WINTER TROUBLES.

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 106, 26 July 1927, Page 11

WINTER TROUBLES.

MAKING STARTING EASY. DON’T BE GRUMPY. Already the business man motorist who gives his self-starter a kick these mornings finds that the slow response of the engine heralds the advent of winter. Winter brings to the motorist numerous complaints which make him dissatisfied with his car, annoyed with the family, and a grumpy man on the job. The main ill of the car in winter, which taxes the nervous system of the driver is that of starting. The easy starting of the car gives to the owner a feeling of satisfaction, a general belief that everything in the motoring garden is lovely. But when determined foot pressure on the self-starter fails to bring that awaited throb from the engine everything is blue. The determination to succeed in starting olf the button is fatal to the battery, and if with the first couple of kicks the engine does not respond the button must be forsaken for other proven methods. It is the objection to tampering with the car on a cold morning when he is ready to start for the office which brings so much displeasure to the motorist, and causes him to think of slow' running trams and jerking motor buses. Cold water in the radiator, a cold engine with cold oil, and cold finger tips make the starting of the motor the worry of winter petrol travel. Still there is an easy method which uhould be tried before you are ready io set out. Before breakfasting, if you are a systematic kind of gentleman, you might give the engine the little touch up which will make all the difference when vou are ready to start out. The"flooding of the carburettor, and a couple of turns on the crank might fix the job immediately if your car is in good nick. The couple of turns on the handle will free the cold oil, will push it through the moving parts and will give them the lubrication which they don't always get at the outset of a cold

morning. A kick on the starter button after the handle has been turned and the carburettor flooded should be sufficient to start the engine. If this fails repeated cranking might make a further difference, but no more flooding of the carburettor is needed. And if this still fails and the position is looking decidedly gloomy, the taking out of the pings arid the pouring of a little petrol irto the cylinders, should start the most obstinate car. Reverting to the systematic gentleman. t e might drain the radiator before locking the garage for the night, and thus save the water from freezing overnight. With the draining of the radiator, hot water can he put in on the morrow. a plan which gives satisfactory results. Although in this country it is not necessary to take the precaution to empty the radiator overnight, as the water seldom freezes, the trouble which is experienced in starting on ft cold morning is sufficient to warrant the motorist taking any precaution to ensure easy starting of the engine.