- [Narrator] It is not
about the destination, it's all about the journey. And if that journey is by
road, you might be surprised to find out just how many
secrets your four wheels are hiding along the way from
secret concealed vehicle tools and features to the real
truth about red cars. Buckle up, rev that engine and join me on a road trip through some of the craziest car secrets that only the most
experienced drivers know. (upbeat music) Fob well done. Every driver's been there. You're in a crowded parking lot and forget where you parked your car. You try pushing the
button on your key fob, hoping it'll light the way, but the car is too far
away for it to work. You could spend the next hour frantically racing up and down hundreds of cars, furiously clicking the button. Or you could use your brain. You may have heard the rumor trick that you can create a range boost by using your own head like an antenna, but this is surely just
another made up hack, right? Car key fobs are essentially
short range radio transmitters that use radio frequencies
to send a signal to a receiver unit that's
wired inside the car. Fobs perform this function via a built-in radio frequency
identification system known as RFID, which utilizes
an electromagnetic field to identify the car it's
meant to be interacting with. Generally speaking, car key fobs can lock or unlock a car from around 30 feet away before they stop working, but it's been proven that holding
your fob against your head can increase its signal range
to up to 85 feet and beyond. But what is this magic? Up to 85% of the human
brain is comprised of water, which is very helpful in
conducting electromagnetic waves like those used by key fobs. The electromagnetic signal
from the FOB interacts with the water molecules in your head and causes them to resonate. This resonation or synchronized vibration causes the electromagnetic
waves from the fob to take on a greater
amplitude, amplifying them and increasing their range. Although zapping electromagnetic waves through your brain might sound dangerous, small key fobs like those used for cars don't generate nearly
enough power to be harmful. While some folks think we may all become robotic cyborg someday, I think those nifty car manufacturers are trying to give us a hint. We're already there. While just a small
inconspicuous piece of plastic on the surface, key fobs are hiding more than just secret brainwave power. While keyless entry to
cars has become the norm, have you ever stopped to
wonder just what you do if you found yourself
locked out of your car with a dead key fob
with drained batteries? We'll check this out. (upbeat music) Turns out many car manufacturers install a spare traditional key
right inside the fobs for their cars just in case. Talk about key-ception. Red rage. When buying a car,
there's a lot to consider. What features does it have? How does the engine run? How many seats are in there? And most importantly, what color? While many drivers
consider choosing the color of their new car, the most
fun part of the process, it turns out the car colors
you choose may also be a factor in the way you're treated on the road. According to various insurance surveys, more than 44% of Americans
believe that driving a red car will land you with a more
expensive insurance bill. Not only that, many folks
believe that drivers of red cars are seen being pulled over
more than any other car color. So are these common beliefs really true? Well, not exactly, and here's why. Well, it's unclear exactly when or where red cars first got
their unseemly reputation. There are some clues that might help piece together
the answer to this mystery. Some people think that the red
car conundrum might come down to plain old color psychology. Think about it. What sort of words and
images come into your mind when you think about the color red? I bet it's full of blood,
red hot chilies, sirens, and flashy sports cars, right? And what do all these
things have in common? They're all associated with a mild to moderate sense of danger. Red is the universal language for danger, and not only that, it's also one of the most eye catching colors out there. This might explain why drivers
report seeing more red cars being pulled over compared to other less eye catching colors. In fact, though it's white cars that are pulled over the most
with red cars in second place. Drivers are often extra
vigilant to the color red as road signs are usually
meant to warn drivers of potential dangers ahead. Red is also linked with
aggression and impulsivity, which aren't traits
you'd usually associate with a responsible driver. In reality, the color of
your car has no bearing on how much a car insurance costs. When reviewing an application, insurance companies determine the price of an insurance plan
based on several factors completely unrelated to
your color preferences. The make and model driver history and how often the car is driven are the most important things that will help insurance
companies work out how likely drivers are to get
involved in a road incident. While it's untrue that red
car drivers are slapped with a higher insurance
bill because of the color, the type of paint can play a role. Premium paints with metallic
or pearlescent finishes are often more expensive
than standard paints, meaning they cost more for insurers to repaint over scratches
or damage in the event of a claim resulting in a higher
overall insurance premium. I guess that's one way to
keep custom Nyan cat cars like this off the roads. A true crime against Ferrari. Morning gas. While driving on the open road
can be a freeing experience, stopping to fill up at a gas
station can be a bleak reminder that freedom costs money, gas money. Frequent drivers are
