We’ve all heard about the value of a car tune up for its performance and lifespan, but fewer people know what this type of maintenance entails. Let’s talk about what a tune up is and when to know if you need to get one.
Tune ups then and now
Tune ups as we know them today are completely different than they were when the term was first coined. A tune up in an early car was routine maintenance work on the vehicle’s ignition system to ensure that ignition and fueling worked in perfect tandem with each other.
A tune up was a complicated, precise process that might include replacing spark plugs, resetting the ignition timing, adjusting the vehicle’s carburetor, and more. More than that, old vehicles required tune ups on a regular basis to ensure the vehicle worked properly.
With so many improvements in technology, modern vehicles no longer have the need for regular recalibrations to ensure the ignition and fuel systems work in tandem. New cars do still need regular maintenance to perform their best. The term ‘tune up’ has carried over from those early models even though the items in a modern tune up are different than they used to be.
A ‘car maintenance schedule’: a car tune-up by any other name
Every modern vehicle comes with what’s known as a ‘maintenance schedule’. This schedule consists of routine work that is required after a certain amount of miles have been driven. A modern tune up is another way to refer to this routine maintenance.
What does a modern tune-up include? Let’s take a look.
Checking filters, belts, and hoses
Belts and hoses are essential parts of your engine, ensuring that your drive system can power components such as water pumps and timing belts. Although they last longer than they used to, belts and hoses don’t last forever. They can wear down, crack, or break, potentially leading to expensive repairs.
Replacing oil and other fluids
You may not think of an oil change as part of a ‘tune up’, but replacing your oil and other fluids help keep your engine lubricated and cool. Your car will still function with old fluids in it, but it’s still important to get these changed regularly as debris, build-up, and deposits can decrease the lifespan of your engine.
Checking/replacing spark plugs
Modern spark plugs can last most of the life of the vehicle, depending on the type of material they are made of. Since spark plugs are key to combusting the fuel needed to make your car move, it’s important to ensure that they are in top condition. Dirty or worn spark plugs don’t combust fuel as effectively and can decrease your gas mileage, ultimately costing you more at the pump.
How do you know if your car needs a tune up?
Back in the day, old vehicles might need a tune up every 10,000 miles or so. Newer vehicles are designed to last longer and may go 20 – 30,000 miles between maintenance items. Depending on the condition of your vehicle and driving habits, you may need to get a car tune up earlier than this.
Signs your car may need a tune up include:
- Your car has begun to stall or is having difficulty starting
- Your engine operates or idles roughly
- Your check engine light is on
Time For A Car Tune Up? Routine Maintenance And More At T3 Atlanta
Whether you are diligent about keeping your vehicle on its maintenance schedule or you want to get onto a good routine, preventive maintenance can reduce the chance that you will need extensive repairs in the future.
T3 Atlanta is here and ready to help. With our friendly service and two convenient Metro Atlanta locations in Smyrna and Decatur, we make it easy to get the service your car needs to perform its best. Give us a call and we’ll book you in for a prompt appointment!
Like all stories, there’s a reason that letting your car come to operating temperature became common knowledge.
Modern vehicles are equipped with complex electronic systems that monitor how much air and fuel can enter the combustion chambers and make adjustments as needed. These sensors are as fast as they are accurate, and they ensure that your engine gets the correct amount of fuel regardless of whether you immediately put your car into ‘drive’ or not.
The general advice goes that you should change your oil every 3,000 miles. In fact, the exact frequency 
Your belts and hoses can be easy to forget about, but it’s important to check them when your car hasn’t been driven for a while. These vehicle components naturally degrade over time, but disuse can accelerate this degradation. For example, rubber hoses can dry out and crack when fluids aren’t regularly flowing through them.
Your car battery relies on the engine being run to recharge it. When your car isn’t being driven, the battery doesn’t have the chance to regain any power lost while your car has been sitting idle. A car battery tester can help you quickly identify how much charge your battery currently has, helping you eliminate the chance of getting stranded on the road.
Your tires likely won’t need a rotation if your car hasn’t been driven much, but it’s still important to make sure that they are properly inflated since your tires naturally lose air over time. This can impact the tread wear when you do take your vehicle out.
A less frequently considered part of car maintenance during the pandemic has to do with ‘new residents’. When your car is sitting idle and unused, it suddenly becomes prime real estate for certain rodents, such as mice and chipmunks. This is especially true for cars that are parked outdoors.
