Improved Performance Is Just One Benefit of a Regular Tune Up

Posted: Jun 06, 2012
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

A car is fundamentally a machine and, as such, it needs maintenance to keep working. During a tune up, preventative maintenance is performed. Ensuring that your vehicle has a regular tune up will extend its life, improve efficiency, reduce exhaust emissions and improve fuel economy.

Improved Efficiency

A standard tune up typically includes cleaning and adjustment of the fuel injection system, replacement of spark plugs and adjustment of the ignition system. The objective of a tune up is to restore the vehicle’s main operating systems to factory specifications. When all these systems are working optimally, the vehicle performs at maximum functionality and efficiency.

Reduced Exhaust Emissions

A tune up lowers the amount of toxic emissions. If the engine’s components are not functioning properly, or have been maladjusted, fuel can’t burn properly. This leads to a build-up of particles, which are discharged from the car’s tailpipe. A tune up ensures that all components responsible for efficient fuel combustion are adjusted or replaced.

Improved Fuel Economy

After a tune up, a vehicle is far more fuel efficient. As mentioned above, an un-tuned vehicle cannot burn fuel properly. This is not only detrimental to the environment; it also affects fuel economy.

A standard tune up may also include the following:

• Adjustment of the vehicle’s idling speed
• Refastening the cylinder head bolts
• Replacement of air filter (replacement of a badly clogged filter on an older vehicle with a carbureted engine can improve fuel economy by as much as 14%, according to this study)
• Inspection of other components such as the distributor rotor, distributor cap and contact breakers
• Adjustment of the valve train