Let's Do an Engine Tune Up
What does it mean to do an engine tune-up? Many people think it's magic to boost a vehicle's performance. However, engine tuning is different from a tune-up. Engine tuning involves increasing the vehicle's performance by changing and adding engine parts to improve it compared to before.
An engine tune-up, then, is about restoring lost engine performance due to various reasons over time. So today, through MotorGuide, we're telling you how to do an engine tune-up.
Engine Operation
There are 3 basic factors required for the operation of a petrol engine: fuel, air, and ignition.
In a 4-stroke engine, during the first stroke, the inlet valve opens and draws the air-fuel mixture into the cylinder. This is called the intake stroke.
In the second stroke, the air-fuel mixture is compressed. This is known as the compression stroke.
In the third stroke, the petrol-air mixture is ignited by a spark plug, causing combustion. This is called the power stroke.
In the fourth stroke, the burnt air is expelled by opening the exhaust valve. This is called the exhaust stroke. This is what happens inside an engine.
Vehicle Maintenance
Generally, vehicle maintenance can be divided into three parts:
- General maintenance
- Periodical maintenance
- Preventive maintenance
The engine tune-up we are discussing today falls under preventive maintenance.
What is an Engine Tune-up?
Let's first look at what an engine tune-up is. The term "engine tune-up" itself implies maintaining the engine's tune at a certain high level, or restoring the engine's tune to a high condition similar to when the vehicle was manufactured.
Time Period
For a non-hybrid vehicle, an engine tune-up is usually done after 25,000 kilometers or 2 years. If you have a hybrid vehicle, you can go for an engine tune-up after 40,000 kilometers or 2 1/2 years of driving.
However, you need to remember one thing here: even if the vehicle has not run 25,000 kilometers, if two years have passed, you must do an engine tune-up. Similarly, even if the vehicle has run 25,000 kilometers but two years have not passed, you must definitely do an engine tune-up.
What is done during an Engine Tune-up?
An engine tune-up involves inspecting and restoring to normal condition all parts of the fuel system, air induction system, and electronic control system related to the vehicle's engine control system and engine operation.
Here, we particularly focus on systems like the emission management system, EGR, PCV, and catalytic systems within the engine control system.
Also, all parts in the air induction pathway, from the air cleaner in the intake system to the manifold, which leads to the cylinder, are dismantled and cleaned of carbon deposits.
Additionally, the EGR control system also needs to be cleaned. Specifically, parts related to the ignition system, such as spark plugs, should be inspected. After that, the functionality of fuel filters and injectors related to the fuel system is examined.
So, in an engine tune-up, all these parts are carefully inspected and restored to their proper condition.
How long does it take?
A proper engine tune-up takes a long time. However, some establishments claim to do an engine tune-up in about an hour. But an engine tune-up cannot be done in such a short time. Because a proper tune-up takes a certain amount of time. So, don't forget to pay attention to the time.
This is how a proper engine tune-up is performed. An engine tune-up is an essential matter for a vehicle. So, don't forget to perform an engine tune-up within the correct time frame.
