Tag: myths

Did a $5 widget sold in the 1950's actually keep oil clean, or did it just clean out wallets?

Today: It used to be that we were told to keep our gas tanks at least half-full to prevent water condensation. Is this still true?

Leroy can't get a straight answer on when to change the transmission fluids in his older cars. Can Car Talk set the record straight?

Today: Car Talk tackles a gas station myth for Julie.

We got an email from Marianne giving us the business for suggesting thieves can't read the code from your keyless entry remote and open your car door.

Dear Car Talk: Is it harmful to start the car if the air conditioner, radio, etc., have been left in the "on" position?

Who wouldn't want a zero-emission greenmobile powered by the sun's rays? But the sad fact is that the panels don't generate enough energy. 

Today: Tom and Ray try to enlighten Todd, an emergency brake over-user, about the error of his ways. Find out why it's not a great idea to use this brake for regular stopping, and why it's really called the "parking brake", right here.

Joshua's driving instructor warned him that leaving a car unstarted for more than two weeks could corrode the fuel lines. Now Joshua's worried about all those new cars parked at dealerships across the country.  Tom and Ray explain why car dealers don't bother to employ a staff person to start up each car in the lot once every few weeks. 

When Nina was learning to drive, her dear old dad advised her to always buy manual transmissions. But now, Nina's tired of all that shifting. Does she have Tom and Ray's blessing to go automatic?