There are more than 283 million commercial and personal vehicles registered in the United States. Driving is a part of American life. However, most people give the operation of their vehicle little thought, until it fails to run as expected.
Regular upkeep is essential to ensuring your car gets from point A to point B. Yet it can be difficult to know how often to perform it. Too frequently and you are wasting time and money, but putting it off carries its risks.
This article explains why you should schedule a regular car tune-up in Killeen, TX. It covers what most maintenance checks entail and how often you should schedule them. Keep reading to learn about the many benefits routine tune-ups can bring.
What Does a Car Tune-up Include?
Car tune-up packages can vary among repair shops. However, there are some main services that are common. These include:
- Air filter replacement
- Battery and charging system check
- Belts inspection
- Brake and brake pad inspection
- Carburetor check
- Electrical connections inspection
- Exhaust system inspection
- Fluid levels check
- Fuel filter replacement
- Hose condition checks
- Ignition system inspection
- Tire rotation
- Tire and wheel inspection
Often, these are combined with everything that comes with an oil change, including an oil filter change, but not always.
In general, during a tune-up, technicians will go over the basic operations of your vehicle to ensure that they are operating properly. It is not usually a deep dive into the interworkings of the engine or other systems. Rather, it is a comprehensive examination that can catch any glaring problems.
Advantages of Regular Vehicle Tune-Ups
There are many benefits to scheduling a routine car tune-up in Killeen, TX. Here are the main ones to consider.
Savings on Parts and Repairs
One of the biggest advantages of performing regular tune-ups is the chance to do minor repairs where simple problems exist. Fixing parts, where possible, is much more economical than replacing them with new ones. Minor adjustments to components or systems also will cost less than major overhauls when parts completely wear out.
In short, tune-ups allow technicians to perform minor fixes and avoid major repairs. Over time, this can add up to some serious cost savings on parts and labor alike.
Longer Car Life
It is hard to estimate the total number of miles you can put on any given vehicle. This depends on the make and model of the car. Other things affect it as well, such as the type of driving you do and how you use your vehicle, as well as road conditions and the climate where you live.
You may not have much control over many of these factors. One that you do is routine car maintenance.
Regular checkups can extend the life of your vehicle by doing minor upgrades and repairs along the way. That is because, when parts become worn or damaged, this impacts the function of other parts. Catching and addressing minor issues ensures that those systems are not working harder than they need to make your car go, which helps them last longer.
Improved Fuel Efficiency
For the same reason, ensuring your engine and other parts of your car are running as efficiently as possible means it uses less fuel. Research shows that vehicles that undergo regular tune-ups are much more efficient than ones that do not. Some estimates show that you could get as much as a 4 percent boost in gas mileage.
Replacing spark plugs, air filters, and fuel folders can ensure that the engine has efficient combustion and is receiving the amount of clean fuel it needs to run. Checking the throttle and making adjustments to the ignition system can optimize the air-fuel mixture the engine receives. All this can translate to using a minimum amount of fuel in its functions.
Reduced Emissions
A more efficient vehicle also is better for the environment. It means the engine is burning less fuel and producing fewer emissions. Among other environmental impacts, this helps reduce negative impacts on air quality where you live.
Regular tune-ups can ensure that your car is in full compliance with local environmental regulations. In some locations, emissions check failures can keep you from renewing your vehicle registration and prohibit you from driving it. Basic checks can catch these problems as they arise so that you are not scrambling to schedule repairs before your registration expires.
Diminished Risk of Breakdown
One of the biggest benefits of scheduling regular tune-ups is that it can greatly cut down on the risk of breakdowns. These are usually the result of some major component failure and do not often happen overnight. So, getting your car checked out on a regular basis means a greater likelihood that potential problems get caught early.
The flip side is that many of the fixes to these problems are simple and easy. Replacing a worn-out hose or belt is cheap and straightforward, and can help you avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
Breakdowns not only are disruptive to your life but can be costly. It means you have to spend money on roadside assistance or towing to the repair shop. A regular tune-up can help avoid this.
Decreased Risk of Accidents
While most vehicle accidents are caused by driver error, mechanical issues are a major one as well. It also is one of the most avoidable causes of accidents.
Regular tune-ups will help limit the chances of a car crash due to an issue with your car. Checks on things like steering and brake function can go a long way towards helping catch minor issues that may be unsuspecting to the driver. It allows you to address these before they lead to catastrophe.
Limited Liability Exposure
While states have different laws about liability, in most locations, with crashes that result from a vehicle component failure, the fault is usually ascribed to that driver. That means your insurance premiums are likely to go up. How much depends on the amount of damage to other drivers' vehicles and payouts for any medical costs.
