Clinton News-Record, 1984-10-31, Page 35The definition of "tune-up"takes on a new meaning
Remember when cars had to be primed to
get them started in the morning? A little gas
was squirted into priming cups, one per
cylinder. Remember retarding the spark
with a hand lever before starting?
If you can answer yes to the above, you
probably remember too, the thousand -mile
grease job and oil change. There was no
Tire problems
Sometimes it's easy to spot car problems
such as an oil leak or a weak battery.
However, tire problems are different.
These days you can't kick a tire to see if
the air pressure is right, and it's impossible
to check inflation just by looking at a tire.
The reason for this is because today's
tires, especially radials, often look as
though they are under -inflated, when they
are not.
Improperly inflated tires, can be hazar-
dous because it is the air pressure in a tire
that carries the load of the vehicle.
To be sure the air pressure in your tires is
correct, consult the car owner's manual and
check the inflation every few weeks.
Check heater
Now is a good time to check your vehicle's
heatingand cooling system to avoid the in-
convenience and expense of a broken
heater, cracked radiator pr other serious
heating or cooling problem.
• Turn on the heater and check to see that
the blower works and that the heater control
switch works properly at all settings:.
• Check fog and remove bugs and debris
caught in the fins of the radiator. (Such
debris could restrict airflow! )
• Check : for , spongy, brittle or cracked
hoses and look for signs of water leakage.
around hoses and radiator connections and
clamps.
•Check to see if the thermostat is opening
by holding the hose at the radiator outlet
while the vehicle is warming up. If it is open-
ing properly you will feel a rush of water
through the hose as the engine warms,
• Drain and replace the antifreeze and
coolant if it has not been changed in over
two years.. Check for extremely rusty
• coolant which can be an indication that the
radiator cap is defective.
If you find that your heating and cooling ..
system its in need of. repair, take it to a
reputable repair facility and request quality
heating and cooling system parts.
Benefits of tune-up
1. FUEL SAVINGS:
Tests have shown a tuned engine can save
about a gallon of gasoline per tankful over
cars in need of a tune-up.
2. DEPENDABLE STARTING:
Worn spark plugs are the leading cause of
starting failure — not batteries. New spark
plugs require less voltage to, fire and are
more efficient.
3. IMPROVED PERFORMANCE:
Tests have show -n a 10D4 percent increase in
engine power after a tune-up.
4. CLEANER Am:
There is a direct relationship between
engine mdintenance 'and exhaust emission.
For instance, a five percent incidence of
spark plug misfire increases the rate of
hydrocarbon emissions by at least 300 per-
cent.
5. RELATED TROUBLESHOOTING
During a tune-up a knowledgeable
mechanic will often spot other repair needs
such as belts, hoses, shocks, battery, etc.
such thing as an oil filter to replace, of
course; just change the oil.
Keeping the engine "in tune" had to be a
regular procedure if the engine was to start
without excessive cranking. Remember
cranking?
We've come a long way since that
nostalgic era, says Car Care Council.
Nevertheless, many components will re-
tain their essential roles in most automotive
engines for a long time to come. The spark
plug, for example, continues as the most fre-
quently replaced part in a tune-up.
The distributor cap and rotor today are
replaced as frequently as they were 10 years
ago. The air filter, in fact, has increased in
replacement frequency.
And nearly half the cars on our nation's
highways still have conventional distributor
points and condenser, thereby requiring
more frequent tune-up service.
Advancements in technology, including
electronic ignition, computerized engine
Turn to page 60
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