5 summer driving myths debunked
Summer’s well and truly in swing and many of us are enjoying the high temperatures by taking to the roads and heading off on a sunny adventure.
But, as inevitable as a rained-off barbecue, the hot weather also sees a number of summer driving myths doing the rounds on social media.
Here are our top 5 summer driving myths, and why they’re just not true…
Will filling up your tank make it explode?
Reports that drivers are risking exploding petrol tanks by filling up to the max appear online when the mercury rises, but they’re entirely false.
Today’s cars are designed to cope with any expansion of fuel, so there’s absolutely no risk of your tank exploding if you fill it to the brim on a sunny day.
Is it illegal to drive barefoot?
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not illegal to drive wearing flip-flops or even barefoot. But just because it’s not illegal doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
If you’re coming straight from the beach or the pool and your feet could be wet and a bit slippery, for example, you could be putting yourself and others at risk by not being able to drive safely. That is illegal, so be careful.
Does the heat mean you get less petrol for your money?
The old story goes that when the weather heats up, petrol expands, meaning you get less juice for your buck at the filling station. This leads to people heading down to forecourts before dawn to get the best deal.
This is simply not true. Petrol is stored underground where it’s cooler, so whatever time you decide to top up, you’ll be getting the same amount of fuel.
Is it ok to put water into the car radiator?
When summer hits, some people maintain that it’s fine to fill up your radiator with just plain old water and nothing else. But that is exactly what you shouldn’t be doing.
Coolant has important anti-corrosion properties that will help your cooling system, and if you’re diluting the coolant with water every time you top up your radiator, that could mean your coolant could freeze come winter. And that can lead to serious damage to your engine. Make sure you use a mix of both.
Does the sun wreck your interior?
This isn’t quite as cut and dry as the other myths on our list. Technically, if you live in a hot country and always park your car outside then yes, the sun may eventually do damage to your interior by fading the fabric and warping the plastic.
But if your hometown is more Aberdeen than Abu Dhabi, this is near on impossible. Not only will your car windows come with neat UV filters but, let’s be honest, our summers never get that hot, anyway!
Well, there you have it, 5 summer driving myths debunked! Now that’s cleared up, why don’t you take a look at our top tips for driving in hot weather.
