Having your car tuned-up no longer means what it once did. In the past, tune-ups were a necessary part of car maintenance that were required to keep the car working optimally. But today, technology has made the traditional car tune-up obsolete. Instead, most cars contain sophisticated computer systems that can make small adjustments in your car’s performance without the intervention of a mechanic or alert you to a potential problem. This means you no longer need a mechanic to go over your car regularly to tweak things for you and alert you to potential problems. What your car regularly needs today is maintenance service.

This routine maintenance for your car should involve regular and frequent oil changes, first of all. There’s no one single thing you can do that’s more important to preserving your car’s engine and function. Use the weight of oil recommended by the manufacturer of your car, and make sure the oil filter is also changed when the oil is changed. Oil changes can be done at any number of locations, including quick oil change facilities or even your own back yard. These days, most oil changes include a visual inspection of other fluid levels, as well as an inspection of your car’s belts and hoses.

In addition, your coolant system should be flushed about once a year, perhaps twice if you live in an area subject to greater temperature extremes.

Next up, air filters should be regularly replaced so that they don’t allow particulate matter to be introduced to the engine.

Belts and hoses should also be replaced when they show signs of wear. It’s far easier to replace a failing belt or hose before it actually fails – they have a habit of failing at inconvenient times and places.

Your braking system should also be regularly inspected, or you can wait until you notice the first sign of a change in performance. Brakes seldom fail all at once – they usually give you a warning that things are heading downhill. Because their function is so essential to the safety of the car and its occupants, they’re designed to be durable and to let you know when they’re having issues.

If you notice a change in the way your engine performs, it may be time to have a mechanic look at your spark plugs. Detergent additives in today’s gasoline keep spark plugs far cleaner than in years past, so spark plugs last much longer. The technology of the plugs themselves also allows them to remain cleaner and run longer without problems. No longer do spark plugs need to be replaced according to a regular schedule, although you may need to address them if one starts to wear out.

The timing on your car is generally computer-controlled, as are distributor caps – other things that used to be included in a tune-up. Again, your car’s computer will generally let you know if you’re having an issue in one of these areas. In fact, rather than worrying about a tune-up, you might consider stopping by your local mechanic and asking to have a quick diagnostic done on your car. In most cases, this is inexpensive – if not free – and will alert you to any potential problems that may be developing.