Are you having trouble starting your car? Is the engine not as smooth or even misfiring? Are you experiencing power loss? And does your vehicle have a drinking problem (guzzles too much gas)?
If these are what characterize your drive lately, then maybe it’s tune for your gasoline-powered vehicle to get a much-needed tune-up. Those old enough may recall that in the olden days, a tune-up essentially meant adjusting the carburetor (yes, that component), air/fuel mixture, and idle speed. It likewise involved checking and replacement of spark plugs, the distributor cap, contact breaker points, and air filter.
Of course, most new cars don’t have these components now as these have been replaced by electronic fuel injection and an electronic control unit making all the adjustments. Yet even as engines may change, ensuring that it runs properly is still very essential. So what is involved in tuning up a modern engine?
For a basic tune-up, mechanics usually preform some simple checks, adjustments, or repacements such as:
- Replacement of spark plugs, with corresponding adjustments to spark plug gaps\
- Replacement of air filters and fuel filters (if needed)
If your vehicle has accumulated its fair share of miles, however, it might be a good idea to have things like the throttle body checked and cleaned. This ensures that it is free of dirt and carbon desposits that can hamper performance. Another component that may need cleaning are the fuel injectors. This would involve using injection cleaning solution to remove all thee sludge and carbon that have been deposited in there.
If your car seems to be eligible for Alcoholics Anonymous for burning too much gas, then it might be time to replace that oxygen sensor. This is the part that is responsible for how much fuel is used during combustion. Other stuff that are worth checking are the timing belt (if so equipped), as well as the drive belt. The last thing you need is one of these vital parts breaking down, causing even greater damage to your car’s engine.
While all these are merely preventive maintenance procedures, it wouldn’t hurt to have them done on a regular basis. After all, an ounce of prevention is way better than a pound or cure. Or in this case, being stuck at the side of the road because of mechanical trouble.
