MOTORING & MOTORISTS

Evening Star, Issue 20138, 1 April 1929, Page 12

MOTORING & MOTORISTS

[BY RADIATOR.]

Brie! accounts of holiday trips, roads, and places of interest are inyited for this column.

oils whoa heated thin out to an appreciable degree, after a run of some duration the oil -pressure gauge is very likely to register only a. slight pressure; ’this is particularly true on ears lifted with high-pressure .gauges, reading, say, HOlb or 401 b per square inch. Such cars after a run may show only 51b or 101 b pressure, which occasions misgiving on the part of the motorist. As a matter of fact, the actual circulation of the oil at this reduced pressure is considerably greater than it is with a thick oil at a high pressure. The motorist makes a serious mistake in going to a heavy-bodied oil to restore the oil pressure reading, because in doing so be is putting into Ids engine—that is, providing it is one that has been designed to use a medium bodied or light bodied lubricant—a lubricant which is altogether too heavy to suit the conditions, and consequently too prone to produce carbon detonation and other serious effects. Likewise the .service station man makes a serious mistake in attempting to bolster up the oil-gauge reading by readjusting the oil pressure relief valve. In doing so he considerably augments the amount of oil passing through the system, and reaching the cylinder walls, and hence brings about oil pumping ami a tendency for the engine to carbon up even when the correct oil is used. Your engine is perfectly safe just ns long as the oil pressure gauge does indicate some pressure. Make positive of this point—some pressure should be recorded. But it is most inadvisable to either holster the pressure, up by the unguarded use of heavier-bodied lubricants where their need is not indicated, or by means of. excessive pressure on the oil. relief valve. Both of these methods are trouble breeders, and should be religiously eschewed. BATTERY HEATING. Neglect to_ keep the battery filled with pure distilled Avator is one of the greatest evils, as well as the most common, and will shorten its /no quicker than anything dse._ Evaporation of water in the solution is continuous, If the level of the water is permitted to reach a point below the tops of the plates, the upper portion if loft exposed and useless. If only one-half of the surface of the plates is covered by the solution, a normal charging rate is equivalent to twice the amount of current which should go through thts covered portion. This causes rapid overheating ami damage not seen at the time, hub which- results in considerable expense huer. A physician will always recommend plenty of pure water. Apply this same principle to your battery, and always keep it tilled, so that it may work properly. An undercharged condition, continuing for some lime, may he the direct cause of overheating. This starved condition may he due to the inexperience or carelessness of the driver, who does nob use judgment in operating his lights, or who uses the starter oftener than is necessary. When undercharged for some time, plates become hardened and offer greater resistance to the charging current. In such a case the battery must be reformed at a very low rate for a considerable time, often three or four days. If. therefore, a car with a starved battery is taken on a long run, the normal charging rato will produce intense heat in the battery to suck an extent that the plates will buckle. If the battery were in a normal healthy condition this would not occur. A battery in this condition is likened to a man recovering from severe illness who is put on a healthy man’s diet. If he begins with corned beef and cabbage, instead of getting better ho gets worse. In the same way. where a dieting charge would bring the battery hack to a healthy condition, the normal full charge for a healthy battery will result in a complete breakdown. Your storage battery is intended to do a certain amount of work. It is receiving a certain amount of energy or food. Therefore, in order to continue in a healthy condition it must give up a certain amount of energy in the same manner as the human body. ABOUT SKIDDING. With regard to skidding, preventive measures always are better than remedial ones. However, since the former are not always taken, it is a very good idea to have a knowledge of the latter. There are two things that will help to bring the ear safely out of a skid. One is to turn the front wheels in the direction of the skid. The other is to remove the loot from the brake pedal. FOLDING GARAGE. NOVEL INVENTION. An attempt to solve the garage problem on distinctly original lines has been made by an Englishman, who has invented a portable folding garage. Flo believes that many motorists have space for a garage adjacent to their houses, but are unable to erect a, permanent structure on account of local by-laws, ground landlords’ rights, and so on; his idea, therefore, is to provide a portable garage which will not infringe any regulation, and which, moreover, can be easily folded up and transported should the owner move to a new address. The construction is highly ingenious, the roof being binged to the sides in such a way that, when the doors at the ends are opened, the roof and one side can be folded Hat against the remaining side. Although either end can bo used as a door, it is recommended that one end should be kept permanently closed and bolted up to secure increased rigidity. The model which was examined was constructed of a strong wooden frame strengthened where necessary with metal, whilst the panelling was of plywood; in future, however, stout treated canvas stretched over wire netting will be used in place of plywood, thus reducing the weight without sacrificing strength. The garage is on-small wheels, the tubular axles serving to locate the folding side when the structure is in use; the axles, incidentally, are in two sections, and the detachable portions are arranged to act as struts when the garage is folded. No tools are required to erect or fold the structure, wing bolts being employed universally.

