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Q: My vehicle was marketed as not needing a tune up for 100,000 miles. However, the dealer recently told me that I need tune up work long before that mileage.

What is your opinion on doing tune ups and extended servicing of the vehicle before 100,000 miles? - Brian

A: Hi Brian,  

Many vehicles are marketed with extremely long service intervals. This allows the manufacturer to show a very low cost-per-mile to operate the vehicle. The term “tune up” is an old term used in the days of vehicles with mechanical ignition and fuel control system that used to refer to the need to make adjustments to these components periodically in order to keep the vehicle running. Today’s electronically controlled vehicles do not require regular “tune ups”. The 100,000 mile “tune up” that you are referring to usually involves replacement of the spark plugs. Most manufacturers are now using platinum-tipped or iridium-tipped spark plugs to reduce wear and allow for much longer spark plug life. Although these spark plugs may continue to operate and keep the engine running for 100,000 miles we have found that the performance of these vehicles is substantially compromised after about 60,000 miles in most cases. We also find that there is a drop in fuel mileage at that time as well as a possibility of accelerated wear or damage to other ignition components if the spark plugs are allowed to run for 100,000 miles without service. It is our opinion that the spark plugs on these vehicles should generally be replaced at 60,000 miles to provide for good engine performance and fuel economy.