What is Involved in a Vehicle Tune up
When performing a tune-up on an automobile it is best to do the most thorough job possible due to the fact that most procedures that are done during astandard tune-upare performed as a type of preventative maintenance. Preventative maintenance is a phrase used to describe procedures that are performed on a vehicle in order to prevent future problems which can lead to damage being done to the vehicle. Depending upon how extensive the tune-up to designed to be, in most cases they are performed in order to maintain the performance of the car, prevent future problems, and to ensure that the vehicle is safe and fit to be on the road.
There are severalkey componentsthat are checked when performing a tune-up on a car and that includes components that affect the cars performance, efficiency, and safety. One of the essential components involved in performing a tune-up is changing the oil as well as the oil filter. This involves finding the drain plug located underneath the car on the bottom of the oil pain, then removing it and draining the old oil. When draining the oil it is a good idea to loosen the oil cap located on the top of the engine, do not remove it completely though as to avoid any trash or debris falling into the engine.
Once the oil from the pan has slowed to a drip, then remove the oil filter and dump the oil inside of it into the oil catch pan. Place the oil pan drain plug back into the pan, after rubbing a bead of oil around the rubber on the new filter place it on the car, and then refill it with oil using the owner’s manual to determine how much oil it holds.
Thespark plugsshould also be replaced during a tune-up and in some cases the wires may also need to be replaced. This is especially true if the spark plugs themselves have been changed, as well as the rotor button and distributor cap and the vehicle still exhibits a skip during normal operation. Under most circumstances the wires are only changed when one of them is exhibiting a problem but during a thorough tune-up, the spark plugs, wires, the distributor cap, and the rotor button are all changed.
The air filter should always be replaced during a tune-up no matter whether it appears dirty or not, unless of course, it is a reusable air filter which in that case should be cleaned and re-oiled if time permits. The PCV valve is also another component that should be replaced without question. Additionally, any vacuum hoses, and especially fuel hoses, that appear worn or near the point of failure should be replaced. Depending upon its service record the fuel filter may also require changing, if the vehicle is suing an excessive amount of gas or is performing poorly this may very well be the culprit.
The coolant system on a vehicle should always be serviced on a regular basis, no matter what time of the year it is. While some vehicle owners may only think about their coolant system during the winter months when there is a danger of the block freezing and cracking, the summer months present their own danger in the form of overheating. A thorough servicing of the coolant system on a car involves draining the fluid, performing a flush of the system with the thermostat removed so that the engine block as well as the radiator can be flushed. Along with installing a new thermostat the radiator cap should also be checked and if it appears worn or near the verge of failure it should be replaced along with any hoses that display similar warning signs.
Along with the items listed above a thorough check of all bulbs and fuses should be carried out, along with a check of all fluid levels. During a full tune-up the brakes may be changed as well, or at the very least checked for wear and the owner made aware of when they will likely require servicing. Shocks and struts, or whichever the vehicle is equipped with, should be checked and their rate of travel noted, as should the depth of the tire tread be measured. If the vehicle is a rear wheel-drive then the differential fluid should be checked, and on front wheel-drive models the CV boots should be checked for wear, along with all grease fittings refilled to avoid mechanical friction and wear.
