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How often should you get a tune up?

Writer Ethan Hayes

If you happen to have an older vehicle that has a non-electronic ignition, you should have it tuned up every 10,000-12,000 miles, or once a year. Newer vehicles with electronic ignition and fuel injection can travel between 25,000 and 100,000 miles before requiring a major tune-up.

Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Aro... Silky Terrier Dog Breed Playing Around

What should the cost of a tune-up be?

However, there are numerous places for you to get service at reasonable prices, with prices ranging from $40 to $150 for a basic tune-up that includes the replacement of spark plugs and spark-plug wires. More specialized tune-ups can cost anywhere from $200 to $800, depending on the make and model of your vehicle.

How long does it take to perform a tune-up?

How long does it take to perform a tune-up? A tune-up should take between two and four hours, depending on your vehicle. Tuning a modern, computerized vehicle would be at the faster end of that spectrum. Tuning up an older vehicle (which has many mechanical parts to adjust) would take longer.

Do cars nowadays require tune-ups?

While modern fuel-injected vehicles do not require tune-ups in the traditional sense, all vehicles require some level of regular maintenance that could be classified as a tune-up.

What fluids are replaced during a tune-up?

Antifreeze, brake, power steering, and transmission fluids are critical to the performance and longevity of your vehicle. During a tune-up, the mechanic will actually check each of these fluid levels and, if necessary, top them off. The mechanic will also inspect your radiator and coolant levels.

What exactly is a car tune-up?

A car tune-up is more of a type of preventive maintenance performed on a vehicle to ensure that it continues to function properly. The tune-up should consist of a cleaning or even replacing the spark plugs, as well as the distributor cap and rotor on older vehicles.

When should you change your spark plugs?

Consider replacing spark plugs every 30,000 miles, which is more consistent with the recommendations of most manufacturers. For information that is specific to your make as well as model vehicle, consult your owner’s manual or the manufacturer’s website.

Is a tune-up inclusive of fuel injectors?

Some or all of these tasks are automated on modern engines equipped with electronic ignition and fuel injection, making a tune-up on these vehicles as simple as periodic fuel injector cleaning and changing spark plugs and wires.