What are Tune-ups and When are They Needed?

The tune-up has been a very important component of regular car maintenance for a good reason. This procedure is vital to making sure that you have sufficient power to your engine. During the winter, you should make sure that your car is in its best running condition to avoid being stranded in inclement weather. It can be done in conjunction with other services such as oil changes, tire rotation, tire pressure checks, and fluid checks. If you are unsure about the process, you should make sure that you gain some basic knowledge and have a discussion with your mechanic so that you can make the best choices when it comes to your car. 

What is a Tune-up?

Once used to describe the process of making adjustments to improve performance, the term “tune-up” has been coined to describe the process of changing the spark plugs, spark plug wires, and air filter. This process is usually included when performing winter safety inspections and in general maintenance. Technology has increased capacity and durability of spark plugs so that a tune-up may only be required every 100,000 miles or two years. It should be done regularly so that performance and fuel economy do not suffer. Your mechanic can give you a complete explanation of the procedure and can show you what each part looks like and what significance it has to the total performance of your car. 

Why Are They Needed?

You will know when you need a tune-up when you notice a decrease in performance from the engine. You will experience a loss in power, especially during acceleration. An engine needing a tune-up will use more gas because the engine is working harder to keep the sparks firing. As a result, your gas mileage will decrease. This extra work done by the engine will mean that the engine needs more gas to keep the car running. The engine will also run roughly and knock when accelerating. This knocking will continue even after the engine has been shut off. If the spark plugs are damaged or worn enough, they can cause your car to stall and shut off when you idle at a stop light or train crossing. This occurs because the engine is using more gas, but the spark plugs are not able to keep the firing process going in order to produce the tiny explosions that are needed to power the car.

When Are They Needed?

Before the extensive use of computers in cars, it was recommended that a tune-up should be performed regularly in specific time intervals. However, the computer system in newer cars monitors the condition of the spark plugs, filters, and sensors. If the computer detects a problem, the alert system will notify you. You can now go for a very long time between tune-ups due to the advanced spark plugs and computer systems. The length of time between tune-ups would also depend upon the make and model of the car, your driving habits, and weather conditions. Your ASE master technicians can check your spark plugs, wires, and filters during your winter safety inspection. This inspection can include general car maintenance tasks such as oil changes, brake inspections, and windshield wiper replacement; and it can include bumper-to-bumper inspections that will cover every system on your car for maximum security while driving during the winter months. 

Improving Fuel Efficiency from Your Car

If you live in a state that experience cold, snowy winters, you may have noticed that the gas
stations switch to a specially blended fuel mixture every winter for driving in the cold
weather. The sluggish economy has caused many people to reevaluate their driving patterns
and to search for ways to improve fuel efficiency. After you have slashed the excessive
usage of fuel in your home, you now turn to your car and wonder what you can do in the
winter that will help you save some money this season. If you alter your driving habits,
maintain your car, and make other minor changes to your routine, you will see instant
savings in your fuel costs.

Driving Habits Needs to Change

If you alter your driving habits, you may find that you use a lot less gas. Cut out all of the
extraneous trips to places that you can easily get to on foot. If you must drive your car
everywhere, drive at slower speeds. The snowy and icy road conditions will slow you down
automatically, but slower speeds on dry pavement will ensure that you use less gas. Use the
freeway as much as possible to boost your gas mileage. You will burn less gas because you
will not have to stop and start repeatedly. The freeway offers you passages to your
destinations that are free from stop signs, stoplights, and railroad crossings. Late model cars
are able to operate without warming up. You should make an effort to limit the amount of
time you spend idling.

General Car Maintenance Needs to Happen

You can save a lot of money on not only fuel costs but also car repair costs just by
maintaining your car. Make sure that you adhere to a regular general car maintenance
schedule that is recommended by the car manufacturer. Regular maintenance should include
a tire inspection, oil change, and fluid checks. A tire inspection will make sure that your
tires are inflated at the proper air pressure level. If you do not know what pressure you
should be using, you can find it on a sticker that is posted on the doorjam of the driver’s
side door or in the owner’s manual. When you perform your oil changes, you should make
sure that you are using the correct grade of engine oil. Your owner’s manual should list the
grade and weight of oil you should be using. Remember to change the oil and air filters
when you change your oil. Dirty filters will keep air from freely flowing through the engine
and cause you to burn more fuel. A tune-up will improve your car’s fuel economy and
should be regularly performed.

Other Things That Needs to Happen

Keep the cargo load as light as possible because a heavier car consumes more fuel. You
should keep items, especially bulkier items, off your roof rack if possible. The wind
resistance will cause you to use more fuel to propel the car forward through the air. If you
have more than one place to go, combine your trips and plan them so that you can complete
all of your stops in a complete circuit rather than crisscrossing the city several times.

Rotating Your Tires for Winter Safety

While many people ready their cars for winter, they may pay close attention to what is going
on under the hood, but may fail to address issues that can arise from underneath the car. The
tires of a car are the only points of contact your car has with the pavement. If they are not in
good condition, you may find yourself stranded on the side of the road waiting for AAA to
come to your rescue. If you want to avoid that scenario, you should make sure to maintain
your tires by having them rotated, balanced, and checked for correct tire pressure.

Why Should Tire Rotation Be Done?

The ultimate goal of tire rotation is to maintain balanced handling and traction by evening
out the wear on the tires. This can be done during oil changes even when you do not see any
noticeable tire wear. Most manufacturers recommend that you rotate your tires every 3,000
to 5,000 miles. Since each tire presents a different wear pattern depending on how the tire is
contacting and interacting with the driving surface, you should rotate all four tires at the
same time. Doing this will help you to have better control of your car and the tires will
respond quicker to your input. It will help with handling and traction.

How is it Done?

There are three types of tire rotation that can be done: rearward cross, forward cross, and the
X-pattern. The rearward cross method switches the rear tires to the front axles and the front
tires are crossed and then installed on the rear axles. In other words, the rear tires are
brought up to the front axles, the left front tire is installed on the right rear axle, and the
right front tire is installed on the left rear axle. The process is reversed for the forward cross
method, with the rear tires being crossed before being installed on the front axles. The X-
pattern crosses both the front tires and rear tires before being installed on their opposite
axles.

Tips for Buying Winter Tires

When replacing your tires, you should be sure to know the size that you need for your car.
You can locate this information by looking on the doorjamb of the driver side door. You may
find a manufacturer sticker that denotes the size and recommended inflation level of the
tires. You can also consult your driver’s manual or ask your mechanic to find the right size
for you. Winter tires will provide additional traction when driving over snow and ice. These
tires have a pronounced tread and are constructed from heavy-duty rubber. Although the
rubber is soft, it provides additional contact with the road, increasing traction. They perform
well on wet surfaces, but they will affect the performance of your car during the summer.
The soft rubber causes the car to feel like you are not connected with the pavement and will
affect your braking and handling during the warm months. Most people purchase winter
tires for installation for winter driving and then remove them after the winter season. If you
live in an area that does not experience much snow and ice, you can also use all-weather
tires. These tires offer the deep tread of the winter tire but the firmness of regular tires.