Once a year, a tune-up will work wonders for your car. The expense is worth it because your vehicle will always be in good running condition. Considering the value you will get from it, it’s not that expensive. In this article, I’ll discuss Jiffy Lube’s tune-up cost.
A complete tune-up at Jiffy Lube can cost you somewhere between $200 and $800, depending on the work the car service center will perform on your vehicle and the overall cost in your area.
A tune-up service at Jiffy Lube includes a visual inspection of vital engine parts such as the spark plugs, throttle linkages, distributor cap, wires, choke, and pre or post-diagnostic OBD 2 scanning.
Read on to learn more about Jiffy Lube tune-ups, their cost, and what they do during a tune-up service.
Jiffy Lube Tune-up Cost
If you ask for a complete tune-up service at Jiffy Lube, they will charge you between $200 and $800. Your final bill will depend on the preventive maintenance work they perform on your vehicle and the overall cost of a tune-up service in your area.
There are several services they will perform on your car during a tune-up service. The most important work they will do is inspect vital engine parts such as the spark plugs, throttle linkages, choke, spark plug wires, and distributor caps.
If necessary, they will replace the spark plugs and perform pre- or post-OBD 2 scanning of your vehicle. Considering its value, a regular tune-up of your car is worth it. Knowing that your vehicle is in tip-top working condition will give you peace of mind.
While it may seem unnecessary, a regular tune-up service is highly recommended for all vehicles. It will keep your engine clean and running efficiently and help it improve its overall performance. The best way to maintain your car is to have a tune-up service every 30,000 miles.
What Is a Tune-Up Service?
Tune-up service is an essential aspect of routine maintenance of motorized vehicles. This maintenance service will enhance the engine’s performance, make it easier to start, restore its original power, lower emissions, and improve fuel efficiency.
This automotive service includes replacing different vehicle parts that are prone to wear and tear. These automotive parts eventually fail to do their work. When one of these parts fails and is not replaced in time, the performance of the other car components will suffer.
One example of this is the air filter. You should replace it once a year. It will be full of dirt and soot from the outside air if you don’t. It will not be able to prevent dirty air from entering the engine. It can also clog the air passage and restrict airflow.
This will result in a fuel-to-air mixture that is rich. When this happens, your engine will consume more fuel. This will increase fuel costs and cause problems with the car components under the hood.
What Factors Can Affect the Cost of a Tune-Up?
While tune-up service is a catch-all term, several factors can affect the tune-up cost of your vehicle. The service typically involves inspecting and repairing car components responsible for the engine’s efficient performance.
That may be too general. You can’t pinpoint the kind of work performed during a tune-up service. However, several factors can often influence the cost of this type of car service. These factors are:
- The actual service that a car requires
- The car’s make and model. Typically, older cars and older car models tend to have more parts that are worn out. On the other hand, newer car makes and models usually have more complicated components and systems.
What Does a Full Tune-up Consist Of?
Generally, there are two types of tune-up services – the basic type and the full-service type. To help you decide which one you would choose for your car, here is a detailed description of each:
1. Basic Tune-Up
The basic tune-up includes an inspection of the car’s ignition system. If they find it necessary, they may replace your spark plugs. The mechanic will assess your car’s condition to determine the work needed.
If you have a high mileage car, or if it is already old, its spark plugs, the mechanic will most likely recommend that you replace it. Car mechanics recommend spark plug replacement every 12,000 miles or once a year.
Most modern cars have modern spark plugs. Such spark plugs have service lives that span about 100,000 miles. That’s how long they last per tune-up service.
It is also essential for you to consult your car’s owner’s manual. Instructions on scheduling and performing regular tune-ups for your vehicle are in it. You should read this section of your manual and follow its instructions if you want to optimize the use of your car.
2. Full Tune Up
As the term implies, this service is a complete tune-up. Being finished naturally includes the work done on a basic tune-up service. So, the mechanic will inspect your car’s ignition system, spark plugs, and spark plug replacement (if necessary).
