HINTS ON CAR CARE.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 306, 19 September 1929, Page 7

HINTS ON CAR CARE.

Unnecessary Expenditure. A certain number of people (says the Autocar) spend more on the upkeep of a car than is necessary, often as a result of ignorance, but usually because of neglect. The owner who intends to keep his car for several years can obviously reduce the upkeep charges by paying special attention to the following points : Oiling, driving methods, tyres and general care.

The chief cause of the wear of moving parts is shortage of lubricant. Most manufacturers recommend changing the engine oil at intervals ranging from every thousand miles upwards. It may seem wasteful to empty the sump so frequently, but in reality it is a great saving, as a certain amount of carbon and road dust is bound to find its way into the sump, and so foul the lubricant. Oil, also, loses a portion of its lubricating qualities after being subjected to continuous excessive heat. The old engine oil can be used, if one so chooses, after being filtered through gauze or some suitable material, for lubricating brake joints, door locks, hinges and suchlike lesser components. Stub axle swivel pins, steering joints and shackle bolts often do not receive sufficient lubrication. In consequence they wear out relatively quickly. If all moving parts be thoroughly and frequently lubricated little time is really occupied and the small amount of effort is well worth while as regards increased longevity of the items concerned.

The back axle and gear box should occasionally be emptied and refilled—as recommended in the manufacturers 1 instruction book—but as the oil or grease in these components is not subject to any excessive heat, or to the introduction of carbon, this operation requires to be carried out only occasionally.

Minor Defects. One can sometimes notice the following small defects on a car that has been in use for some time : The paint cracked on a door panel, brakes binding, accelerator pedal sticking down, hood irons bent, adjustment of brakes seized, doors difficult to shut, luggage carrier unopenable, and so forth. Practically all these troubles are caused by stiff joints, due to lack of oil, and expense results to the owner.

Many engines wear unduly quickly because the car is started on a cold morning and driven off as fast as a cold engine will go. The result is that unvapourised petrol is sucked into the qylinders and tends to wash the oil from the pistons. The oil itself is thick, and cannot circulate properly, so numerous internal working parts are inadequately supplied with oil, and excessivp wear arises. It is an easy matter to let the engine run for a few minutes before leaving the garage. Such time is not wasted, and during the warming-up period one can check water level and tyre pressures. one hears the remark, “ I got up so-and-so on top.” If the car climbed the hill in question easily, all well and good, but if it was labouring and showing signs of distress, strain and extra wear were involved. If in doubt, change down. A fault with many people is that of braking too much and heavily, either by rushing up to a corner at too high a speed and then braking

hard to get round, or by applying the brakes forcibly when stopping. Ih both cases one can save wear and tear by approaching a given comer

or obstruction at such a speed that a mere touch on the brake suffices to bring the car to rest.