Myths New Drivers Should Be Aware Of

Posted on July 31, 2014

Many young drivers may have just received a new car for graduation, or may be saving up for a new ride with a summer job. Whatever it is, they are probably receiving a lot of advice on how to drive and take care of a car. Here are some myths they probably heard:

1. Your oil needs to be changed every 3,000 miles: Changing your oil this often can be a waste of money. Simply follow the guidelines in your vehicles manual on how often to change oil. However, it is necessary for some cars to change their oil often if they put a lot of wear and tear on their car such as towing and driving through harsh weather.
2. Backseat passengers do not need to wear their seatbelt: The point of a seatbelt is keep you safer in case of an accident. Simply put, if you are not wearing your seatbelt, you are not safe. Your body can be projected causing you to harm yourself as well as other passengers.
3. Keep your doors unlocked while driving: This myth suggests that if there was an emergency, you should keep your doors unlocked so that you can be saved. This is not true. Unlocked doors are more likely to open in accidents, causing passengers to be ejected.
4. Occasionally use premium fuel to clean your engine: If the engine in your car was not designed to take advantage of premium fuel, its not doing anything for your car. You will be spending more money in the long run, and doing nothing special for your engine.
5. Driving 10 mph over the speed limit is okay with cops: Anything more than one mile over the speed limit is illegal. But most cops won’t pull you over if you are going one mile above the speed limit because it’s easily arguable that their radar gun wasn’t calibrated perfectly.

With May being a record breaking sales month for many vehicles, there will be several new drivers on the road. Help them avoid making those rookie mistakes by forewarning them of these common myths. Come into Yokem Toyota, we have a safe vehicle waiting for you!

2015 Toyota Yaris

Toyota’s tiniest vehicle is making a big come back for the new model year. The 2015 Toyota Yaris has been redesigned, giving it a fun new attitude. Toyota hopes the new design will make the vehicle appear more European. The Yaris comes in either a 3-door or 5-door liftback model. As the most inexpensive Toyota vehicle you can by, this fun to drive car does not disappoint. It has a 106 horsepower and 103 lb. -ft of torque. The new Yaris also comes standard with a 6.1 inch touch screen. It is expected to go on sale August 3, 2014. If you can’t wait that long for a new ride, come into Yokem Toyota for a fabulous selection of Toyota vehicles.

Toyota's i-Road

Toyota has begun testing a three-wheeled EV that Europe plans on using as part of their public transportation. Basically the two-passenger vehicle will be shared. Commuters can pay and reserve for a vehicle ahead of time and pick it up at designated charging stations. The i-Road is one-fourth the size of the average car. It has the ability to lean, making it take up even less space on the road. The vehicle will help reduce emissions in already crowded cities. It is unclear when the i-Road will become available, as it is still being tested. Come into Yokem Toyota to check out other amazing Toyota vehicles!

Enlighten Me on Going Electric

The push to go green is stronger than ever as we begin to notice the damage left by our footprints. If you recently bought a new vehicle, you probably briefly considered buying an electric vehicle, but brushed that thought aside when you mulled over the cons. Common myths about electric vehicles include: they have a short range, they are expensive, and the time it takes to charge is inconvenient. The truth is, the typical American driver travels less than 40 miles a day, a small portion of the 100 mile range covered by most electric vehicles. When it comes to price, it is no lie that you will pay more upfront for an electric vehicle, but you must factor in the long run costs. A plug-in driver can save between $700-$1600  each year by eliminating fuel consumption. That adds up, and the fact of the matter is you will be saving money with a plug-in. Lastly, with a little bit of planning, charging your vehicle should not be a problem. An EV can easily reach a full charge overnight. And each day, more and more public charge stations are appearing at businesses and public entities. This means you can charge while you’re at work, shopping, or while your kids play at the park. Owning an electric vehicle is something to feel good about. With car brands introducing EVs each year, there is surely a vehicle that will fit your lifestyle and budget!

