Auto Gossip

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 12

Auto Gossip

by

A.J.P.

volved in an accident. It is just as important to wear belts about town as it is when driving in the country. Cold Starts It is even more important to have your car properly tuned in winter than in summer. Although an out-of-tune engine may start reasonably well in warm summer air, a really cold morning combined with heavy oil, dirty spark plugs, and ignition and carburettor settings that are “a bit off” can provide too much of a handicap. Sparks Galore Of course there may be other problems. I recently heard of one well-tuned car which refused to start one cold morning. It was not until the owner cranked the engine by using the under-bon-net solenoid, and watched the engine in the dim light of the garage, that the trouble became obvious: sparks were flying in all directions. It seems the damp air had encouraged condensation to form on the spark plugs and leads. Consequently the hightension current was going anywhere but down to the plug electrodes. A quick wipe with a dry cloth solved the problem. ' Spray Protection If your particular model is prone to condensation, a good cure is to fit plastic plug covers (about 5s each) or rubber covers (about Is 6d each) and spray the wiring with one of the many aerosol “damp start” compounds now on the market (from 15s to

£1 a can). Avoid the plastic sprays. The thin plastic coating tends to harden and flake, but the silicone compounds in other types of ignition spray stays soft and flexible. I do not think these compounds are much help in starting an engine already well dampened. however. The only real answer is to dry things. Quote of the Week “The intended purpose of an automobile does not include its participation in collisions with other objects, in spite of the manufacturer s ability to foresee the possibility that such collisions may occur.” —A Chicago appeals court absolving a Chevrolet design from blame after an accident