always looking for ways to save a few dimes when it
comes to car related costs, but there are some out there that think they've cracked the
code to getting cheaper gas. Many drivers believe that
stopping by the gas station in the morning allows you
to get more gas for less, which could be a game
changer if true, but is it? Like all liquids, gasoline
expands when heated? So, theory is that if you fill up a car in colder temperatures when
the molecules are more compact, you'll be able to fit a larger
amount of fuel in your tank for the same cost. Generally speaking, the coolest time of day happens early in the morning, within an hour or two of sunrise. And these two facts result in what we're going to call
the morning gas hack. While it does make a
lot of sense in theory, there is one particular
flaw with this idea that quickly deflates this gas balloon. While the science is largely correct, gas stations store their
fuel in underground tanks. These tanks are very well insulated, meaning that generally the temperature and price of the fuel pumping
into your cars stays the same no matter the time of day. Not only that, but drivers
who believe filling up in the morning keeps their wallets full, may be likely to waste more
fuel by driving out of their way to the gas station in the cooler mornings. In colder environments, it
takes longer for your car engine to reach its most fuel
efficient temperature. Cooler, denser air also
increases the aerodynamic drag on your car, using up even more fuel. So go ahead and hit that snooze button. There's no need for early
rising, that's my motto. And I should know the only
morning gas I experience is the kind that comes after two laps of my morning Taco Bell drive thru. Fast lanes falsehoods. When it comes to life on the road, there's nothing more frustrating than hitting highway traffic. Every driver asks themselves
the same question, is the lane next to me moving faster? while you'd think that changing over to the faster moving lane would
help you beat the traffic, this is a great big mistake. Highway experts have found that cars that continuously change lanes
in traffic actually spend more time being passed by other cars than they
do overtaking them. In fact, remaining in the same lane we'll see you arrive at the
same time as those who dodge through traffic and it'll be
significantly less stressful. But how is this possible? It sounds pretty counterintuitive, right? Well, there's actually
some reasoning behind it, but only if you're in
gridlocked, slow-moving traffic. This highway phenomenon comes down to an optical illusion
created by the spacing between cars and different lanes. Researchers at the University
of Toronto found that in stop-start traffic, drivers
inclined to change lanes as often as possible would
steer into open spaces in other lanes when they opened
up based on the assumption that the new lane was
consistently faster each time. However, the appearance of a faster lane would
often prove short-lived with the lane usually slowing
down to a halt soon after, and would result in
more stop-start driving that ultimately saw the
steady stream of cars in the slower lane eventually catch up. In simulated traffic experiments, researchers found this
stop-start factor meant that, on average, lane-switchers and
lane-stayers actually arrived at their destination
at about the same time! But this traffic dilemma
can cause very real problems for highway drivers, whether
they're lane changers or not. Drivers who change lanes too frequently can inadvertently force
everyone else to slow down. Known as phantom traffic
jams, these are caused by varying acceleration and deceleration of vehicles up ahead, which
creates a ripple effect, causing traffic further down the road to eventually come to a stop. So, just remember, being
an aggressive lane-changer can make you a real pain
for your fellow drivers! It's important to note, however, that most of what we've just
discussed only really applies in gridlocked, slow traffic. If you're on an open highway
with few cars around, driving over the limit and the fast lane is always
going to get you there quicker, albeit with an increased risk of danger. But if you're stuck in a gridlocked jam that seemingly has no cause at all, your best bet is to stay in your lane if you want to avoid frustration. Buckle Up. It's one of the most integral
safety features in a car, but how often do you stop to really take a look at your seatbelt? Most car passengers may
not even have noticed that seatbelts have a bit of
extra fabric attached to them. While you might assume this is just a way to use up some left-over material, it's actually one of the seatbelt's most important safety features. This loop is called an
energy management loop, and it's specifically designed
to absorb some of the impact in a crash scenario. During a collision, seatbelts
undergo extreme stress as momentum carries the passenger forward, which causes the threading
in the loop to rip open. This gives the passenger a
few extra inches of seatbelt, which doesn't just prevent an extreme, whiplash-inducing jerk-motion, but also minimizes the chances of the entire seatbelt ripping apart. Seeing as this loop is there
for the safety of passengers, it might seem surprising to find that there isn't one on the driver's belt. On the driver's side,
the lack of loop is just as much as safety consideration. Front and rear passengers
have more room to fall forward in an accident, so the extra
inches provided by the loop won't be a danger. However, it's possible that
with the extra inches provided by the energy management loop,