Regular vehicle maintenance means you limit the likelihood of these incidents. It can increase safety for you and other drivers on the road, and save you lots of money in insurance costs going forward.
Increased Performance
Increased safety is priority number one, but routine check-ups can result in better performance for your vehicle as well. When your car engine and other driving components are functioning at peak capacity, you can expect better handling, acceleration, and ride quality.
Having your vehicle inspected on a regular basis also gives you the confidence and peace of mind that it is in optimal condition. This alone can translate to a better, more enjoyable driving experience.
Cost Savings
A final benefit of regular car maintenance is that it can save you money over time. In fact, the savings could be substantial, when you consider how it impacts all the areas discussed here, like catching minor problems before they cause further damage.
Most basic car tune-ups only cost between $100 and $300. It is easy to see how this is an economical tradeoff, especially when you combine it with the other benefits discussed above.
How Often Should You Get Your Vehicle Inspected?
How frequently you should get your car inspected depends on several factors, including the amount and type of driving that you do. If you are someone who puts a lot of miles on your car or drives aggressively, more frequent tune-ups may be warranted. If you live in a big city, where there is lots of regular stop-and-go driving, you can expect increased wear on certain components.
It also can be impacted by driving conditions. Poor road quality and severe weather can cause greater wear and tear on a vehicle. This includes very high or low temperatures.
You should get your car inspected at least once a year, regardless of the above factors. Otherwise, a good rule of thumb is to have one done every time you get an oil change. This is an easy way to coordinate tune-ups with every 3,000 to 5,000 miles of driving.
As mentioned, the inspections themselves are not expensive. A reputable auto mechanic will have basic packages that combine regularly needed services -- like oil and air filter changes -- with more comprehensive checks. Discuss with them what inspections are best based on your vehicle and the types of driving you do.
Find Quality Car Tune-Up in Killeen, TX
Now that you understand the many benefits of scheduling regular inspections, you can stay on top of car repairs and catch minor issues before they become major ones. Doing so will make your car last longer, be more reliable, and save you money along the way.
At Phil's Service, we offer the best car tune-up Killeen, TX, has to offer. We provide a range of tune-up services and will work on almost any component in your car. From electrical and lighting to engine, exhaust, AC, belts, wheels, tires, and more, we do it all. Reach out to us today to schedule service.
There are more than 283 million commercial and personal vehicles registered in the United States. Driving is a part of American life. However, most people give the operation of their vehicle little thought, until it fails to run as expected.
Regular upkeep is essential to ensuring your car gets from point A to point B. Yet it can be difficult to know how often to perform it. Too frequently and you are wasting time and money, but putting it off carries its risks.
This article explains why you should schedule a regular car tune-up in Killeen, TX. It covers what most maintenance checks entail and how often you should schedule them. Keep reading to learn about the many benefits routine tune-ups can bring.
What Does a Car Tune-up Include?
Car tune-up packages can vary among repair shops. However, there are some main services that are common. These include:
- Air filter replacement
- Battery and charging system check
- Belts inspection
- Brake and brake pad inspection
- Carburetor check
- Electrical connections inspection
- Exhaust system inspection
- Fluid levels check
- Fuel filter replacement
- Hose condition checks
- Ignition system inspection
- Tire rotation
- Tire and wheel inspection
Often, these are combined with everything that comes with an oil change, including an oil filter change, but not always.
In general, during a tune-up, technicians will go over the basic operations of your vehicle to ensure that they are operating properly. It is not usually a deep dive into the interworkings of the engine or other systems. Rather, it is a comprehensive examination that can catch any glaring problems.
Advantages of Regular Vehicle Tune-Ups
There are many benefits to scheduling a routine car tune-up in Killeen, TX. Here are the main ones to consider.
Savings on Parts and Repairs
One of the biggest advantages of performing regular tune-ups is the chance to do minor repairs where simple problems exist. Fixing parts, where possible, is much more economical than replacing them with new ones. Minor adjustments to components or systems also will cost less than major overhauls when parts completely wear out.
In short, tune-ups allow technicians to perform minor fixes and avoid major repairs. Over time, this can add up to some serious cost savings on parts and labor alike.
Longer Car Life
It is hard to estimate the total number of miles you can put on any given vehicle. This depends on the make and model of the car. Other things affect it as well, such as the type of driving you do and how you use your vehicle, as well as road conditions and the climate where you live.
You may not have much control over many of these factors. One that you do is routine car maintenance.
Regular checkups can extend the life of your vehicle by doing minor upgrades and repairs along the way. That is because, when parts become worn or damaged, this impacts the function of other parts. Catching and addressing minor issues ensures that those systems are not working harder than they need to make your car go, which helps them last longer.
