What Is A Tune Up And How Often Should You Get One
A regular maintenance function, usually associated with thereplacement and adjustment of parts and components in theelectrical and fuel systems of a car for the purpose of attainingoptimum performance.
How to Tune Up a Car
Your car should receive a tune-up every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.Here’s what needs to be done.
Steps:
1. Replace the fuel filter. If you have a fuel-injection system,regular cleaning isn’t necessary unless the injectors areclogged.
2. Change the spark plugs . Also examine the spark plugwires and replace as needed. A new set of high-quality wires isworth the cost. They may be permanently attached to the distributorcap, so it will have to be changed as well.
3. Replace the distributor cap and rotor if your car has them.
4. Change the points and condenser if you have an older car that doesn’t feature electronic ignition. You’llactually want your points changed, or at least adjusted, every sixmonths or so .
5. Check the ignition timing and adjust as needed .
6. Adjust the valves as needed . Be sure to replace the valve-cover gasket as well,especially if you see oil on top of your engine.
7. Check the belts. Replace if worn.
8. Check the fluids under the hood and replenish as necessary.Change the oil and oil filter if it’s been 3,000 miles since thelast oil change.
9. Replace the air filter, which should be changed between majorservices – every 15,000 miles – as well.
10. Adjust the clutch, if you have a manual transmission.
Tips:
How Often Should You Tune Up A Car Engine And Parts
Most people wonder just how often should you tune up a car engine and parts. Much like our body needs check-ups, so do our vehicles. Think how much wear and tear they receive on a daily basis. After months experiencing inclement weather, stop and go traffic, and pulling heavy loads its time for a tune-up.
Kernersville Auto Center is a shop with experts that can tune up your car. They will answer any question you have with knowledgeable and reasonable advice.
What Type Of Spark Plug Are You Using
Spark plugs are made of different types of materials.
Copper, iridium, and platinum are common metals used in manufacturing them, and all have different lifespans.
Copper is good for electrical current, but doesnt last as long as both iridium and platinum. Iridium and platinum are more durable materials, but the electrical current doesnt flow as freely through either metal.
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How Often Should You Go For A Tune Up
Your car is a big part of your life. It gets you to work, school and friends and familys houses. Its important to keep your car running correctly so you can go about your day uninterrupted. To make sure your car is running properly, you should be taking it in for regular tune-ups. But how often do you need a tune up? Lets take a closer look.
Mileage
An easy way to keep track of how often your car needs a tune up is to go by the total mileage. If your car is over 15 years old, you should be getting a tune up every 10,000 miles. If your vehicle is newer and has electronic ignition, you only need to take it in every 25,000 miles or more, depending on the make and model of your car. Check your vehicles manual for more detailed information.
Trouble Stalling
If your car has been stalling often, this is a telltale sign that its time for a tune up. The same rule applies if youve had trouble starting your car. There are several different factors that could be contributing to these problems, so its best to take your car into a trained mechanic right away before the problem becomes more severe or puts you in any sort of danger.
Working Harder Than Usual
If your car seems to be working harder than usual or making loud noises when idling, take it into a mechanic right away. Although some noises may be caused by minor issues, noises can be an indication of serious problems as well, so its best to address it sooner rather than later.
How Often Does My Car Need A Tune Up
Even when a car is running perfect, an engine tune up will keep it running by preventing problems and symptoms from occurring. An older vehicle with non-electronic ignitions should have an engine tune up every 10,000 miles to 20,000 miles.
A new car can go 30,000 miles before an engine tune up is needed, some cars can go 100,000 miles. It is best to refer to the owners manual and follow the manufacturers recommendations of engine tune-up schedule.
Some people dread this process because they dont want to spend the time at the auto dealership. If you have a certified license mechanic that you trust and have relied on before, you do not have to take your car to the dealership for an Engine tune up and repair.
An independent auto garage can perform the service just as well, and some independent garages are owned by or employ former dealership mechanics. Some dealerships do offer a reasonably priced engine tune up package, which will usually include a car detailing with washing and vacuuming. An independent garage may not offer those perks.
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You Cant Start Your Engine
Just like the lack of spark in the spark plugs can cause an engine to stall, it can also prevent it from starting again.
This is especially common when there is oil leaking onto the tip of the plugs.
