How to Do a Basic Tune Up for Your Car (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

You don't have to be a mechanic or vehicle expert to perform basic maintenance on your car. You can save money by learning some of these easy ways to keep your car in good condition all year round. No more emergency calls to mechanics on weekends. No more roadside AAA services. Do regular checks and tune up your car, then your car will be safe, healthy and always ready. See step 1 below.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Performing Basic Checks

Step 1. Check the oil and add if necessary

One of the easiest ways you can extend the life of your car without paying for an expensive tune-up is to check your engine oil level and add if it's not enough. It only takes a few minutes to check the oil level, and the dipstick on your engine will make this check easier for you, even for beginners.

• Look for the cap on your engine, usually labeled "Oil" and look for the dipstick, which is usually near the engine block. Do this when the engine is cold, or do it in the morning, to get an accurate measurement. Remove the dipstick and wipe it clean with a cloth or tissue.

  

• Check the lap. Is the oil very black? Do you see any sediment, or oil containing deposits? If so, you may need to change the oil. Reinsert the dipstick and lift it back up to check the oil level. The line on the dipstick will show the level of oil in the engine.

  

• If the oil level is low, open the oil cap and add a little engine oil suitable for your engine. Ask a parts store if you're not sure what oil to use. Use a funnel to keep it from spilling out, and check again after you add it.

  

Step 2. Check the tires

There's nothing worse than a flat tire at the wrong time, like when you're almost late for work, on a rainy day. No, thank you. Check the wheel and rotate it periodically to avoid this. Check tire pressure, and check wheel tread, replace if necessary.

• You can use a tire pressure gauge at the gas station, or you can buy it for a few dollars at a parts store and keep it in a car drawer, for regular checks. Look at the wall of your tire for the correct pressure, and don't inflate more than that. Keeping your tire pressure normal will increase fuel economy and a safe ride.

  

Step 3. Check for other fluids

Look for the glass spray canister, transmission oil, brake oil, and also the anti-freeze tube, make sure everything is full and clean, add if necessary. You don't need to do this every week, but do it every few hours so that your car is always in good condition.

• Dipstick Transmission oil is another dipstick in automatic cars, besides the engine oil dipstick. Lift, wipe clean, read the height. It should be bright red. You only change the transmission oil every 100,000 miles.

  

• brake oil located in a white plastic tube in the engine compartment, labeled "brake fluid." It shouldn't decrease, unless there's a leak, meaning you'll need to have it repaired right away, or have it checked yourself.

  

• Air radiator or the coolant needs to be checked when the car is cold. When the engine is hot, even a little, radiator water will spray from the lid, if you open it. Be careful. If you smell a strange smell from the air conditioner grille, it's possible that radiator water is leaking causing glycol to drip on the engine and catch fire. If the water is lacking, this may be the cause.

  

• Power steering oil and wiper water both are located in the engine bay in a plastic tube. Power steering oils usually have oil level markers for cold and hot engines. So check the limits are correct, add them if necessary. Wiper air is not very important for the life of the car, but it can extend the life of your wipers by making sure they are full.

  

Step 4. Check the battery

Check the battery for corrosion and other signs of damage. The battery terminals can become covered with fluid from the battery, which can cause deposits that can interfere with starting the engine. If you feel your car's starter is not working normally, check the terminal.

• Clean if necessary with baking soda and an old toothbrush. You can also apply a small amount of soda pop on the corroded area and then clean it. Loosen the bolts and if necessary clean of any dirt.

  

Step 5. Check brakes

Regularly, when the road is quiet, try pumping your brakes hard at low speed, to feel the reaction. Did they react right away? Does ABS work? Do you feel friction, squeaking, or an unbalanced feeling from the brakes? Any of these symptoms can be a sign of brake pad damage, which is a sign that you need to get a tune up right away.

Step 6. Check the lights

It's a good idea to routinely check all the lights to make sure they're all working properly, and nothing has broken. Ask the assistant to turn on the turn signal and apply the brakes while parking, to check the lights.

• To check the brightness of the lights, you can park your car against the wall, and turn on the headlights. It may be that the light settings have changed and need to be readjusted to ensure the correct direction of the lights to provide good lighting when driving at night.