SIGN OF VALVE TROUBLE. A light tapping noise when the engine is revolving at its minimum speed usually is an indication ot wear between the tappets and the valve stems. Tiio trouble is not just a question of noise; it points to the fact that the valves are not being lifted sufficiently high to function properly. Noisy tappets often mean loss ol power, and adjustments should he made accordingly. PASSENGER NUISANCE. CONFIDENCE IN THE DRIVER. 'The first essential of a good car passenger is that lie shall have complete confidence in the powers of the driver, but this is the thing that the driverpassenger rarely has. His methods of attack are various. Sometimes ho sits bolt upright on the edge of the seat and watches the traffic with almost unbelievable concentration. Sometimes ho indicates his feelings by suddenly stopping in the middle of a remark and finishing it only when the intersection has been crossed or a cat passed, or whatever simple nuioeuvre you were about to undertake. Sometimes be gives a sharp, disconcerting and dramatic intake of breath. Sometimes he merely jams his foot on an imaginary brake so that- the floorboards of the car creak ominously. But whatever ho does, this typo ol passenger is not a peaceful person to nave on the front scat. Equally annoying is the passenger who has no confidence in the man at the wheel. ‘‘l’d have passed that,” ho declares, when you pull behind a car to avoid cutting in. ‘‘You needn’t slow down much for this corner. I. never do.” “Here’s a fair hit of road; you can let her out a. bit,” and so on. It is this same type that passes remarks about the car itself. “Clutch is a bit fierce,” he comments as you start off, and if your car is_a Ford lie dilates on the easy starting and slopping of the Guide. The speedometer, of course, over-registers, and the springing is nothing to compare with the Chintz. A Benge would have taken that last hill without a- murmur, and he is sure the bus is not greased often enough. The timid passenger who gives advice is terrible. Wives, they say, arc the worst offenders. They point out obstacles and dangers only to he met with the reply. “Saw that hours ago. You can. keep your eyes on the scenery.” When the traffic policeman is visible they tell you the minute ho moves Jiis position, but if he he _ obscured from your vision and only visible to _ theirs, they will never warn you that his hand is against you, and will sit in disapproving silence while you ignominously hack. A husband, after fifteen years’ driving experience, answers his wife’s remarks with “ Thank you ; I might not have noticed it.” Few, however, are capable ol as much control as Hint! SPEED ON CURVES. Low centres of gravity have been a temptation to go around corners at a higher rate of sliced, and, as a result, it is a little more difficult lor the average driver to toll when ho is abusing Ins lyres. Before low cars came into style, ho used to save his tyres automatically through turning sknvly in an effort to save his own hide. There is a handy way to find out just how fast it is permissible to take corners without wearing the lyre threads excessively. Simply pick out a gravel road, preferably a private driveway that has a turn in it. and note whether the pebbles are lorn up as the car swings around at its customary speed. The turn can be made a little faster on a hard-surfaced street or road than oi'er gravel; but if tho speed is kn down to a point whore tho pebbles arc not greatly disturbed, tbo margin ol safety will greatly prolong the usefulness of tho tyres. SUCTION-OPERATED SWITCH. There- seems no limit to inventive genius as applied to the improvement of the motor car. One inventor, for instance, has capitalised on his observation that with buttery ignition there is a. risk of tho accumulators being discharged, while the car is garaged, if tho engine should bo stopped inadvertently and tho ignition switch left at the “on” position. He has overcome tho risk- lay introducing a suctionoperated switch. Hero is the idea.; Normally, with tho engine stopped, the switch is “off,” but when the partial vacuum occurs in the induction pipe, duo to an attempt to start the engine, the switch is moved automatically to “on,” and held thus by the partial vacuum, or suction, all the while the engine continues to run, unless it is moved to “off” by hand. If tho engine is stopped inadvertently the Jack of suction effect allows the switch to move “oft” automatically. SCRAPER PISTON RINGS. Many engines are curiously prone to over-oiling, even though tho oil supply is cub down to the minimum, and the cylinder barrel and piston rings aro in perfect condition. In consequence, sparking plugs foul quickly, and decarhoiiisatioa of the engine is required at too frequent intervals. To overcome this trouble an English firm has produced a scraper ring for fitting to the lower groove of practically any piston on the market. This new ring is made in three distinct patterns—bevelled, stepped, and slotted. The first two are suitable for pistons having a bevelled lower piston groove with the oil return holes drilled at an angle, and the slotted type is for use with pistons with ordinary ring grooves, but having tho oil return holes immediately behind the lower ring. With this last type the surplus oil is actually passed through tho scraper ring. CARE OF THE CAR. Some car owners may -be making motoring resolutions for tho new year, but there is a big gulf between the making and the keeping. Incidentally, the gulf accounts for much unnecessary expense. In other words, the expense associated with keeping a ear in service can bo kept within small bounds if the motorist makes up his mind to keep but a few little fundamental resolutions. If ear users resolved to get tho best of their motoring they would be on tho right track to give their vehicles the attentions necessary to that end. . One of the great money-saving points is to nip trouble in the bud. Have defects attended to while they

