5 DIY Automotive Tune Up Tips

Taking care of your vehicle with regular maintenance and tune ups is a must if you want it to keep its value and not break down. The problem is that taking your vehicle to a automotive mechanic can be a costly endeavor that most people would rather avoid. Luckily, most of the automotive tune up jobs that need to be done, can be done by owners themselves.

Oil Change
It can be a very simple project if you have the right tools and know-how. Before beginning this project, you will need to refer to your owner’s manual for the type your vehicle uses. You will also need a funnel, filter wrench, socket wrench, and a drain container.
The first step is to remove it. Place your container underneath the drain plug and loosen the drain plug. Once it has completely drained, you can re-tighten the drain plug.
Next you want to remove the old filter with your filter wrench. Be sure to remove the old gasket as well and then place the new filter gasket and filter in place.
Finally, you can add the new oil to the engine. There should be a filler cap on the top of your engine that you can place a funnel in to make the process easier. Replace the cap, warm up the engine, and check the level.

Spark Plug Change
Changing out old plugs is important because old plugs can make your engine misfire and lower fuel efficiency. The process is very easy and the first step is to remove the plug wires. Using a socket wrench, the spark plugs can be removed by twisting counterclockwise. Put a new plug in its place and tighten it down. Replace the plug wire and repeat the process for all of the plugs.

Fuel Filter Replacement
Old fuel filters can reduce engine performance and fuel efficiency. Refer to your owner’s manual to find the location of your filter and the model number so you can purchase a replacement. Place a drain container underneath the filter and remove any protective plastic that is covering it. Remove the hose clamps from both sides of the filter and plug the fuel lines with a golf tee. Install your new filter, reconnect the fuel lines, and reattach the filter guard.

Air Filter Replacement
Replacing your vehicle’s air filter may be the easiest tune up job to do. You’ll need a screwdriver and a new filter to complete the job. Open the hood and locate the filter housing. Use the screwdriver to open the housing and remove the old filter. Install the new filter and screw the housing back down.

Check Fluid Levels
There are several fluid levels to check while you’re doing a tune up. Some cars need their transmission, brake, power steering, and rear-end fluid levels checked. However, your car may not need some of those levels checked, so refer to your owner’s manual. Some fluids that all cars need checked are windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid, and power steering fluid. Use your owner’s manual to determine the proper levels and top off the fluids that are low.

Audi A4 Tuning

Audis are by no means slow when they roll off of the factory lot. But for car enthusiasts really looking to push their cars to the edge and see what they can do, tuning their Audi A4’s may be a great option. Tuning your A4 can take a little bit of practice to get things just right. If you’re a first timer, do some research online on how you can tune your Audi. It’s really a fine art to get everything just right in your car, so experimentation and diversity/variety in your part selection can make a big difference. Below you will find some suggestions we have for things you can do or buy to make your A4 the fastest on the road.

New Brakes

While it may be speed that you’re after, you still can’t forget about the most important part of going fast: stopping. If you have weak brakes or they take a while to slow you down to a halt, it may be time to install some new brakes and brake pads. Brakes aren’t that expensive or difficult to put in, so if it’s your first time working on your car, this may be a good place to start. These particular A4 brakes cost just shy of $200, making them a solid price point to jump in with.  New brakes will help decrease the amount of time it takes from putting your foot on the brake to actually stopping. A few extra stopping feet could mean the difference between crashing and getting away unscathed. Remember, if you’re working with your brakes, test them before you go on the streets!

Exhaust

If you have some serious cash to spend on your upgrades, consider getting a new exhaust for your car. Exhausts, if manufactured poorly or improperly, can cause backflow pressure to work its way back up the pipe and into the engine, ultimately hindering performance. If you really want to get the best performance out of your engine and keep it tuned in tip top shape, a new exhaust will help greatly reduce backflow and get the best gas mileage out of your vehicle. Plus, exhausts installed after the factory models usually sound much nicer as well. Less noise means less annoyance as you barrel down the freeway.

Short Shifter

What prevents cars from accelerating quickly is not the car itself in most situations. Slow shifting is the cause of many of the slow starts that drivers experience. If you install a short shifter you can reduce the time it takes to switch between gears by huge amounts, thus keeping you up to speed with other drivers on the road. Short shifters are also a little bit smaller in size, so they may take some getting used to when first installed.  Different short shifting kits can cost different amounts of money depending on how effectively they reduce shifting times. Most commonly they cost anywhere between $150 and $300. One of the most popular shifting kit brands is Neuspeed.