What to Know About DIY Tune-Ups
These days, people are looking to save a buck wherever they can. When it comes to your car, you can do just that. With your car needing a tune-up as part of its routine maintenance to keep it running and running well, you can avoid facing another bill by doing it yourself. However, you do need to know what you’re doing in order to do it successfully.
Guidelines for a DIY Tune-Up
A car can acquire severe damage through DIY projects. In order to avoid damaging your engine, here are some guidelines you should follow before beginning your tune-up:
- Have a Manual for Guidance and Reference: Having a shop manual is absolutely necessary because you need to know what to do and how to do it, step by step. There is a very good chance that you will see a domino effect occur when one step is done incorrectly, so read the manual before doing anything.
- Have the Parts Before Starting: Make sure to have everything you need beforehand. Not every local auto-parts store is going to have the supplies you need, so you may need to drive around to find a store that does. Also, buy two of everything so you will have extra for the next tune-up. Be sure to stock up on paper towels and rags as well.
- Keep your Workspace Clean: It is always much easier to get a job done and done right when you have a clean and organized environment. Therefore, make sure you have quick and easy access to your tools. Clean all surfaces to avoid contaminating your parts and engine, and make sure your oil-drain pan is empty.
- Be patient: Doing a tune-up yourself won’t be easy the first time around. So if you find yourself stuck at a particular step, stay calm and be patient. Take your time to figure it out. It’s best to spend hours on one step than having to pay for repairs to fix your mistake, or worse, having to buy a new car.
By following these guidelines, your DIY tune-up should be a success. Just remember to possess and read the manual, get all your supplies and in multiples, keep your workspace clean, and have patience!
If you have questions about tune-ups or find this project is not for you, feel free to contact us at Turnpike Auto and Tire. We’re happy to help you with all of your auto care needs.
