100,000 MILES BEFORE THE FIRST “TUNE-UP!”
First, there’s no such thing as a tune-up anymore. Years ago when cars operated
on point ignition systems, yes the tune-up was necessary. Having a tune-up
meant that the ignition system got new parts, filters, sparkplugs, wires, and so
on. Today, with computerized ignition, most of the traditional ignition
components are gone. Points, condensers, distributors, caps, and rotors are a
thing of the past. All this stuff has been replaced with an intuitive computerized
ignition that manages fuel and ignition automatically based on sensor input and
environmental conditions.
What this marketing ploy refers to is sparkplug replacement. That’s it. Most
carmakers use platinum sparkplugs today because they last longer and have a
hotter spark. And, yes, platinum spark plugs under perfect laboratory conditions
probably would log 100,000 miles before giving up the ghost. But we’re talking
real world here. Enter the effects of bad fuel injectors, cold weather’s effect on
fuel mixture (richer mix) that fouls out the plugs, faulty sensors that cause
incorrect engine adjustments (which fouls out plugs), mechanical malfunctions
such as bad valve guides and seals that spill oil on the plugs (causing misfire),
and worn pistons and rings that cause oil consumption (as well as poor
performance and decreased fuel efficiency). Then, of course, we have air and
fuel filters that get dirty and cause engine performance to go south as well. Oh,
and what about the effects of bad gas?
Add the fact that most engines today are made of aluminum and the
sparkplugs are made of an alloy metal, and when you ignore them for a long
time, these dissimilar metals (of the cylinder heads and sparkplugs) “weld”
themselves together, making them extremely difficult to remove and subject to
cylinder head damage.