One of the keys to keeping your Audi in to top shape is to schedule the right preventative maintenance. Most consumers and mechanics refer to this preventive maintenance as a tune-up. These tune-ups may cost you a few hundred dollars but save you thousand of dollars of costly repairs in the process. Last year, American drivers paid an average of $388 for a tune-up. However, not all standard tune-up maintenance performed is necessary. Here's a quick guide to help you save money at your next tune-up:

Oil Change 

Common auto mechanic lore suggests that your Audi must have its oil and oil filter swapped out every 3,000 miles. This figure dates back to the days when engine oil was relatively crude, engine valves were leakier, and the average driver simply drove fewer miles. 

With today's synthetic oil blends and virtually leak-free valves, your Audi's oil should be changed far less frequently. Thus, every 7 to 10K, you should schedule an appointment to have your oil drained and oil filter changed by a licensed, certified, Audi mechanic.

60K

If you purchased your Audi new or with less than 30,000 miles, you can hold off on scheduling your first tune-up for when your vehicle rolls off its 60,000th mile. 

Most 60,000 mile Audi tune-ups prescribe the following preventative maintenance: 

• Draining/Replacing all fluids
• Replacing brake pads
• Replacing Spark Plugs
• Replacing the Timing Belt
• Adjusting the Suspension

Here's what you should keep, add, and scrap:

• Draining/Replacing all fluids*
• Replacing Spark Plugs
• Replace Engine Coil
• Balance/align Tires
• Adjusting the Suspension
• Replacing the Timing Belt

The most expensive maintenance in this list is the timing belt. Because Audi engineers their vehicles with "interference" engines, if your timing belt breaks while your vehicle is running, you are looking a very costly repair. Many Audi mechanics scare customers into paying for their timing belt replacement at the 60K mile tune-up with horror stories. What they might not tell you, is that your timing belt is designed to last for 120-150K miles. Thus, you can hold off on the timing belt until your next tune-up at 120K miles.

Additionally, you can scrap the brake pad replacement and suspension adjustment. Your money can be more wisely spent on engine coil and having your tires balanced and realigned. 

*Many auto repair shops lure customers in with "discounted" tune-up packages. These "discounts" are often used to entice car owners to pay for unnecessary maintenance. Most auto mechanics will, however, offer a "free" oil change if you agree to tune-up your vehicle.

120k (and beyond)

When you have your Audi tune-up, you will want the maintenance performed at your 60K tune-up repeated. Additionally, every other tune-up, you will want to have your timing belt replaced. When you have your timing belt replaced, you should also consider having the following services performed:

• Replace the Water Pump
• Replace the Hoses
• Replace the Thermostat Assembly
• Replace the Tensioners
• Replace the Relays

The most expensive part of replacing a timing belt is the labor required to dissemble and reassemble the engine. Because your engine's internal works are so accessible when a mechanic is replacing your timing belt, you can save yourself additional money by replacing the components listed above. 

Today's cars are designed to be driven 200,000 miles or more. Audi, in particular, manufactures high performance vehicles designed to last. Maintaining your Audi is a balancing act between cost and time. Scheduling the right service at the right time can help your Audi outlast other vehicles on the road. Tune-ups are essential part of this equation.

For more information on Audi maintenance, contact a company like Euroclassics Limited.