Oil doesnt have a chance to burn off in the combustion chamber when the engine is on. Droplets of oil can prevent any spark from occurring at all.
When Should I Get A Tune
Different vehicles have different tune-up needs. Depending on the age and number of miles on your vehicle, you may need tune-ups as often as once per year or more. You should check your vehicle owners manual for more information on your specific tune-up intervals.
- If you have an older vehicle that does not have an electronic ignition, you will need a tune-up every 10,000 to 12,000 miles or once per year. Whichever metric you hit first is when you should bring your car in.
- If you have a newer vehicle with an electronic ignition, you will need to seek a tune-up once every 25,000 to 100,000 miles.
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The Car Maintenance Schedule You Should Follow
Many manufacturers use a 30-60-90 schedule, meaning certain items need to be inspected, changed or replaced at 30,000, 60,000, and 90,000 miles. But if youre like most drivers, you may wonder if every suggested maintenance checkpoint in your car manual is essential for the health and well-being of your car. Some items, like rubber gaskets and hoses, windshield wiper blades, and tires, will wear out at irregular intervals. These consumables will need to be checked periodically, either by your mechanic or via your own visual inspection. For everything else, this car maintenance guide explains what you should do and why you should do it.
What Is A Tune
The term tune-up has drastically changed since the phrase was coined during the dawn of automobiles. For over 50 years, a tune-up meant that the vehicles ignition system breaker points and condenser, were replaced and/or adjusted, a new distributor cap, rotor, and spark plugs were installed, ignition timing was set, and the vehicles carburetor was adjusted and tuned for optimal performance. The process was as intricate as tuning a musical instrument ignition and fueling had to work in perfect tune with each other for optimal performance, thus the term.
With vehicles of old, this was a regular occurrence. As electronic ignition replaced points-style systems, the need was still there for plugs, cap, rotor, and carb adjustments, but ultimately, even that became extinct once DIS ignition systems and computer-based fuel injection became the norm. Today, the vehicles engine computer and engine components constantly keep these systems running right where they should.
Today, at its simplest, a tune-up is a bit of a misnomer simply a carry-over word of old to describe any time a host of basic routine maintenance is performed on your vehicle. Regular tune-ups can extend the life of a vehicle and help ensure it is operating at its full performance potential. Typically, when to do a tune-up is included in the regular maintenance section of owners manuals.
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Maximizing The Life Of Your Vehicle
How Often Do I Need A Tune
In todays cars that are computer controlled, the definition of a tune up has really changed. On most cars the only parts that can really be replaced on most cars, are the Spark Plugs, Spark Plug Wires, Fuel Filters, Air Filters and Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valves . There are not any components that require adjusting, setting or dialing in.
In the old days we had carburetors, points, condensers, distributors with distributor caps & rotors. These all needed replaced and readjusted periodically. In our cars today, the computer of the vehicle controls the valve timing, ignition timing and fuel delivery. Malfunctions on a vehicle can be camouflaged by the computer, whose function is to keep the engine running as efficiently as possible for as long as possible. It will signal a Service Engine Soon, or Check Engine Light when it detects a problem. But it will try to compensate for that problem at the same time, so the vehicle will still run fairly decent.
On todays cars it is best to perform tune-ups based on mileage. The vehicles manufacturer has mileage based intervals for replacement of these parts and other maintenance services. These are designed to be performed preventatively so that the parts do not fail prior to replacement. Some common mileage intervals and maintenance recommended is as follows:
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You Start Stalling Out
If youre learning to drive a car with a manual transmission, stalls are going to happen. If youre an experienced driver or have an automatic car and are still experiencing stalls, this is a sign that you could have a bigger problem.
Stalling is when your engine dies, and can be a scary experience. Some reasons your car could stall include:
- A dead battery
Tip: If you run into a problem that means you need to pull over, make sure your car emergency kit is fully stocked with all the essentials.
What Are Spark Plugs
These are small devices inserted into the combustion chamber of an engine which create a spark that makes an engine start and run.
They have two electrodes with a gap between them, over which electricity travels and creates a spark.
The spark ignites the air-fuel mixture entering the engine through the air intake and fuel injectors, pushing the engines pistons down and creating the engines power.
If this spark doesnt occur or is prevented from firing at its optimal capacity, the engine will struggle to start, run correctly, or even stall.
