How to Look After a Tuned European Car

Why does maintenance matter more on a tuned car?

A tune makes the engine work harder when you use the extra power. There is more air, more fuel and more heat going through it. Parts that wear out on any car tend to wear a bit faster, and a worn part that a stock car might tolerate can cause problems sooner on a tuned one.

The good news is that most of this is simple, routine care. It just matters more now. Following the manufacturer's schedule is the minimum, and on a tuned car, some items are worth doing sooner.

How often should I change my spark plugs?

Spark plugs make the spark that lights the fuel. On a turbocharged engine with more boost, the spark has to jump across a gap in a high-pressure environment, which is harder work. As plugs wear, the gap gets bigger and the spark gets weaker.

Worn plugs on a tuned car can cause misfires, which feel like a stumble or jerk when you accelerate, and they can make the engine more prone to knock. On many tuned cars, plugs are changed more often than the factory schedule says. Some tunes also call for a specific plug type or gap. We will tell you what your car needs.

What about ignition coils?

Ignition coils turn the car's 12-volt power into the high voltage that the spark plug needs. Each cylinder usually has its own coil. Coils work harder on a tuned car, and worn plugs make them work even harder.

A failing coil typically causes a misfire and often a flashing or steady check engine light. If that happens, ease off and get it checked. Driving hard with a misfire is not good for the engine.

Does a tuned car need different oil?

It needs the right oil, changed on time. Most European manufacturers list a specific oil approval for each engine, and using an oil that meets it matters. Turbochargers spin very fast and run hot, and they rely on clean oil to stay healthy.

Many people with tuned cars choose to shorten the time between oil changes, especially if they drive hard, take short trips or sit in Atlanta traffic in summer heat. We can suggest an interval that fits how you drive.

What is carbon buildup, and why do people talk about it?

Many modern European engines use direct injection, which sprays fuel straight into the cylinder instead of into the air passage before the intake valves. It is efficient, but it has a side effect. On older designs, fuel washed over the intake valves and helped keep them clean. With direct injection, it does not.

Over time, oil vapor from inside the engine can bake onto the intake valves and form hard carbon deposits. This restricts the airflow into the engine and can cause rough idle, hesitation, misfires, lower power and lower fuel economy. A common way to clean it is walnut blasting, where crushed walnut shells are blown at the valves to knock the deposits off without harming the metal.

How quickly this happens varies a lot by engine and driving style. Not every car needs it on a schedule. If your car has symptoms, or you are buying a higher-mileage car with a direct injection engine, it is worth checking.

What else should I keep an eye on?

• Cooling system. Coolant leaks and tired hoses are common on older European cars, and a tuned engine relies on good cooling.
• Intake and boost leaks. On a turbo car, a split hose or loose clamp lets boost escape, which can cause poor running and fault codes.
• Transmission fluid. Especially if you have a transmission tune or a lot of extra torque.
• Brakes and tires. More power means you will want them in good shape.
• The fuel you use. Stick to the grade your tune was written for.

Should I get a car inspected before buying it?

If you are shopping for a used European car, and especially one that has already been modified or tuned, a pre-purchase inspection is worth it. A pre-purchase inspection is a check done before you buy, so you know what you are getting and what it might cost to put right.

We offer pre-purchase inspections. Because we also tune and service these cars, we can look for things a general inspection may not, like signs of a previous tune or modifications that were not mentioned.

Can you service my car even if you did not tune it?

Yes. Our maintenance work includes European service, scheduled service and pre-purchase inspections, at our published shop labor rate of $180/hr. A tuned car stays a healthy car when it is looked after by people who know the platform.

Send us your car details for a quote on service, an inspection or a tune.