those in the driver's seat could be at a greater risk of colliding with the steering wheel. So a loop is not used for the driver. While many modern cars have this setup, it's not the case for all vehicles, so don't worry if your car is
designed a little differently. What the driver's seat does have in common with other car seatbelts
is the small plastic button attached to it. Called a seatbelt stopper, this little tab works
by preventing the buckle from sliding too far down
the belt when unplugged, which eliminates the
frustration of fishing around for a lost buckle. We all know that wearing
a seatbelt is essential on every car journey, but
what you might not know is that subscribing to the Be Amazed channel is just as important for
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my next content adventure is about to begin. Okay, pitstop over, now on with the video! Check engine conundrum. Uh-oh, looks like we've
got a bit of trouble ahead. One of every driver's worst nightmares, the appearance of the
dreaded check engine light is a sure-fire way to cut the brakes on your on-the-road fun. Experienced drivers probably know that the check engine light
is attached to what's known as the onboard diagnostics system, or OBD, a car's onboard computer
that monitors the performance of almost every component of the vehicle. But what they may not realize
is that, in a standard car, there can be up to 1,400 reasons for the check engine light to appear. The OBD system triggers a warning light when it senses a potential problem, and while serious issues
require the professional opinion of a mechanic, one of the
most common reasons comes down to a mistake a lot of drivers
make at the gas station. Modern cars are fitted with what's known as an evaporative emissions
control system, or EVAP. This system recirculates
harmful gas vapors from fuel, preventing them from
escaping into the atmosphere before they're burned up in the engine. The EVAP system needs to stay airtight, so if a driver doesn't screw
their gas cap back on properly after filling up, it can
trigger a release of vapor when the car is on the move again. To prevent this, an
improperly screwed-on gas cap will cause your check
engine light to come on. These days, some modern cars even have a specifically
designed check gas cap alert to make it even easier for drivers to identify this common issue. Some others even have special features that make drivers less likely to lose or forget their gas cap,
like this built-in cap holder for a more handsfree
gas station experience. While a loose gas cap is one
of the most common reasons for an illuminated check engine light, it's definitely not the only reason. So, make sure to drive safely
and alert your mechanic to any concerns you might have. Yes, that includes you, duct tape king. Dirty truths. Any proud gearhead loves nothing more than keeping their car clean, and it's a good thing too, as most experts recommend washing your car around every two weeks to
keep it in tip top condition. However, while it might sound crazy, there are some car owners out there that think this is a great big mistake. Word on the mean streets is that dirty cars actually
perform better than clean cars. Yeah, you heard me right. But how could that be? The theory goes that dirty
cars are more fuel efficient than clean cars as the dirt on them makes the car more aerodynamic, therefore using less fuel despite driving at the same speed. This idea is known as
the golf ball effect, which describes the way that objects can actually reduce drag
thanks to textured surfaces. If a smooth ball flies through the air, a cone-shaped wake of low
pressure air is left behind it, which increases drag, making
it harder to accelerate. Golf balls, however, are
specifically designed with a dimpled surface
because the indentations cause a more chaotic flow of air, reducing the wake it leaves behind it, decreasing its drag. In fact, it's been
proven that dimpled balls can fly almost twice
as far as smooth balls. With this in mind, you can
see why dirty car owners may believe that the
extra texture provided by the dirt and grime on their cars could improve aerodynamics. However, in reality, dirty cars can achieve quite the opposite. While the dust and dirt that
makes its way onto a car is dispersed largely at random, the position of a golf ball's dimples are painstakingly deliberate so as to maximise aerodynamic efficiency. What's more, a car is already designed to be as streamlined a possible for its specific shape requirements, meaning a few random bits of dirt will negatively impact its
drag-reducing design features. So, while the theory is plausible, it would probably only
work if a car was covered in the same dimples as
those found on a golf ball, and I think we can all agree that's not exactly a great look. Overall, cars that are
cleaned on a regular basis with a smooth surface have been found to improve fuel efficiency by
around two miles per gallon compared to dirty cars. Still, if you really
want a golf-related car, you might just have to settle for the Volkswagen Golf's
iconic golf ball gear stick, or, of course, you could just
drive around in a golf buggy. Auto eggs. If you're a gearhead, you probably think you know your car like
the back of your hand. But what you might not know
is that you could easily be missing out on some
extra design features that car manufacturers
don't tell you about. While many of these auto
easter eggs are purely for aesthetics, there are
many hidden features out there that can brighten even the rainiest days. Skoda drivers, for example,
have nothing to fear from an unexpected downpour
thanks to the hidden umbrella in the Fabia, Superb, and Scala models. They're also covered when it
comes to frostier elements too as many Skoda models also have
