Avtorentacar.com presents you “Tune-Ups Are Dead: The Truth About Today’s Routine Auto Maintenance Schedules”, an article written by Theodore Olson. We hope you’ll find a lot useful information in here.
Avtorentacar.com will present you every article we find interesting and educating, and which has no copyright protection. If available we’ll link the source.
Automobile maintenance is nothing like it used to be. Thank God! In the past, your vehicle required regular replacement of a variety of parts: spark plugs, ignition wires, PCV valves, distributor caps, ignition rotors, and more.
With the exception of spark plugs, technology has replaced most of these with advanced, integrated ignition systems. Nevertheless, vehicle maintenance is still vital. So what does your vehicle really need in order to maintain it? Put another way: “What am I paying $300, $400, $500 for anyway?”
| Avtorentacar recommended article: Are You Ready to Take the Challenge of Modifying Your Mitsubishi Car? Okay, I know you love cars, but it doesn't mean you have to buy a new one every now and then just to have something new and more exciting car to drive. Admit it, cars are valuable investments and I'm pretty sure you don't want to spend your entire earnings for an expensive and flashy sports car. By adding or replacing your stock Mitsubishi parts with aftermarket parts, you can breathe in new life to your auto and make your driving routine a lot more fun and exciting. Compared to buying a new car, installing aftermarket auto parts is less costly, so why suffer the burden of paying for a new car when you can get all the advantages of owning the latest model, say a 2006 Mitsubishi Galant, without getting thousands of dollars poorer. |
Given the abundance of car maintenance questions, let’s put the general requirements of today’s vehicle maintenance management into two categories:
- Tune-Ups
- Regular Vehicle Maintenance
IMPORTANT: always refer to your manufacturer’s guidelines for your car or truck maintenance information.
Tune-Ups, Car Maintenance and Problems
Let’s start with tune ups. Tune-ups are a thing of the past. As mentioned above, most of today’s vehicles are equipped with advanced technology, which has replaced many wearable parts. While there are still many vehicles on the road with the above parts, they are fading fast.
Today’s tune-ups are incorporated into regular vehicle maintenance. In the past, they were often considered separate auto maintenance.
| Avtorentacar recommended article: Book Clubs Much like food, a book is best enjoyed when shared. This is probably the reason why book clubs sprout everywhere - readers get to share ideas, interact with other booklovers, and best of all, get books at specially reduced prices! Why join a book club? One reason is social interaction. It can't be any more obvious – a book club is every bookworm's party. As a member or moderator, you can openly express your opinions, likes, and dislikes about a particular book that the club has agreed to read together. In some instances, you might even be introduced to the author of the book and get firsthand information on his or her reasons for writing it, clarify some sketchy areas, and even get the latest buzz on possible sequels. |
This is helpful. If you’re wondering when you need a tune-up, just follow your manufacturer’s maintenance interval. More importantly, find a shop that will actually follow your manufacturer’s maintenance interval.
What makes up today’s tune-up?
There are generally only four primary tune-up components, many of which have extended replacement time intervals (auto extended maintenance). For example, some fuel filters last the life of the vehicle, others last 60,000-miles. Today’s platinum spark plugs easily last 100,000-miles.
This reduces primary tune-up components down to only two:
Air Filters: Some air filters can last 60,000 miles. Although most last between 15,000 to 30,000 miles. There are lifetime performance air filters, but these require maintenance.
Cabin Filters: Cabin filters filter the incoming air of dust and debris, helping to keep your interior clean and dust free. They require replacement starting around 10,000 miles. Not every vehicle is equipped with cabin filters.
Following is a break-down of today’s most common tune up parts:
Tune-Ups:
1. Air Filters
2. Fuel Filters
3. Cabin Filters (also called dust filters, or HVAC filters)
4. Spark Plugs
Now, if we add tire maintenance—rotation, balance, replacement, and alignments, that about covers the extent of vehicle maintenance services for today’s vehicles. Then there are various maintenance inspections: brakes, front end, under-carriage, belts, hoses, and battery. Lastly, we can’t forget wiper blades and miscellaneous lubrication services.
But generally, that’s it!
Important Note on Tire Rotation: many manufacturer maintenance sheet guidelines neglect the importance of tire rotations, which creates confusion. To keep it simple: rotate your tires approximately every 5,000 miles, as applicable.
Car Maintenance Online Help & Car Maintenance Schedule
Vehicle Maintenance Management procedures are variable, pending the year, make and model. Again, I have separated vehicle maintenance from the Tune-Up section above for clarity. Today, tune-ups and maintenance procedures are performed together during service intervals.
Follow your factory maintenance interval and you’re set!
Below is a general break-down to five vehicle maintenance services:
General Vehicle Maintenance:
1. Oil and Oil Filter Service
2. Coolant/Antifreeze Flush
3. Brake System Flush
4. Transmission Fluid Service
5. Differential/Gear Box/Transfer Case Services
And that’s about it!
So…if auto maintenance has been drastically reduced by technological advancements, why are the prices still so high?
The answer: You’re getting ripped off!
98% of ALL repair facilities are price-gouging you, the service customer.
It’s considered normal.
|
-Theodore P. Olson (Ted) Ted holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, General Motors, ASE (Automotive Service Excellence) and more. Over a twenty-year period in the automotive service industry, he has served as a technician, shop foreman, shop manager, shop owner, service advisor, service manager, and service industry consultant. Other Works by Ted Olson Include:
|
Keywords assigned to this article by Avtorentacar: car, repair, prices, auto, info, help, vehicle, maintenance, software, common, price, guide, tune-up
| Avtorentacar recommended article: Custom-Painting your Motorcycle Helmet The motorcycle helmet's primary function is to protect the biker's head. If the color of the one purchased does not express the owner's personality, it is always possible to put stickers or better yet to custom paint this. The best place to get some ideas will be to visit a local decal store. If none are interesting, the person can always check various websites online. Should there be a good prospect, this should be printed and shown to the local shop and ask if this can be done. |