Most of us are not auto mechanics or professional drivers. The knowledge we have gained about taking care of our vehicles was passed to us from parents and grandparents. A lot of that information is true and helps keep our car or truck operating at peak performance. But, there are instances when that “knowledge” is based more on incorrect tradition than fact.
Now, it doesn’t really hurt if you believe the old wives’ tale that you should fill your gas tank only at night (which is not true). But it can hurt you, and badly damage your car, if you believe that hot or boiling water should be used to deice your windshield or door locks. Pat Goss explains why this is such a bad, dangerous, and potentially costly mistake.
So next time your kindly grandfather or grandmother suggests that you don’t need an ice scraper and that you should just dump some hot water on that ice, please share this with them. It could save them a lot of time and money and perhaps cement your status as their favorite grandchild.