Improved Fuel Efficiency
For the same reason, ensuring your engine and other parts of your car are running as efficiently as possible means it uses less fuel. Research shows that vehicles that undergo regular tune-ups are much more efficient than ones that do not. Some estimates show that you could get as much as a 4 percent boost in gas mileage.
Replacing spark plugs, air filters, and fuel folders can ensure that the engine has efficient combustion and is receiving the amount of clean fuel it needs to run. Checking the throttle and making adjustments to the ignition system can optimize the air-fuel mixture the engine receives. All this can translate to using a minimum amount of fuel in its functions.
Reduced Emissions
A more efficient vehicle also is better for the environment. It means the engine is burning less fuel and producing fewer emissions. Among other environmental impacts, this helps reduce negative impacts on air quality where you live.
Regular tune-ups can ensure that your car is in full compliance with local environmental regulations. In some locations, emissions check failures can keep you from renewing your vehicle registration and prohibit you from driving it. Basic checks can catch these problems as they arise so that you are not scrambling to schedule repairs before your registration expires.
Diminished Risk of Breakdown
One of the biggest benefits of scheduling regular tune-ups is that it can greatly cut down on the risk of breakdowns. These are usually the result of some major component failure and do not often happen overnight. So, getting your car checked out on a regular basis means a greater likelihood that potential problems get caught early.
The flip side is that many of the fixes to these problems are simple and easy. Replacing a worn-out hose or belt is cheap and straightforward, and can help you avoid being stranded on the side of the road.
Breakdowns not only are disruptive to your life but can be costly. It means you have to spend money on roadside assistance or towing to the repair shop. A regular tune-up can help avoid this.
Decreased Risk of Accidents
While most vehicle accidents are caused by driver error, mechanical issues are a major one as well. It also is one of the most avoidable causes of accidents.
Regular tune-ups will help limit the chances of a car crash due to an issue with your car. Checks on things like steering and brake function can go a long way towards helping catch minor issues that may be unsuspecting to the driver. It allows you to address these before they lead to catastrophe.
Limited Liability Exposure
While states have different laws about liability, in most locations, with crashes that result from a vehicle component failure, the fault is usually ascribed to that driver. That means your insurance premiums are likely to go up. How much depends on the amount of damage to other drivers' vehicles and payouts for any medical costs.
Regular vehicle maintenance means you limit the likelihood of these incidents. It can increase safety for you and other drivers on the road, and save you lots of money in insurance costs going forward.
Increased Performance
Increased safety is priority number one, but routine check-ups can result in better performance for your vehicle as well. When your car engine and other driving components are functioning at peak capacity, you can expect better handling, acceleration, and ride quality.
Having your vehicle inspected on a regular basis also gives you the confidence and peace of mind that it is in optimal condition. This alone can translate to a better, more enjoyable driving experience.
Cost Savings
A final benefit of regular car maintenance is that it can save you money over time. In fact, the savings could be substantial, when you consider how it impacts all the areas discussed here, like catching minor problems before they cause further damage.
Most basic car tune-ups only cost between $100 and $300. It is easy to see how this is an economical tradeoff, especially when you combine it with the other benefits discussed above.
How Often Should You Get Your Vehicle Inspected?
How frequently you should get your car inspected depends on several factors, including the amount and type of driving that you do. If you are someone who puts a lot of miles on your car or drives aggressively, more frequent tune-ups may be warranted. If you live in a big city, where there is lots of regular stop-and-go driving, you can expect increased wear on certain components.
It also can be impacted by driving conditions. Poor road quality and severe weather can cause greater wear and tear on a vehicle. This includes very high or low temperatures.
You should get your car inspected at least once a year, regardless of the above factors. Otherwise, a good rule of thumb is to have one done every time you get an oil change. This is an easy way to coordinate tune-ups with every 3,000 to 5,000 miles of driving.
As mentioned, the inspections themselves are not expensive. A reputable auto mechanic will have basic packages that combine regularly needed services -- like oil and air filter changes -- with more comprehensive checks. Discuss with them what inspections are best based on your vehicle and the types of driving you do.
Find Quality Car Tune-Up in Killeen, TX
Now that you understand the many benefits of scheduling regular inspections, you can stay on top of car repairs and catch minor issues before they become major ones. Doing so will make your car last longer, be more reliable, and save you money along the way.
At Phil's Service, we offer the best car tune-up Killeen, TX, has to offer. We provide a range of tune-up services and will work on almost any component in your car. From electrical and lighting to engine, exhaust, AC, belts, wheels, tires, and more, we do it all. Reach out to us today to schedule service.