  

Part 2 of 3: Doing regular tune ups

Step 1. Change the oil every 3,000 miles

To keep your engine performing optimally, you must completely discard the oil and replace it with a new, proper oil. You may also need to change the oil filter, which usually needs to be changed every 15,000 miles. When you change the oil, it is a good time to change the oil filter, which will extend the life of your car.

• Changing the oil is quite a tricky project. While it's nothing difficult to do, you'll need sufficient space and tools (you'll need new oil, a used oil storage tray, a jackstand, or a high bridge). It's actually quite cheap for you to take your car to a repair shop for an oil change, especially if you don't have enough space.

  

Step 2. Rotate your tires and replace if necessary

To balance wheel wear and achieve longer life, it's best to rotate your car's wheels in a criss-cross pattern. It depends on your tread type. You may not be able to swap wheels to a different side, but you can swap from front to back on the same side. You'll need some jackstands if you want to do it yourself. Or you can take it to a repair shop for a quick and inexpensive rotation.

Step 3. Replace the wipers if necessary

If you find that the wiper rubber is cracked, loose or improper cleaning during use, replace the wiper rubber with a new one. At a spare parts store, you can find the right wiper for your car, look for the same size, or take old wipers for example.

Step 4. Replace the air filter

The air filter is usually located on the top of the engine, under a large cover, it can be metal or plastic. Opening and cleaning the air filter will extend the life of your car.

Step 5. Check and replace belt if necessary

Sometimes called a "serpentine belt," a long rope that runs between the alternator, power steering pump and other engine components. The accuracy of belt fitting will vary depending on your machine. But if you hear a squeaking sound when you start the car, check the belt for damage and replace it if necessary. Belts only cost a few dollars, and installation diagrams are usually found in the engine room.

Step 6. Replace spark plugs

Spark plugs should also be checked and replaced if necessary. Spark plugs are very important in fuel combustion, so it is very important to make sure the spark plugs are in good condition. Spark plug failure causes the engine to limp and break down, so you should always make sure the spark plugs are in good condition.

Part 3 of 3: Extending Car Life

Step 1. Reduce usage

It's simple, the more you start, the harder it will be for the car. If you want to extend the life of your car, use it only when absolutely necessary, and avoid starting and stopping too often.

• Avoid short trips, combine them with long trips. If you want to go to the store in the morning, and you want to buy dofgoods and the supermarket in the afternoon, combine those trips to make it effective.
• If you won't be driving for an extended period of time, kennel your car in a safe place, and travel the other way.

Step 2. Accelerate slowly

Putting a load on the transmission by speeding from a stop will damage your engine in the long run. Just take it slow. Even if you are in a hurry, still learn how to accelerate smoothly. Increase speed slowly. Even if you drive an automatic car, let's just say you're about to change gears casually.

Step 3. Treat the brakes gently

Manual cars can slow down by changing gears to low gear, and automatic car drivers must be more careful to stop the car suddenly at the last moment. Immediately braking after increasing speed will make your brakes wear quickly, regardless of your car type.

Do not increase speed at a red light. Take your foot off the gas and get ready to stop

Step 4. Gently shift gears on manual cars

Replacing a clutch is one of the most difficult and expensive jobs. Changing gears roughly, will cause teeth to clash, or too high RPMs can also overload the transmission, which can be expensive to repair. Change gears gently, especially in low gear.

Step 5. Use the best fuel for your car

Use fuel with octane according to specifications, usually written on the gas tank cap. Avoid filling gas at a gas station that has just been filled by a tanker truck. Because soil or water deposits can be mixed and sucked into the tank of your car. This can clog your fuel filter. If there is no other gas station, wait 15-20 minutes and then you can fill up with gas.

Step 6. Fix it as soon as the problem arises

When problems arise, this time immediately do a tune up. Driving a car with an alternator belt that squeaks for weeks is bad for your car as well as the peace of your neighbors.

Tips

• Make sure the valve setting is always correct. Valves on car engines must be adjusted regularly, except for hydraulic type valves. Try replacing the gasket on the valve cap if you notice an oil leak.
• Replace condenser and platinum. In old cars, platinum and condensers must be replaced every 6 months. But if you replace it, check the ignition timing again.