The thing about cars is that they need regular maintenance. If you don’t maintain them as you should, they will end up running rough. They will also use more fuel, and you will encounter reliability problems on a regular basis.
But what happens if you buy a used car, for instance, and it doesn’t “seem” right? It could be that the car needs a tune-up.
In today’s handy blog post, I will show you what you need to do to give your car a tune-up. By the end, you will know how to make your car’s motor run sweet!
Battery
You might know this, but your car’s battery is only good for five years or so. After that time, you are playing a lotto! If you suspect your car’s battery is five or more years old, you should get it replaced.
There are plenty of batteries on the market, so just choose one that provides the best CCA (cold cranking amps). And make sure it’s the right battery for your car!
Ignition system
Once you have got your battery sorted out, it’s time to travel further along the line, so to speak. The next area to look at is your motor’s ignition system.
Spark plugs get used in gas engines. One spark plug gets used per cylinder. If your car has a 6-cylinder engine, it will use six spark plugs. If your motor is misfiring, chances are the spark plugs have had it!
Buy some high-quality spark plugs, and make sure you “gap” them before you install them.
Ignition leads (also called “HT leads”) connect to your spark plugs at one end. At the other end, they connect to the ignition module. The module is sometimes called a DIS pack (distributorless ignition system).
On older cars, you might have a distributor cap and rotor. Does your car have a rough idle? Maybe it doesn’t feel as powerful as it once was? If so, the leads and ignition module/distributor are often the cause of the problem.
Drive belts
All cars have at least one drive belt. In many cars, you will find two belts; an “auxiliary” and “cam” belt. The former gives power to your car’s power steering system, electrics and charges the battery.
The latter ensures the crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons and cams all work in harmony. Drive belts usually last for around 40,000 miles or four years.
The guys at www.carbase.biz recommend inspecting their condition. You should check for any signs of cracking or fraying.
Oil and filter
Change your motor’s oil and filter according to the manufacturer’s service schedule. Every second oil change, add some engine flush before you drain the old oil. It will thin the oil and clear out any gunk build-up inside.
Air filter
If your car doesn’t feel as powerful as it once was, it could be that it is just starved of air. In all engines, air is essential for the combustion process inside of the cylinders to work well.
Clogged air filters are simple, quick and cheap to replace. Make sure your air filter is clean! Thanks for reading today.