Reasons to Stop Ignoring Your Check-Engine Light

Not knowing the reason your check-engine light is on can be very irritating. Most people will continue to ignore the warning as long as they feel their car is still running smoothly. But, your vehicle is in need of a diagnosis! Without one, you could be causing additional harm to your vehicle. This could ultimately result in spending more money on repairs than if the problem was fixed from the start. Occasionally, the fix is as easy as tightening your gas cap, which is the first thing you should check when your light goes on. If the check-engine light remains on after a few days then there could be a problem with the vehicles fuel, ignition or emissions system. If the light is flashing, this is serious. It could mean there was a misfire, which needs immediate attention from an auto technician. If your vehicle is telling you something is wrong, you should take care of the problem. Doing so will help you stay safe while keeping money in your pocket!

Save Gas and Save Money

We all dread filling up at the pump and draining our bank account. But we have to get around some how! However, there are several ways to save on gas and keep some money in your pocket.

1. Go easy on your accelerator! If you anticipate the traffic you can avoid slamming on your breaks and accelerating too quickly. If possible, use cruise control, this cuts out the constant braking and accelerating.

2. Carpooling is fun! With just one person in your carpool, you could cut your fuel costs by 50 percent! Make friends and alternate driving with people in your area. The more people in your carpool, the more you save!

3. Let go of your excess baggage. Do you really need all those extra things in your trunk? The less you car weighs, the less work it does, and the less gas it is going to burn.

4. Don’t ignore those check-whatever lights. Regular maintenance will keep your car purring beautifully. The better you take care of your car, the better it will perform.  Make sure under the hood is running smoothly and your tires are properly inflated.

5. Get some fresh air! If it’s a nice day, put your windows down! Turning off your A/C will put less stress on your engine, and help it use less fuel. The more sparing you are with your A/C and heat, the more gas in your tank!

6. This brings me to my next point, aerodynamics! While keeping the windows down helps cut gas consumption, this is not necessarily true for when you’re driving on the highway. Simply put, if your windows are down when you are going high speeds, it causes your vehicle to use more gas because it is less aerodynamic. It is also not beneficial to have bike racks or large objects on your roof rack. Those bug deflectors, window and sunroof deflectors are also causing more harm than good.

7. Don’t just sit there, do something! If you are just going to sit there with your car running, turn it off. Turning your car off and on is more efficient than just letting it run.

Steering Away From Hydroplaning

Driving in the rain can bring a lot of anxiety to some drivers. With the lack of visibility and the fear of losing control, you’re not alone! Hydroplaning, also known as aquaplaning, occurs when a layer of water comes between the tires and road causing a loss of traction. This lack of traction can cause the driver to lose their ability to steer and brake properly. The vehicle may skid or slide and this could unfortunately cause an accident. But have no fear! There are several ways to avoid hydroplaning and build your confidence driving in the rain!

1. (First off, and most importantly) Do NOT slam on the breaks. The best option is to pump your breaks until you begin to regain control. If you have anti-lock brakes (check your owners manual if you are unsure), brake like normal but not too hard. The vehicle will do the brake pumping action for you.

2. This is not the time to have a lead foot! Slow down in the rain, you will have more traction and better control when you are coming to a stop.

3. Take care of your tires. Unfortunately this creates another “to-do” on your busy list. It is important to check and properly adjust your tire pressure. Check the traction on your tires often and rotate or replace them if need be, especially if they are beginning to bald.

4. Avoid standing water. Puddles can cause immediate loss of traction. It is smart to avoid the outer lanes where masses of water are likely to form.

5. Stay in control, don’t use cruise control! Hydroplaning while in cruise control has actually caused vehicles to accelerate. As you can imagine, this creates a problem when it comes to regaining control of your vehicle.

If you do begin to hydroplane, remain calm! Take your foot off the accelerator, grasp the wheel firmly, and attempt to steer the vehicle to where it is aimed straight ahead. Make sure you are not over steering, move the wheel a minimal amount, just enough to keep the vehicle moving forward. Hopefully these tips will help you gain confidence while driving in the rain, and help prevent accidents if hydroplaning does occur!