There are several maintenance tasks you need to do for your vehicle in order to keep it in good shape. One of the best ways to ensure that your car is performing at peak efficiency is to get a tune-up, typically once a year. A commonly asked question is, what exactly is a car tune-up?
What it is
A car tune-up isn’t something that happens every time you bring your vehicle to the shop—it’s actually a combination of services relating to your car’s engine. You need your engine to be in the best shape possible so you can continue to drive your vehicle as long as possible. Without proper engine maintenance, you could be looking at a costly replacement.
How it helps
Your car’s engine is complex, and it has numerous components that have to work together to make sure it runs well. Parts wear down over time, so a tune-up means you’ll be getting these replaced, which keeps your engine working properly.
What’s included in a tune-up
These will depend on your car’s mileage and the shape that the engine is in, but a car tune-up typically involves replacing the:
- Engine air filter
- Spark plugs and wires
- PVC Valve
- Fuel filter
- Worn-out parts and sensors
In addition, a mechanic will clean the fuel system, check the ignition timing, check the battery, and perform any additional diagnostic testing.
When to get a tune-up
As a general rule of thumb, it’s a good idea to get your car tuned up once a year just to make sure your engine is in good shape. However, if you’ve been getting poor gas mileage, hearing strange noises, have problems starting, or have a check engine light on, schedule a tune-up to get your car checked out.
Tune-ups extend the life of your vehicle and its engine, so it’s an important maintenance task to keep up with. Because you only need this service done once a year, it’s inexpensive and doesn’t take up much of your time.
Let the expert technicians at Auto Works take care of your next vehicle tune-up. We’ve been Woodbury’s number one choice for auto repairs since 1993.