a built-in ice scraper hidden on the inside of their gas tank door. Even better, check out this retractable license
plate drawer dreamt up by British car manufacturer, Vauxhall, for their early 2000s Corsa vehicles. Rather than having to add
a cumbersome metal frame to the car if you need to
take your bicycle somewhere, the Flexi-fit system slides
out of the license plate and can hold two bicycles. Sticking with vehicular derrieres, if you're a proud Volkswagen Polo owner, you might not have realized
that the handy parking camera in newer models is actually
hidden behind the VW logo on the back. Even if you can't find
the Easter eggs hidden around your ride, there are
other ways you can pimp it up to hide your very own extra features. There are a whole lot of accessories you can get your hands on to make your ride the ultimate
convenience on wheels. This license plate smart
lock box, for example, is the perfect place to hide
your valuables in a pinch, or even a spare set of keys. But the cream of the crop
of hidden car features has to be Nissan's coveted curry hook, which boasts the very specific
ability to save your seats from the bottoms of greasy takeout bags. So, who's up for drive-thru. Motion parallax. The average American spends
as much as 17,600 minutes in a car every year. While that's certainly a lot of time, there's something that I'll bet most folks haven't paid attention to in
a single one of those minutes, and yet drivers experience
it all the time. Picture this. You're sitting in a car and
looking out of the window. As the car moves forward, you
notice that objects closer to you appear to pass by quickly, whereas objects further away
appear to move more slowly and sometimes not at all. This kind of depth
perception trickery is known as motion parallax, a
psychological and ocular phenomenon that plays a big role when it comes to how drivers perceive their own speed. In fact, researchers have
discovered that truck drivers and other tall vehicle
drivers tend to drive faster than those driving souped up sports cars because of motion parallax. Because the truck driver
is higher up and further away from the things passing in traffic, it will seem as though things
are moving a lot slower than they actually are. Seeing as we rely on motion parallax to perceive our own speed, this can cause the truck
driver to unconsciously drive that little bit faster to make up for his perceived slowness. The opposite is true for low
seated sports car drivers who, counterintuitively, have often
been found to drive slower because of motion parallax. So, the next time you see that
souped up sports car driver in traffic, know that statistically, they're some of the slowest drivers around who knew a mid-life
crisis could be so safe? Design routes. While some people simply
see cars as a means to get from A to B, the more
experienced drivers out there will know that a lot of thought goes into the design of every
vehicle on the road. Thanks to advances in technology, car design has come along leaps and bounds since mass production
began in the early 1900s. But you might be surprised by some of the techniques designers
are still using to this day. For starters, during the design phase, scale models will be built
using some surprising materials, which look super peculiar
to the uninitiated. Clay models like this one are physical, three-dimensional prototypes of cars that are made of soft
malleable materials molded around a giant block of
hard cheesy-looking foam. This design route was first
used back in the 1930s by General Motors' leading
designer Harley Earl, who was the first to turn sketches into full-scale models using clay. Harley's models revolutionized
the car design industry, and for the last century,
clay models have been used by just about every car
manufacturer out there. They're not cheap either,
with some models costing tens of thousands to produce due to the high-quality materials
and extensive man-hours required to create these
unusual works of functional art. But considering the major advancements in 3D imaging and even virtual reality, why are manufacturers still messing around with giant mountains of
clay to design their cars? While there's no doubt designers
can achieve amazing things with the aid of digital
technology, a 3D model allows them to see, touch and evaluate
designs in real life. Creating a physical clay
model allows designers to get hands on with their
designs and manipulate the model in real time to ensure the design is both aesthetically
pleasing and functional. Unlike digitized designs,
clay models can also be useful for aerodynamic testing, where engineers evaluate a car's drag, or how easily it passes
through the air around it. After all, you won't
get a very accurate idea of how aerodynamic a car's
going to be by throwing a laptop in a wind tunnel but a full-scale model of the car can give a
pretty darn good impression! These physical models also do something that even advance computers
struggle to pull off perfectly: giving an impression of what
the vehicle will look like in natural light. You can take these models
outside into the real world, where they'll spend their time
once they get made for real, so designers get to see how the sun will bounce off the curves, and whether the car really looks how the designers had hoped. So, while it may seem that
our world is becoming steadily more virtual, even high-tech
loving car designers realize the value in reality. Whether that's worth the $10,000 price tag for these fancy models well,
I'll leave that up to you! Which of these car secrets
revved your motor the most? Do you know of any other
secrets hiding behind the wheel? If you do let me know
in the comments below. And as always, thanks for watching! (upbeat music)