are little defects, and do not wait until serious trouble develops or is imminent. An instance of this is misalignment of the wheels causing excessive tyro wear. Many a good set of tyres has been ruined, through failure of tho motorist to observe the first symptoms of misaligned wheels caused possibly through grating against the kerb. Many good engines have gone to tho wall because of impatience for speed when tho units were brand new, or had just returned from complete overhauls at workshops. _ Lubrication of engine and transmission is still freely neglected in spite of all that has been said and written on tho subject. Instruction books still remain unopened in the car door pockets. And, by the way. a very good new year’s motoring resolution would be to read the instruction book from cover to cover, paying special attention to the chassis lubrication diagram. WARNING TO DIMMERS. COIIONER’S SEVERE STRICTURES. The Jirst case, so far as is known, is reported to have occurred in England recently of a motorist boning censured by a coroner for switching off his headlights and so causing a fatality. This danger has been emphasised over and over again by experienced _ motorists, but the practice is still persisted in by a. good many drivers in this country, ‘The Motor’’ (England), commenting on the occmTonee, states as follows: “ It appears that two men were pushing a. barrow across Rlackheath and the car crashed into them from the rear, resulting in the death of one of the men. The motorist said that as lie was proceeding across Rlackheath another car coming in the opposite direction, with headlights on, dazzled him so much that he switched his own oil', thinking the other motorist would do the same. Ho did not do so, however, and in turning into the near side the crash occurred. “The jury returned a _ verdict of c accidental death,’ and, said that the accident was due to the bad driving of defendant. The. coroner, agreeing with tim jury, said he did not think tho man was*lit to drr ! a car. It was not right to shut off his headlights and to blind himself so that ho could not see the barrow. He considered it very had and wicked driving, gross negligence which might have influenced tho jury to return a verdict of manslaughter. “The ewe is one that undoubtedly clearly reveals in a tragic manner the danger of switching off, hut wc think the coroner’s strictures were somewhat severe. There are evidently some motorists who still consider cutting out the headlights an act of courtesy, and although the risks of doing so are enormous, it docs not necessarily lollow that a man who does it is not lit to drive a motor car." MAINTENANCE. 1 1 is not uncommon to hoar motorists say that car care on a detail scale is not wo th while since “ when you go to trade-in the car they give yon only so much regardless of condition.” This idea is wrong. It is a poor argument on two scores. First, condition do i count w’Mi the used-car trader, and second, it is ridiculous to drive an inollicientlv operating car when a little judicious care will make it ship-shape. Car care is a necessary adjunct to pleasurable and inexpensive motoring. OF BENEFIT TO MOTORISTS. A booklet entitled ‘The Connoisseur,’ which deals with the essential qualities of motor spirits in plain, non-tec.hnical language, has just been published by the Vacuum Oil Company Pty.,' Ltd. Booklets issued by this company in the past have been must instructive, and motorists could not do better than to make use of the coupon which appears in an advertisement in this issue to procure a copy of ‘ The Connoisseur.’

HINTS AND TIPS

. To remove headlight rims when rusted or sticking, wrap friction tape around them. This provides a better gripping surface. ! Fast driving with the sudden jamming on of the brakes not only wastes time, but is expensive. It wears the tyres out very much more-quickly than does quiet and sensible driving; the brakes do not last as long, and quite a lot of undue stress is thrown on other mechanical parts of the car. A steady Average speed will get you there quicker than wall fast driving, interspersed with fierce rise of the brakes. Although the idea of using a split nut to hold threaded objects, such as screws or bolts, in the vice is not new, a novel adaptation consists in sawing the nut completely in hall, so as to servo as the jaws of a light pair of tongs, which enable the object to be safely handled even after it has been heated. The halves of the nut should be secured with screws to a ‘‘ U ” Shaped piece of spring steel. It your ear jumps out of gear in Climbing a hill, install a. stronger latch spring. Sometimes end play in the main shaft of the transmission or wearing of the teeth of the gear will cause the machine t,° jump out. In such eases a now gear should bo installed. Sudden loss of power is often traced to a disconnected spark advance rod, or to the timing chain, which becomes loose and jumps the timing. Most carbon deposits in an engine come from gaoslino and dust and dirt sucked through the carburettor and not from oil, as is the popular opinion. • When a pronounced click is heard in a ear when starting in low or reverse, fit can sometimes he eliminated by ■tightening the rear axle nuts and universal joint flanges. 1 A peculiar grating in the horn is generally caused by a broken diaphragm. A new diaphragm should bo ■installed as they cannot be repaired. 1 OIL PRESSURE. ' GAUGE OFTEN MISLEADING. . The oil pressure gauge on the dash •of the car can be very misleading. "When the oil is fresh and cold the ■pressure gauge will register full pressure, but due to the fact that all

TIMES FOR LIGHTING UP. To-day 0.27 Tuesday ... 0.2 r, AVednetsday 0.21 Thursday 0.22 'Friday 0.20 Saturday ... 0.1 S Sunday 0.10