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Car Tune Up Checklist
Performing a car tune up can extend the life of your vehicle. It can also make regular services a lot cheaper. Heres our car tune up checklist, which will help you keep track of the most common parts that are replaced when tuning up a vehicle.
- Ignition this is commonly the first system to be checked, as it includes your spark plugs, plug wires, coils, and other electrical components.
- Filters to make sure contaminating particles are kept out of the vehicles vital components, the oil, fuel, air, and cabin air filters should be checked and replaced.
- Belts & Hoses these transfer the rotating force, respectively fluid to all your car systems and throughout the engine, therefore inspecting and replacing them is vital.
- Fluids to ensure that each type of fluid is at its recommended level, engine oil, coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and power steering fluid should all be checked and replaced or topped.
The bottom line is that if something unusual starts to happen with your vehicle, you need to take it to an auto care professional to get a proper diagnosis. Youll want to make an appointment for an auto tune-up and get things taken care of before they get out of hand.
Q: How often should I get a tune up?
Q: What are the benefits of a tune up?
Q: How can I make my car run better?
Q: Are tune-ups necessary?
Q: How much does it cost?
Maintenance Before 90000 Miles
HosesThe hoses on your car carry coolant, power steering fluid, and gases for the air conditioning system. As the rubber ages, cracks can form, and a busted hose will cause trouble in a hurry, so have them checked and changed as needed, particularly as your car approaches six-figure mileage.
Power Steering FluidLow power steering fluid will cause heavy steering or excessive noise while turning the wheel. Plan to flush and replace your power steering fluid around 75,000 miles, or when problems arise.
Spark Plugs/Ignition SystemWhen components of your ignition system fail, you may get a check engine light on the dash, hard starting, or rough running. Your mechanic will be able to plug a laptop into your car to look for a code that will tell them what needs to be replaced.
The timing depends largely on the type of spark plugs you have in your car. Most new cars use iridium or titanium spark plugs, which can sometimes last up to 100,000 miles, let alone 90,000. But be careful when it comes to this particular element of car care: Cheaper spark plugs, made of copper, are still in use and typically need to be replaced by 30,000 miles.
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What Is Involved In A Car Tune
Just as regular check-ups with your doctor can help you stay healthy for years to come, scheduling periodic tune-ups for your car will help engine performance. A tune-up is a maintenance procedure in which your mechanic will check and adjust all of the systems in your vehicle that affect its combustion process. If you want to keep your car in top-notch condition, running smoothly and avoiding breakdowns, you should schedule regular tune-ups with your mechanic. Considering their great importance, however, you might be wondering what is involved in a car tune-up. What happens when you drop your car off with your mechanic? Why does your vehicle need tune-ups at all? When should you schedule a tune-up? Lets find out . . .
Tire Balancing And Rotation
Tire balancing ensures a smooth, vibration-free ride after they have been mounted on your wheels, with the added bonus of extending their life. After they have been in one position on your vehicle for a specific interval, it is a good idea, following instructions from your owners manual, to move them to a different position. By doing so, your tires should wear evenly regardless of their position on your vehicle.
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The Dashboard Lights Come On
How many times have you seen one of the icons light up on your dashboard, and thought it probably isnt serious?
Youre right at that moment it isnt serious. But its going to become serious quickly if you dont get a car tune up. The warning lights are there to indicate that there is something wrong with your engine.
If you see any light flash on your dashboard that you dont normally see, check your cars owner manual to identify what the light means. Then call us to book an appointment for a tune up.
What Are Some Warning Signs That Your Spark Plugs Are Overdue To Be Changed
If you suspect or know that youve likely waited too long to replace your spark plugs, or you just dont know the last time they were changed, there are some warning signs that may alert you that you have a bad spark plug and an immediate change is needed.
If you dont/havent experienced any of these symptoms with your car as of late, then you probably have good spark plugs.
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Every 20000 To 30000 Miles
30,000 miles has been accepted for years as the most common replacement interval.
Even today, low quality spark plugs or those made with a less durable material should be replaced every 20,000 to 30,000 miles.
This shorter lifespan is becoming more uncommon as materials and technology have improved over the years, allowing better quality spark plugs with a greater resistance to wear to be manufactured.
