BEHIND AND IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 568, 27 June 1933, Page 2

BEHIND AND IN FRONT OF THE WHEEL

f- » « "Spark Plug."

.> ■« i Motor Notes by

WINTER RUNNING COLD WEATHER IMPOSES STERN CONDITIONS ON CAR. USEFUL GUIDE FOR OWNERS. Wise motorists will ha,ve made preparations for winter running by..this time. Severe cold has already nia'de startin g more difficult. These su ggestions may serve as a useful guide to those owner-drivers who have notyet given a thought to the car in its relation to the changing season. Winter will find ont the weak spots in one's car. Every effort should be made to ease • the burden on the battery, especially in the cold of morning. Some drivers never use the self-starter in the mornings; they find it better for the mechanism to turn the engine over with the handle. If the starter is to be used drivers will find it a help if the clutch pedal is depressed at the same time as th'e starter is used. It is wise to allow the engine to idle for a minute or two before driving from the garage. Few drivers realise the damage they do by giving the accelerator spasmodic and vicious thrusts or twists on starting up. Obviously hea,t is essential, and that heat must he generated gradually so that cold reciprocating parts are not damaged. Those drivers who do not own cars with automatic shutters in front would be wise to equip their cars with a nose-bag which serves to assist the engine to reach its most efficient tem,. perature. Many drivers rely on the use of sacking over the radiator, but sacking is not very dainty. However, this sacking serves its purpose. Cold weather imposes sterner conditions on a car than summer running, and, to avoid loss of power. and excessive wear, it should' be assisted by increased cleanliness, rKore attention to lubrication and. economy of energy. Not only should the car he thorough.ly cleaned at this stage, removing all dust, grit and excessive grease from the wearing parts, but the paintwork should be minutely examined. Rust spots should be rubbed out with glasspaper, and the bare patches should he touched up with quiek-drying enamel or brush on cellulose, which can be obtained in small tins. So ch'eap are these materials and So easily applied by amateurs, that it is • surprising to find so many imudguards showing signs of neglect. Rust should also he removed from wire wheels and rims, and a little touching up will make them look like new. A car with shabby wheels is like a well-dressed man with. dirty boots. Winter Grade Oil. Many motorists find it advantageous to use a lighter oil in winter. The old oil should be drained out when the car is warm, preferably after a long run. If this has been done at regular intervals new winter grade oil can be put in a,s soon as the sump is empty. But if this task has been neglected it will be abvisable to put in half a gallon of flushing oil, run the car briskly i for a few minutes, then drain and re- - plenish with engine oil of the right grade. The engine oil filter should be cleaned, the oil level in the gear-box, back axle, and clutch should be checked, the radiator drained and refilled, and the battery thoroughly cleaned and tested. A flat battery at any time is a source of annoyance and delay; in winter it is an abomination. If a test suggests recharging is necessary, the job should not be delayed until trouble comes. See, that the connections are tight and smear them, with vaseline. Brake Adjustments. An important winter precaution is correct brake adjustment. On wet bitumen roads slcidding is a possibility in any circumstances, but it is much more liable to occur if the brakes have an uneven pull. Brakes play such' an impoi'tant part in motoring that their adjustment should not he undertaken by an inexperienced man. A few shillings spent in having the job done properly may save pounds should en emergency arise. Spark plugs should he examined and renewed if necessary. It is false economy to continue to use plugs that have deteriorated. Until a new set has been fitted it is sometimes hard to realise how much power has been lost by persevering with worn-out plugs. All nuts and bolts should be tried, and penetrating oil should b& run in between the leaves of the springs. This should be followed by an application of engine oil. The springs should be cleaned, all rust being carefully removed. A hroken spring means serious delay at the best, and breakages are often due to neglect, not only in driving, but in garage treatment. Nearly all the tasks suggested are simple, and may he done by the owner; hut they are essential to safe, comfortable running through the winter months.