We’ve all heard of the term tune-up before, but what exactly does that entail? It’s maintenance to keep your car running smoothly for (hopefully) years, or at least as long as you own it. Nowadays, a tune-up usually consists of replacing or restoring parts like the fuel filter, oxygen sensor, air filter, spark plug wires, and PCV. These are “wear and tear” components to your vehicle. Let’s take a deeper look into what you can expect with tune-ups.
How Often Do You Need a Tune-Up?
Ignitions that aren’t electronic are seen in many older cars. These senior vehicles should be seen by a professional every ten thousand to twelve thousand miles, or annually (whatever comes first). If you’re still unsure, refer to your car’s owner’s manual for when they recommend a tune-up. Current cars typically have fuel injection systems and electronic ignitions. The need for a tune-up for these newer vehicles can be done anywhere from twenty-five thousand miles to one hundred thousand miles.
It’s always best to trust a professional mechanic or auto technician when needing any maintenance or repairs done on your car. Due to people and their hectic schedules, many Automotive Service Companies are utilizing Night Key Drop-Off Boxes so clients can drop off their vehicles for service. Traditionally, these drop-off boxes have been used when the Auto Repair Shop or Dealership Service Department is closed. However, many are now letting customers leave their vehicles at their businesses during business hours and off hours. If you operate an Automotive Service Company, consider purchasing a Night Drop Box from MBR Marketing at: https://mbrmarketing.com/service-department/night-drop-boxes-and-envelopes.
What Can You Expect With a Tune-Up?
With the advent of technology, tune-ups have changed over the years. With older vehicles, spark plugs, and wires were replaced as well as the ignition timing was looked at and adjusted. Also, the mechanic would look at the points, rotor, distributor cap, plus more. However, if you own a newer car, they typically have electronic ignitions. This has dropped the need for a lot of heavy-duty maintenance. It has made it easier to perform a tune-up because of this fact.
What do you need to have replaced or looked at during a regular tune-up with a newer car?
- Coil Pack Boots.
- Ignition wires.
- PCV (Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve).
- Spark plugs.
Additional Services That Might Happen With Your Tune-Up
The job of the engine air filter is to eliminate dirt and gunk before it can get into the engine. When it becomes blocked up it will stop airflow in your car. This decreases fuel efficiency and the way the engine performs as well. To ensure the new spark plugs are receiving the right amount of airflow (for ignition), replace the air filter during a tune-up. Even if you don’t think you need to change it, get a new one anyway.
The fuel filter gets rid of rust, muck, and debris from the car’s fuel as it travels to the engine via the fuel system. As time goes by it can get clogged which affects the flow. Many problems can arise when this happens. This includes a lack of fuel in the engine or pressure on the fuel pump. Think about replacing this during a tune-up as well.
Having a fuel injection service done is a controversial point of conversation for many people. What it does is feed a chemical into your fuel. This will clean all the fuel injectors. Some people love this service to be done during a tune-up, whereas others find it a waste of money. To be honest, fuel injection services are unnecessary, especially if it’s just as a maintenance precaution. Although, if your car is stalling or idling roughly, it might be blocked injectors. Performing a fuel injection service might clear out the problem.
During a tune-up, the mechanic or technician will look at other parts of your car to make sure there is nothing else to repair or replace. If they discover other problems, they will give you their opinion on the next steps. Other parts that could be affected include:
- Hoses (for the cooling system).
- Fluids (transmission, coolant, power steering, engine oil, brake fluid, oil filter, and differential fluid.
- Serpentine belts.
- Timing belt.
Average Cost of a Tune-Up
A standard tune-up usually has a price tag of forty dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars. All of this will depend on things like the money it costs for parts as well as the labor involved, and where you are located.
A full and detailed tune-up can cost around two hundred to eight hundred dollars. Again, this will vary due to the cost of labor and parts as well as where you reside.
When Does Your Vehicle Need a Tune-Up?
As stated previously in this article, look at your owner’s manual for the maintenance schedule. However, if you are experiencing any issues, have your car looked at by a mechanic immediately. The sooner you see a professional, the better since you might sidestep an expensive repair. Seek help immediately if you notice these signs:
- Check Engine Light/Malfunction Indicator Light comes on.
- Decreased engine performance.
- Knocking sounds coming from your car.
- Reduced fuel economy.
- Stalling occurs a lot.
In Conclusion
Regular maintenance including having a tune-up on your vehicle is a smart move if you want to keep things running great. Yes, it costs you money, but doing preventative repairs might aid you in escaping expensive costs in the future. Tune-ups also help with your car’s fuel economy. Fuel consumption is a major concern for people thinking about buying a car. Everybody wants to drive for a longer period on their tank of gas. Your car is an investment. One that you would like to protect and maintain. It’s simple. Getting a tune-up done will increase the life cycle of your vehicle.