Drive-ins don’t just operate in perfect weather; they’ll be open rain or shine. All the same, it’s a good idea to look at the weather report before you go and plan accordingly.
You can get concessions at the drive-in, but to save costs and also enjoy your favorite treats, you can also bring your own. Since you can’t have your car’s cabin lights on during the show, it’s best to pack food and drink that you can easily grab in the dark.
You and your fellow drivers are at the drive-in for one purpose: to enjoy a movie. Since you’re in your car and not in a theatre, it’s important to practice drive-in etiquette and not distract others from their viewing experience.
The reasoning behind this myth is that there are fewer impurities in premium gas, so your car can run cleaner and more efficiently with a tank full of the expensive stuff.
The train of thinking here is that you already have all the tools you need on hand to wash your car – assuming you have dish or laundry soap, of course. You save yourself cash and a trip to the auto supply store, all while getting the same results as a specially-formulated car washing solution, right?
Whether your car’s air conditioning wastes gas
The idea behind this myth is that gasoline, like other liquids, expands in warmer temperatures so pumping warm gas in the middle of the day means you’re getting less – literally – bang for your buck.
One of the most common car maintenance myths is that you need to get all of your tires replaced at the same time. This isn’t necessarily true. For front and rear-wheel drive vehicles, you can replace one, two, or even three tires at once. Just make sure they’re the same type as the remaining tires on your vehicle.
Carbon monoxide is a natural byproduct of your engine’s operations, and the designers of your vehicle have gone to great lengths to make sure your exhaust system keeps harmful fumes out of the cabin.
Carbon monoxide is odorless, invisible, and tasteless, so you may not know there’s a problem until you start to notice lightheadedness, dizziness, or headaches when you’re on the road. In worst case scenarios, you can even pass out while driving.
Aside from noticing the symptoms mentioned above, there are two ways to detect a carbon monoxide leak in your vehicle.
As we’ve discussed previously
There’s nothing quite like the surprise of hearing your engine struggle to turn over when your battery doesn’t have enough juice to get it started. Car batteries can last anywhere from 2 – 5 years, depending on your driving habits, the temperature of where you live (batteries drain faster in very hot and very cold climates), and other factors.
Flat tires are, unfortunately, one of those car problems that always seems to happen at the most inconvenient time. It’s also very difficult to completely prevent a flat tire, as there’s simply no way to know when and where there are nails or other sharp debris on the road.
Overheating is among the common car problems that can be the most dangerous for your vehicle. Your car can overheat for several reasons, including low coolant levels, problems in the water pumping system, a broken thermostat, and fan problems, to name a few. Getting your car checked regularly can help ensure that all of these components are in working order.
Failed emissions tests are one of the most common car problems, and it can be a frustrating problem to address since there are many 
Your steering wheel is designed to return back to a neutral, level center when you let go of the wheel. When your car is aligned properly, your steering wheel should be sitting evenly, and the emblem in the center of your steering wheel should be level whether you’re parked or in motion.
A car that pulls to one side or the other on a straight road very likely has an alignment problem. Your vehicle is designed to coast down straight roads with minimal input from the driver.
Your wheel alignment doesn’t just impact how your car rides or the way your tires wear down; it also changes the way your vehicle handles. Misaligned wheels can cause your vehicle to handle in a ‘loose’ or ‘sloppy’ way.
Every smartphone has a flashlight app these days, but it’s still important to have a dedicated flashlight on hand in your vehicle. If you’re stuck on the side of the road, it’s best to reserve your phone’s battery life for calls.
A dedicated cell phone charger is one of those often-overlooked essentials you should always have in your car since most people charge their phones via USB ports.
First aid kits often come in handy at the least expected moments – whether at a kids’ sporting event, after a hike in the woods, after getting scraped on rocks at the beach, and more. A first aid kit is invaluable to have and can, of course, be customized with spare medications specific to your family’s needs.
If you’re planning to travel into the mountains during the winter or across the desert in the middle of summer, you may want to take a few minutes to gather some situation-specific supplies for your trip.
Electric cars aren’t always the cheapest, with lower-end prices ranging from 
Are electric cars a bad choice for road trips since there aren’t enough places to charge them? In short, no. There are now 
Once an electric car battery is dead, it’s tossed into a landfill, and hundreds of thousands of batteries piling up in a landfill somewhere can’t be good for the environment, right?
