Our daily lives can become very busy, so busy, in fact that we sometimes tend to neglect the things we should do. Of course, in the hustle and bustle of getting everything else done, one of the most crucial aspects of our lives tend to fall by the wayside far more often that it should. That component, of course, is your car, that faithful vehicle that transports the family, brings you to work everyday, and is always there should you decide you need to go somewhere. However, more often than not, we take our cars for granted, and the fact that they need maintenance is an all too often forgotten fact.
Although most do keep up with oil changes, and perform the occasional wash and wax, one of the most important things to keep a car running smoothly and for a long time is often forgotten. That element, of course, is the “tune up”. A tune up typically involves a full fluid flush of your vehicle, checking all of the belts, a look at the battery, a new air filter, and maybe some other odds and ends depending on where you take the car or if you plan to do it yourself.
However, if a tune up is so incredibly simple, than why does it matter so much whether or not it is done every year? To answer this, we need only to think a little bit. Every time we drive our cars, we put them under a tremendous amount of stress and subject them to a lot of wear and tear. Remember that even the simplest of car components can make a major difference when it comes to how your car runs and whether or not it is truly a safe vehicle. With that in mind, let’s take a look through some of the most important vehicle components that are checked or replaced during a tune up and see what they do for the vehicles and what makes them so essential.
1. Air filter/Airbox
Anyone who knows even a little bit about car engines knows that an engine needs a mixture of air and fuel to create combustion and thus provide power. However, we would not think of running a car without clean fuel, so why should we ever consider running it without clean air? Over time, the air filters in our cars can become clogged and dirty, and thus dirty air is getting into a great variety of parts in our cars, including the intake manifold, throttle body and the actual engine itself. It takes only a little common sense to realize that this is not the healthiest thing for a car. Also, keep in mind that dirty air keeps your car from running efficiently, which means that you also lose out on gas mileage. To prevent this from happening, simply locate your air filter under your hood and inspect it. If it seems to be in good shape, you may just want to wash it off, making sure that it is completely dry before placing it back in the vehicle. However, if the filter seems to be incredibly dirty, than it is definitely worth replacing it. New filters generally do not cost more than forty or fifty dollars, and the benefits you will receive while driving, and in gas mileage alone will be well worth the savings.
2. Fluid Flush
There are a great variety of fluids within your car that keep it running at maximum efficiency. From your transmission fluid, oil, and even simpler components such as brake fluid and washer fluid. All of the liquids in your car are there for a reason, and keeping those fluids clean and properly filled help make sure that your car runs right, and does not risk breaking down at a bad time. Simply take a moment and think about the names of the fluids in your car, such as the “transmission” fluid. If you want your transmission to last a long time, and also prevent damage to your engine, than keeping enough clean transmission fluid in your reservoir is a relatively simple task. Even a routine oil change can make a major difference in your vehicle. Remember to check out everything under your hood, check all of your fluids, replace what you can, and you will find that your will run both much better and much more efficiently. The amount of life that you add onto your vehicle simply by changing the fluids is almost too great too measure.
3. Battery
The battery in your vehicle is important for a number of reasons, and is essential for starting your vehicle and making sure some of the most important functions work. While doing your tune up, make sure to (safely) clean off your battery terminals and take a moment to think about the last time you replaced your battery. If you honestly cannot remember when, it may be a good time to head out to Wal-Mart or K-Mart and pick up a replacement. Batteries are generally not that expensive, and nonetheless it will seem like a very smart investment when your car does not leave you stranded in a cold parking lot during a particularly brutal winter day.
4. Wheels
One of the most all-around important components on your car are your tires. From gas mileage to safety, if you regularly maintain or check only one part of your car it should be your tires. Take a couple minutes while doing your tune up and check each and every one of your tires. Look for obvious defects or damages which may have occurred during every day driving, check the tire pressure, and look at the tread depth. For an easy read on whether or not your tires should be replaced, simply find a penny and stick it head first into the treads. If you can still see Mr. Lincoln’s head, than it is more than likely you should replace your tires. Believe it or not, tires are not an incredibly expensive cost, and considering the risk that bad tires add to both yourself, your family and others on the road, it is a couple hundred dollars well spent. One can never put a price on safety, and make sure that your tires do not become that price.
5. Belts and other internal components
Although most drivers may have difficulty checking out their own belts and such, it is definitely worth your time to take your vehicle to a mechanic and have him do a thorough inspection. Most belts in your car are crucial to it’s operation, and remember that a snapped timing belt can spell instant demise for your vehicle’s engine. It should not take a mechanic long to give you some information on whether or not he feels your belts are in good shape and if they should be replaced. Belts are an area where it is important not to be greedy, replacing your belts now can save you massive amounts of trouble in the future.
6. Brakes and your braking system
Almost every car owner knows that brakes are that incredibly important component that stops your car from moving. Now that we know how important brakes are, it makes sense to check them and all of their relating components, such as the brake pads, calipers, brake lines and the rotors. All of these components play a vital role in braking, which is one of the most important parts of driving. While under your car scoping out your brakes, you may also want to take a couple of minutes and take a quick look at your suspension, if you see any obvious problems that it may be time to take your vehicle to a mechanic for some suspension work.
However we may feel about our cars, we nonetheless want them to run for us for a long time. Keep in mind that long life in a vehicle does not come by itself, one must make sure to take good care of a vehicle, always treating it with respect and making sure to do all of the proper maintenance. If we really wish our vehicles to run a long time, than a yearly tune up is one of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective ways to ensure that we stay safe on the roads and that our cars stay in good running shape for a long time to come.