Apart from these, a full tune service also involves the inspection of the following car parts:
- Distributor cap
- Distributor rotor
- Air filter
- Fuel filter
- Filter Replacements
- PCV valve
- Spark plug replacement
- Tires Check
- Filter Replacements
- Fluid checks
- Pre/post diagnostic check on most OBD-equipped vehicles
Again, how much does a Jiffy Lube tune-up cost? A tune-up at Jiffy Lube will cost around $200-$800. This service includes the following:
- Visual inspection
- Spark plug or spark plug wire replacement
- Checkup on Vehicles with OBD
What Can You Expect In a Jiffy Lube Tune-Up?
You should know what to expect if you go in for a tune-up service at Jiffy Lube. That way, you can anticipate the service cost you will ask them to do. So, when you bring your car to a Jiffy Lube car center, these are the things you can expect:
1. Interview
The first thing the Jiffy Lube technician will do is ask pertinent questions about your vehicle. They may ask about your driving style.
The tech will probe your driving habits, such as where and how you usually drive. Your answers to these questions will help them look for potential problems in your car.
2. Vehicle Inspection
After getting all the information about your car they need, they will know what to inspect. They will check all the car components needing maintenance, repair, or replacement.
Of course, they will also do the regular inspection in a tune-up service, whether a basic or complete tune-up.
3. Recommendation
After they have checked and inspected your car and assessed what it needs in terms of maintenance, repair, or replacement, the Jiffy Lube tech will discuss their findings and the tune-up services your car needs.
They will be open to your questions, so don’t hesitate to ask them whatever you do not understand. Before they repair or replace any car part, they need your approval so there’ll be no problem when it’s time for you to pay your bills.
How Do You Know If Your Car Needs a Tune-up?
You should consult your operator’s manual on the proper time to schedule a tuning service for your car. However, that’s not the only way to tell if you need a tune-up. There are sure signs that your vehicle will manifest that indicate if it already needs a tune-up service:
1. Reduced Engine Performance
You know what your car is capable of doing in terms of engine performance. If you notice that you can’t get the usual power it can give when stepping on the gas, that’s one sign that the engine needs a tune-up.
A hard starting engine also indicates that your car needs a tune-up. It could either be dirty spark plugs or even damaged spark plugs. There are other possible reasons for this problem, but the spark plugs are the usual suspects.
2. Deteriorating Vehicle Handling
You also know the ease and comfort you can get while driving your car. When you feel that driving is getting more difficult and your degree of comfort is already suffering, maybe it’s time to bring your vehicle to Jiffy Lube for a tune-up service.
3. Increased Gas Expenses
As engine performance degrades, one of the natural consequences is increased fuel usage. If you monitor the number of gallons your car consumes for every mile, you will know when it consumes more fuel than before.
It will be difficult for you to ignore the increased bill at the pump. If your current spending is increasing, it’s a sign that your car is consuming more fuel than usual. It’s time to bring it to Jiffy Lube for a tune-up service.
4. Strange Noises
If you hear new and strange noises, especially if it seems to come from the engine, this is a symptom that your car needs a tune-up. For that matter, any new and strange noise from any car component or part merits an inspection.
You need to pinpoint where exactly the noise is coming from. A car tech will significantly help in locating the exact spot. They will also be the right person to recommend fixing your car’s needs related to that noise.
5. Reduced Braking Power
Safety is your priority when you are behind the wheel. Other car amenities fall in second place when it comes to safety. So, responsive brakes are essential every time you drive your car. They are as important as your car’s airbags.
So, if you feel you are losing your brakes, even gradually, you should not take it lightly. You should take your car to a Jiffy Lube for a brake check or inspection.
In all driving conditions, your braking system has many components that work together to give your car the necessary braking power.
Even the slightest loss of braking power should be enough for you to head on to a Jiffy Lube car service shop so you can have its braking system inspected and repaired.
In Closing
Jiffy Lube’s complete tune-up cost can range from $200 to $800. Your actual bill will depend on the specific maintenance work the car service center will perform on your vehicle. Another element that can impact the price is your area’s general vehicle service cost.
You may think that tune-ups are unnecessary. If you want your car to be tip-top, tune it up periodically. It will keep your engine clean and running efficiently. So that your vehicle will always run efficiently, give it a tune-up service every 30,000 miles.