What is an Engine Tune-Up & Why Preventive Maintenance Matters
What is an Engine Tune-Up & Why Preventive Maintenance Matters Whether you drive a fuel-powered car, minivan, SUV, pick-up truck, or any other type of vehicle, it is an incredibly complex machine that needs regular maintenance to ensure top performance and dependability for many miles of trouble-free driving.
With more than 50 years of expert knowledge and experience to draw upon, Car-X is your one-stop solution for all your vehicle’s tune-up and preventive maintenance needs!
What is An Engine Tune-Up?
Vehicle tune-ups have changed greatly during the last few decades. In the past, older vehicles featured many mechanical parts, including carburetors, distributors, ignition points, and other components that needed adjustment and often replacement.
Modern vehicles utilize mainly electronic equipment, including computer-controlled fuel injection and ignition systems. Today’s cars normally have 20-30 ECUs (Engine Control Units) on board, which are responsible for managing and monitoring their highly complex engine, electrical, and drivetrain systems.
Tune-ups now primarily focus on preventive maintenance tasks, and parts are only replaced as needed.
What is Included in a Tune-Up?
Tune-ups for today’s vehicles normally include the following services:
Spark Plug Inspection & Replacement
Spark plugs are at the heart of a vehicle’s ability to perform as designed. Worn or fouled plugs will dramatically reduce performance and fuel economy.
Air Filter & Fuel Filter Replacement
Poorly functioning air filters restrict airflow, affecting performance and fuel economy. A clogged or dirty fuel filter can starve or completely restrict an engine of the fuel it needs to operate properly.
Electronic Ignition Timing Adjustments
An engine that is not timed properly will underperform and waste fuel.
Battery Inspection & Testing
Whether it be in the middle of winter, or the hot days of summer, a weak or unreliable battery will stop a vehicle from going anywhere. A quick battery test will evaluate how well it will perform under all conditions.
Diagnostic Engine Code Scanning
Today’s vehicles are equipped with computers that display diagnostic codes to help technicians identify potential problems or issues.
Fluid Top-Offs
Engine fluids like motor oil, and coolant (antifreeze) are critical to ensure optimal performance and prevent catastrophic failure or damage.
Engine Tune-Up Benefits
Nothing could be better for your vehicle’s long-term performance, fuel efficiency, and durability than regular preventive maintenance services. Think of a tune-up as a “refresh button” for your engine.
Here are just some of the benefits you’ll enjoy from a tune-up performed by a qualified repair shop.
- Better Fuel Economy & MPG.
- Smoother Engine Performance.
- Reduced Emissions & Cleaner Engine Operation.
- Prevention of Breakdowns & Expensive Repairs.
- Longer Engine Life
Signs Your Car Might Need a Tune-Up
If you experience any of the following conditions while driving your car, it might indicate that a tune-up is needed.
Engine Misfire or Sluggish Acceleration
A sudden drop in performance or engine responsiveness could be a sign that it’s time to replace spark plugs or other drivability-related components.
Rough Idle or Stalling
A clogged fuel filter or a number of other problems might be present if your car is not idling smoothly or stalls when trying to accelerate.
Declining Fuel Economy
When an engine is not performing as it was designed to do, one of the first clues you’ll notice is declining fuel economy.
Check Engine Light
If your Check Engine Light comes on, that is the car’s computer system indicating an abnormal reading in some area of engine performance has been detected. When this occurs, it is important to get the vehicle checked out as soon as possible.
Hard Starting
When a car gets increasingly difficult to start, it’s usually a sign that something needs to be addressed in the fuel or ignition system.
How Often Should You Get a Tune Up?
While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to how often a car should be tuned up, check the owner’s manual for specific information about your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule.
In addition, one’s driving habits will also affect tune-up intervals. A vehicle that operates in stop-and-go city traffic every day will experience more wear and tear than a car driven mostly on open highways.
The number of miles a vehicle has will also affect how often a tune-up is needed. Cars with lower miles can usually go longer between maintenance intervals than vehicles with 75,000 miles or more on the odometer.
See the Preventive Maintenance/Tune Up Pros at Car-X Today!
Vehicles today are very complex machines, and it’s not always easy to determine the best time to perform preventive maintenance services like a tune-up on them.
The knowledgeable pros at Car-X are experts at ensuring your vehicle will run at top performance all year long. We specialize in multi-point inspections and full vehicle services. Our team always tops off fluids, and checks tire pressure to make sure you get down the road safely.
See the experts at your local Car-X for a complete safety evaluation or tune-up today!
