A vehicle tune-up is a thorough check-up done by your mechanic. The mechanic will inspect all the components of your vehicle thoroughly and diagnose and treat any issues he might find. A vehicle tune-up usually includes checking air filters, wires, cooling system, engine performance, spark plugs, and fuel filters. At the core, a tune-up is a preventive measure, by taking care of potential issues, you can save yourself from unpredicted repairments.
A tune-up is highly recommended once your vehicle has run certain miles. Over time, your vehicle is bound to experience wear and tear. This is normal but needs to be treated on time as if not treated, these small wear and tears can result in damage to other parts. This will dwell hefty repair costs on you. To avoid going through all that trouble and save yourself from repair costs and unpredicted damages, regular vehicle tune-ins are highly recommended. Tune-ups also extend the lifespan of your vehicle, maintaining it regularly.
Are Tune-Ups Necessary?
Just like we humans need to go to our dentists at regular intervals, in the same way, cars need to have tune-ups. It is not necessary that your teeth must be undergoing some damage or need a checkup urgently for you to pay your dentist a visit. But doing so at regular intervals can save you from unpredictable potential damage. As said, it’s always better to be safe than sorry later. Similarly, your car does not need to be undergoing some visible underperformance to be checked and maintained. But doing so can put your mind at ease, pull some undiscovered issues to the surface, and have your vehicle in better condition for the road.
By doing regular tune-ups for your vehicle, you are investing in the durability of your vehicle and extending its lifetime by years. A tune-up can help your vehicle in the:
- Pull undiscovered issues to surface
- Decrease the possibility of major repairs
- Extend engine lifetime
- Improve gas mileage
- Improve engine performance and lifetime
How Often Should You Get Tune-Ups?
All vehicles have different specifications and tune-up needs are often according to them. There is no set interval for when you should be taking your vehicle for a tune-up, but it is very important to do so in order to maintain the performance of your vehicle. If you own an older vehicle and tend to use your vehicle more, you should be taking your vehicle for tune-ups more regularly. This is because old vehicles are more prone to damage as the parts are running for longer durations. In case you drive a newer vehicle, your visit for tune-ups can be less frequent. A less used vehicle will have fresh parts that will not be too exposed to regular wear and tears as compared to older vehicles.
Signs Your Vehicle Needs a Tune-up?
Your vehicles are just like any other machine. Going through regular wear and tear should be considered a normal process. However, the important factor is realizing that these wear and tears are not something to be neglected and need to be taken care of on time. A vehicle, if allowed to run with internal damages can lead to unpredicted and unavoidable consequences, from severe collisions to hefty repairment costs.
So, what can you do to avoid all that? The simple answer is to keep your vehicle in check and get regular tune-ups done. Following are some ways through which you can decide when your vehicle needs a tune-up.
- Difficulty in Starting- If your vehicle is having trouble starting, it is a clear indication that it might be facing some internal issues. You can detect this when it takes you several tries to get your engine started or when the engine refuses to start on several tries. This is identifying some internal underperformance and can be caused due to some component damage. It is better to get your vehicle checked in such a case rather than wait for the damage to show while you are on the road.
- Transmission Power Issues- If you feel like your car is being put under strain and theirs a lack of power being transmitted, it can be an identification of some wire or other transmission component underperforming. Your car can also face difficulty with acceleration due to a lack of power. If you take any such notice, make sure to get your vehicle tuned on time.
- More Fuel Consumption- A unadjusted carburetor can cause more consumption of fuel. If you are frequently noticing that your vehicle needs constant refilling of the gas tank, this might suggest that your car’s carburetor needs to be adjusted. A thorough tune-up can detect and treat this issue rather than you having to pay for costly repairs from delaying a quick fix.
Some other signs suggesting your vehicle needs a tune-up are:
- Running rough
- Poor gas mileage
- Frequent misfiring
What Happens if You Don’t Do Tune-Up?
There is nothing particular that is bound to happen in case you don’t do a tune-up. But, doing so is recommended and for good reasons. For some people not going to their dentists regularly might not affect their daily lives, while for some, regular checkups can help diagnose an issue which is can be better treated the sooner it is caught. The same is the case with vehicles. Tune-ups can help in identifying some underlying issues that when caught at an earlier stage, can be treated and avoid any further long-lasting damage or major repairments. So yes, it is not a set rule to do regular tune-ups but if you want your vehicle to have a long lifetime and sustain its market value, the process is highly recommended for safe traveling and durability.
Conclusion
If you have been experiencing frequent car trouble, it is time you take your car for a tune-up. The mechanic will make sure that the underlying cause of the problems is detected and treated on time. This ensures that the issue is caught before it damages any major component. On-time tune-ups can save you from hefty repair costs and can ensure that your vehicle stays in top-notch conditions, just as the market requires.
