| Gauges
and Meters
Despite the simple principles behind how an engine works (if
you wan~ lowdown, head to Chapter 3), many auto repair tasks
require fairly pre, adjustments: You put only so much oil
into the engine. You add only s ' air to tires. You tighten
some nuts and bolts only so tight. You leave a ~ a precise
size between spark plug electrodes. Several tools are availabi
help you determine when enough oil, fluid, air, pressure,
or whatever i! enough. This section highlights those that
are most useful.
Wire, taper, and flat feeter gauges
This section covers tools that you use for "gapping"
spark plugs, poinl cars with non-electronic ignition systems),
and valves. These tools are~ inexpensive - some stores even
give them away as premiums. Althoo usually discuss specialized
tools in the chapters that call for them, I # mention these
now so that you can pick them up while you're at an atl supply
store buying other stuff: ,
? Wire and taper feeler gauges:
You use these gauges for gapping! plugs (see Figures 2-14
and 2-15). Gapping simply means sliding proper-sized wire
or taper gauge between the spark plug electrod make sure that
the surfaces are the proper distance apart. Doing ~ ensures
that the spark can jump across the gap with the proper intencity
? Flat feeler gauges:
You use these gauges to adjust valves and ignition contact
points, relatively simple jobs that are impossible to do properly
without a feeler gauge (see Figure 2-16). Look for these gauges
as part of a set of tools - or as freebies in auto parts stores
- before you buy them separately.
Cars
with electronic ignitions don't need tune-ups, and they require
special expensive tools for adjustments. If your car has an
electronic ignition, forget ; about buying a feeler gauge
for gapping points. You can consult your owner' manual to
see whether your car's ignition is simple enough to adjust
yoursel and what tools you'd need, but chances are that you'll
be happy to have a professional maintain the system for you.
The good news is that electronic ignitions usually don't require
adjusting if they're set correctly in the first place.
compression
lyautyes
You
use compression gauges, shown in Figure 2-17, to check the
pressure thi builds up in each cylinder as your engine runs.
These gauges also reveal worn or damaged piston rings and
valves. If your vehicle is new, you proba¬bly won't have
this problem for some time, but if you have an older or secondhand
vehicle, this easy-to-use gauge is a good investment. It can
help you spot trouble and save money. The screw-in kind is
easiest to use but usu ally costs a bit more.
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Used
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