Most vehicles made after 1980 only require a "tune-up" once every 48,000 kilometers.
The reality is that a "tune-up" as most know it, no longer exists. Today's "Tune Up" could be more accurately classified as preventative car maintenance and involves changing the spark plugs, air and fuel filters, PCV valve, and checking engine performance.
Back in 70's many cars used point ignition systems, checking and adjusting the points and ignition timing every 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers was usually necessary to compensate for wear. Adjusting the carburetor idle speed and fuel mixture adjustments was also part of the typical tune up. Engines back then also ran on leaded gasoline, which meant the spark plugs rarely lasted more than 20,000 kilometers before they became fouled with lead deposits. Consequently annual tune-ups became an established auto service ritual. Putting off a tune up meant poor fuel economy, emissions and performance. Scheduling a regular tune-up restored engine performance and was often all that was required to keep your car on the road.
That is not the case anymore. The arrival of electronic ignition systems eliminated the need for any type of periodic adjustment. Once set the ignition timing remains unchanged unless there is a failure - in which case your car likely won't start. Fuel Injectors are virtually tamper-proof and come with sealed adjustment screws that eliminate the need for adjustment. Additionally, the switch to unleaded gasoline stretched spark plug life to 50,000 kilometers or more, so the car "tune-up" became a thing of the past.
WHAT IS A CAR TUNE-UP TODAY?
Today, virtually everything is computer controlled. Since there's nothing left to "tune up" in the traditional sense, all that's required is to replace the spark plugs, filters and other wear items periodically to keep the engine in good running condition and performing well. The general public still uses the word "tune-up" in regard to engine maintenance, so most auto repair service facilities continue to use the word in their advertising. What a "tune-up" actually includes is a thorough engine diagnosis that also involves scanning the computer system for fault codes, and dozens of other items that may need replacing due to wear. In most parts of Ontario annual emission inspections are required so a tailpipe emissions check may also be included.
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Tune Ups Ottawa
