Regular Tune up
After a vehicle has been in use for a while, some parts become loose, damaged or misplaced, so it needs a tune up – adjusting, tightening up and replacing of the worn parts. It is recommended to give a major check-up and tuning every two years or 30,000 miles which will help to keep high performance and the best fuel efficiency.
Some newer cars’ manuals claim that tune up is not needed up to 100,000 miles because of their advanced technology. Surely, fully digital ignition and fuel systems have replaced carburetors, mechanical ignition points and distributors with rotating springs and weights, but regular maintenance would still be a good way to take care of a vehicle’s “health”.
No matter how modern and high-tech the car is, there are always parts under the hood that wear out. What are some of the things that require tuning?
1. Spark plugs. Carbon deposits ruin spark plugs, so they have to be changed from time to time. Platinum ones last longer than others. Spark plug wires corrode as well causing weak spark delivery, so they might need to be replaced as well.
2. Distributor cap. Not all modern cars are equipped with distributors, but if there is one, its cap should be checked and replaced if it is damaged.
3. Fuel filter. Unless one has a full-electric vehicle, the fuel filter is one of the parts that have to be replaced occasionally.
4. Air filter. With time it gets clogged and causes the engine to stop working correctly. Special attention should be paid in spring when there is a lot of pollen that fills up the filter. As a rule, air filter should be changed every 15,000 miles.
5. Valves. Unless the vehicle is equipped with hydraulic valves, they have to be adjusted from time to time. Valve-cover gasket should be replaced if there is oil on the exterior of the engine.
6. Points and condenser. Cars that are thirty years old and older do not have electronic ignition (except for the case when the owner has replaced it). Points need to be changed or adjusted every six months. The condenser should receive a regular tune up as well.
7. Ignition timing. This is another feature for old vehicles. Rarely cars with electric ignitions need the timing to be checked. Besides the main tune up, this process needs to take place every time the points are changed or adjusted.
8. Seat belts. They do not get damaged and worn out as often, but it is still good to watch them and replace them if they do not operate correctly any more.
9. Fluids. There are several kinds of fluids that have to be checked and changed regularly. First of all oil change should be done every 3,000-5,000 miles. Transmission fluid is another important one to be watched, though it does not need to be changed as often as oil. Newer cars allow up to 100,000 miles with the same transmission fluid, but if the vehicle is old, the manual will help the owner to figure out how often the change should be made. Brake fluid does not run out if the brake system is healthy. When the level is low, it means that there is a leak in the brake line. A lack of coolant causes overheating of the engine, so it needs attention as well. It is important to remember that every vehicle should get antifreeze as a coolant, not just water!
10. Battery. In order to provide an appropriate care, one should clean the terminals and cable ends. As a rule, batteries require distilled water.
Although there are a lot of articles and books on how to tune up a vehicle, if it is the first time for a car owner, it would be better to have an experienced person’s help with maintaining and figuring out the right things to do.
A car owner should remember that tune-ups are good, but they cannot help if the engine is worn out or damaged. In this case only a complete engine replacement can save the vehicle.
Michael Jones
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