Engine tuning is the adjustment, modification or design of internal combustion engines to yield optimal performance, to increase an engine’s power output, economy, or durability. It has a long history, almost as long as the development of the car in general, originating with the development of early racing cars, and later, with the post-war hot-rod movement. Tuning can describe a wide variety of adjustments and modifications, from the routine adjustment of the carburetor and ignition system to significant engine overhauls. At the other end of the scale, performance tuning of an engine can involve revisiting some of the design decisions taken at quite an early stage in the development of the engine.
Setting the idle speed, fuel/air mixture, carburetor balance, spark plug and distributor point gaps, and ignition timing were regular maintenance items for all older engines and the final but essential steps in setting up a racing engine. On modern engines, equipped with electronic ignition and fuel injection, some or all of these tasks are automated, although they still require periodic calibration.
Tune-up
A tune-up usually refers to the routine servicing of the engine to meet the manufacturer’s specifications. Tune-ups are needed periodically as according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure an automobile runs as expected. Modern vehicles now typically require only a few tune-ups over the course of an approximate 250,000 kilometres (160,000 mi) or a 10 year lifespan.
Tune-ups may include the following:
- Re-fastening of cylinder head bolts
- Adjustment of the carburetor idle speed and the air-fuel mixture
- Inspection and possible replacement of ignition system components like contact breaker points, distributor cap and distributor rotor
- Replacement of the air filter and other filters
- Inspection of emission controls
- Valvetrain adjustment
- Replacement of spark plugs.
At Moxie Auto Care & Glass Repair, your complete automotive care center in Hillsboro, KS we install only quality replacement parts. Give us a call and let us help keep you safely and economically on the road. We serve Marion, Harvey, McPherson, and Chase Counties.
