Name That Tune-Up

I am often asked by customers just what is a tune-up. In the old days (pre-1980) many cars on the road still used a standard ignition system and carburetors. The use of electronic ignition systems came into use in the early 70's. Today's cars are fuel injected (no carbs) and most utilize a distributorless ignition system (DIS). So as cars have changed so have tune-ups.

Back in those old days of standard ignitions a tune up consisted of changeing the spark plugs, the points and condenser in the distributor, probably changing the distributor cap & rotor and adjusting the timing and carburetor. This service usually needed to be performed every 30,000 miles or so because engines did not run very efficiently and these parts would wear out quickly.

Todays cars, however, with their use of computer controlled ignition and fuel injection systems, can go much further before needing a tune-up. And the tune-ups of today have changed drastically as well. Auto manufacturers today tout their cars as being able to go over 100,000 miles between tune-ups. This is because the computer will meter fuel flow and ignition spark to minimize wear on spark plugs. The computer can also compensate for worn plugs by advancing or retarding the timing in order to keep the engine running smoothly. But is it a good idea to go those 100,000 mile before changing spark plugs? I don't think so. I feel that the spark plugs should still be changed every 50,000 miles or so simply because they do wear out. The fuel filter is another item that should be changed at regular intervals because modern fuel injection systems will filter a tank of fuel several times before it is used up. Also, the plug wires should be checked to make sure that they are not corroded or cracked. A tune up today is a lot different than it was even 10 years ago. It is more of a prventive maintenance service than anything else.

If you want to attempt to change your spark plugs on your own here are a few tips. Make sure that the engine is cool. Not olnly will this make things more comfortable for you and not burn your hands, but is your vehcle has aluminum cylinder heads the ports for the spark plugs can easily be stripped out if the engine is hot. Also, use the right spark plug as designated by the vehicle manufacturer. There are a lot of aftermarket spark plugs out there that claim to increase performance and gas mileage, but most either do not do what they say or can actually harm the engine. This is due to the fact that many of these plugs fire a hotter spark than what the car and its computer were designed for. The computer thinks that a specific heat range of spark plug is in the engine and fires the plug accordingly. If a different heat range plug is used it can have an advese affect on performance and mileage.

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