity of what you were just fed.
And so it is when talking cars with anyone, which is topic of today’s article courtesy of the Car Care Nut YouTube channel where the host goes over with viewers 5 car myths you can actually fall for and whether they are true or not.
Car Myths that Need Debunking
Follow along with the host as you will discover:
- “Once you use synthetic oil, you cannot go back to regular oil.”
- “Turn off your AC before turning off your car to prevent damage to the HVAC system.”
- “Over-filling your gas tank can cause car issues”
- “Nitrogen-filled tires are best for your car”
- “If you love your car, you will always feed it Premium fuel.”
The value of the video aside from learning the truth is seeing how some hint of truth makes some myths so believable and where exceptions make sense to follow.
For additional myth-related articles, here are three for your consideration:
- Can You Really Restore a Dead Car Battery with a Welder?
- Car Lawyer Explains Myths, Scams, and Risks of Buying a Used Car
- Are Toyota's Made in Japan Better than Toyota's Made in America? Let’s Find Out!
Timothy Boyer is a Torque News automotive reporter based in Cincinnati. Experienced with early car restorations, he regularly restores older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites for daily new and used vehicle news.
Image Source: Deposit Photos