PARKING

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 278, 19 July 1932, Page 6

PARKING

SIMPLE PREC AUTION S FOR LEAVING CAR ON j HILL. ! I Although the hand brake, or parking brake, of every car, assuming it is in adjustment, is fully capable of holding the car on any gradient on which the car is likely to be stopped uphill or down, nevertheless it is advisable to adopt precautions additiojial to applying the brake fully before ths car is left unattended. For one ' thing, an interfering person may get into the car and touch the brake, causing it to be released during the absence of the owner. . The simplest pr>2"aution is to leave J the car so that if the br"kes shonld , fce released it will be held up by the i "'adside kerb. Tf the front of the car is pointing downhill the steering wheels may be locked over to have that effect, while if it is facing i:p a hill the car as a whole may be left at a slight angle ralative to the 'edge of the road. . The plan adopted by some drivers of lea'ving the bottom gear engaged is not to be recommended. For one i thing, it is not likely to be effective on a really steep gradient, for the weight of the car will overcome the compression in the cylinders; for inother thing, th'e fact that the car is in gear "may be forgotten when the time comes to start the engine again which may result in its jerking forward unexpectedly. To exceed slightly the normal oil level in the sunip will do no harm, • but it is not necessary to over-fill to j any extent. The makers have deter- ' mined what level is necessary and if you follow their instructions you should not go wrong. Over-filling leads to waste, as considefable quantities are thrown un into the cylin- ! ders and wo"k their way past the pistons into the combustion chamber. Here the oil is burnt, and it will also eause trouble by fouling the plug points.