In the old days, cars may have been better-looking and more fun to drive, but they were also more work to maintain. With carburetors, ignition points and other now-antiquated components that needed replacement on a yearly basis, keeping your car in top form was almost a full-time job. Automotive technology in those days was relatively primitive; a 1941 Lincoln was a beauty to behold on the outside, but its engine was unlikely to last much beyond 40,000 miles.
Today's automobiles can go for up to 100,000 between tune-ups. However, one thing has not changed, and that's the need for periodic maintenance. Every piece of machinery, no matter how well engineered, is subject to normal wear and tear. A number of components, such as spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor and spark plug wires will need to be changed at least once during that interval. Other parts such as filters for oil, fuel and air should be changed every 3,000 miles or according to the schedule in your car's owner's manual. A little money spent on maintenance today can save you from big repair bills tomorrow.
Basic Tune Up Parts List
1. Air Filters
Without an air filter, tiny particles of dust can enter the cylinders, scratching the cylinder walls, leading to loss of compression and oil burning. Conversely, dirty air filters can literally asphyxiate your engine, robbing it of performance. A K&N Air Filter uses proprietary Filter Charger High-Flow technology, offering the ideal balance between high air flow and maximum motor protection. K&N Filters are a perfect choice for a tune up replacement over a stock OEM air filter.
2. Interior Cabin Air Filters
If you're like most people, you spend a lot of time in your car – and even with the windows up, airborne contaminants such dust, pollen, and even insects can enter the passenger cabin through your car's HVAC system. Replaced regularly, interior cabin air filters help to keep the air you breathe while driving clean and healthy. These filters are often overlooked as a maintenance item but are as important as the other items listed here.
3. Distributor Cap and Rotor
If you're engine is sputtering and coughing periodically, the problem may be as simple as switching out the distributor cap and rotor, which literally “distributes” current to your plugs via the plug wires. The Bosch Distributor Cap and Rotor is the product of quality German engineering, and is available for virtually every make and model. Bosch is the OEM manufacturer for most car models.
4. Radiator Fan Clutch
The automotive engine achieves peak performance within a relatively narrow temperature range. Too cold, and it will waste fuel; too hot and there is a risk of serious damage. The radiator fan clutch uses a thermostat in order to provide the correct amount of cooling air flow for all operating conditions – and continues to cool the engine after it has been shut down. These types of clutches do wear over time and need replacement. The best way to tell if you need a new fan clutch is to open your cars hood while the engine is running and have someone shut the car off while you look at the fan. If the fan spins more then a few times after you shut the car off you need to replace the fan clutch.
5. Fuel Filters
With today's precision fuel injectors, even the smallest particle of contaminant in your fuel can cause irreparable damage. Bosch fuel filters employ a proprietary, high-efficiency filter media that easily installed and contained in a heavy-duty housing that withstands variations in fuel pressure. Fuel filters should be replaced at regular intervals in order to maintain peak engine performance.
6. Oxygen Sensors
The oxygen sensor works with your catalytic converter to lower emissions by monitoring the O2 levels in your engine's exhaust. Bosch Oxygen Sensors are manufactured by the company that literally invented the device. A Bosch Oxygen Sensor is the #1 choice among auto manufacturers, so chances are good that your car came with one installed. When it's time for a new one, your vehicle deserves nothing less. Replacing them can help your vehicles fuel mileage.
7. Spark Plug Wires
They seem like a minor issue, but low-quality, improperly shielded plug wires can cause a lot of problems, ranging from interference with your stereo to current “jumping” from one wire to another, causing cylinders to fire out of order. Bosch Spark Plug Wires are the product of legendary German engineering, guaranteed to make sure your plugs fire reliably and on time.
8. Spark Plugs
Bosch Spark Plugs may cost extra, but they are an excellent investment in your car's performance when it's time for a tune-up. Bosch offers a complete line of spark plugs for every driving need, all designed to deliver maximum spark for optimized performance.
9. Automatic Transmission Filter
Like your engine, your transmission is a complex piece of machinery with thousands of precision parts that need proper lubrication in order to operate properly. Like your engine oil and filter, you need to change your transmission fluid and the automatic transmission filter at regular intervals as your car's manufacturer recommends in order to make sure it continues to “transmit” the engine's motion to your wheels.
